Consultant Geriatrician

at  Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust

Applications are warmly invited for two Consultants in Geriatric Medicine, based at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) in Woolwich, to join the existing 8 substantive consultants.
The posts have been created to develop and consolidate new ways of working. The trust has a separate “on take” system for older frail patients. The Frailty Unit enhances the flow of appropriate patients to the complex care wards,which Consultant Geriatricians lead comprehensive assessment and discharge planning.
The Frailty consultants provide daily telephone support to primary care and there is a daily frailty clinic.
The Frailty Unit is supported by appropriately skilled nursing staff, therapists and two facilitated discharge teams which serve the surrounding areas of Greenwich and Bexley.
The Frailty unit is working with local clinical commissioning groups and community partners to improve delivery of intermediate care, both within a person’s home and within local nursing homes and community hospitals.
The new incumbent will form part of a team of ten Consultants developing and managing these services. It is envisaged that colleagues will have the opportunity to rotate around the various components of the care pathway (acute care, complex care, community interface), though colleagues with a special interest may wish to remain within their preferred area.

Newly appointed consultants will be offered a mentor from within the Trust. This may be from within the department or another speciality.

• Support and further develop the geriatric service
• Support and develop the interface frailty services for ED and relevant clinical areas
• Support, lead and develop integrated care working with CCG’s and community partners
• Be an advocate for the care of older people within the organization.
• Lead, support and mentor junior medical staff within the department and ensure training requirements are met.
• Undertake work within a relevant area of interest.

Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivate a culture of engagement. We have four staff networks, a corporate EDI Team and a suite of programmes and events which aim to insert the 5 aspirations:
Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development
Widening access (anchor institution) and employability
Improving the experience of staff with disability
Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development
Making equalities mainstream
Clinical Responsibilities
The support and further development of the initiatives within the Department of Geriatric Medicine (as described above), and the consolidation of current inpatient clinical services for older people.

General Responsibilities

• To provide high quality health care for older patients referred for diagnosis and treatment,
• To respond to inpatient and outpatient referrals from other specialties
• To provide prompt advice for General Practitioners
• To participate in educational and audit meetings
• To meet CPD and revalidation requirements
• To provide cover for Consultant colleagues during periods of leave
• To support the Hospital’s Clinical Governance Strategy
• To contribute to all other aspects of the Directorate and trust affairs

Medicine for the Elderly

• To provide a consultant-led service in the specialty
• To lead daily board rounds and ward rounds on relevant wards
• To lead on the new initiatives for the care of older people
• To contribute to research in Medicine for the Elderly in an area of special interest
• To contribute to meeting the 18 week outpatient target
• To contribute to meeting the 4 hour waiting time target in the Emergency Department
• To contribute to other quality indicators where relevant
• To contribute to community services (Bat ‘phone and Frailty Clinic)

Medical Education & Teaching

• To supervise and teach Medical Students.
• To participate in formal teaching of the Medicine in Old Age Syllabus to Year 4 medical students, and acute medicine to Year 3 students.
• To supervise and manage trainee medical staff (in conjunction with other Consultants on the firm and in the Department) and ensure training requirements are met
• To provide post-graduate training in Medicine for the Elderly for all grades of Medical Staff and for non-medical clinical staff.
• To contribute to regular training and teaching sessions for General Practitioners and to foster increased knowledge and skills within the local Medical Community
• To be a Clinical supervisor and Education supervisor to a number of trainees.

Clinical Audit/ Clinical Governance/ Research
To participate in clinical audit and implement audit findings as appropriate.
To support NIHR funded research.
Continuing Professional Development
1. Participate in continuing professional development at local and national level
2. Implement audit and research findings as appropriate in clinical practice
3. Prepare and participate in an annual appraisal in accordance with Trust policy
4. A willingness to undertake additional professional responsibilities at local, regional or national levels
Policy, Planning and Management
1. Support the Trust to deliver quality patient care
2. Contribute to the development of clinical and organisational protocols and guidelines
3. Assist in the development of the Annual Service Plan for the Directorate and Division and participate in the strategic planning of the service
4. Comply with all Trust policies.To lead or participate in the development of improved workflow through the Radiology Department, ensuring better patient experience and increased efficiency. This is a specimen plan reflecting proposed activities. Flexibility in these sessions is necessary depending on the changing demands on the service

• To provide high quality health care for older patients referred for diagnosis and treatment,
• To respond to inpatient and outpatient referrals from other specialties
• To provide prompt advice for General Practitioners
• To participate in educational and audit meetings
• To meet CPD and revalidation requirements
• To provide cover for Consultant colleagues during periods of leave
• To support the Hospital’s Clinical Governance Strategy
• To contribute to all other aspects of the Directorate and trust affair