Consultant Rheumatologist

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

The Rheumatology department is part of the acute medicine care division and helps deliver high-quality inpatient and outpatient Rheumatology care as well as in general medicine. The unit works closely with the local community musculoskeletal service (Circle MSK), physiotherapy, orthopaedics, and radiology. The department also runs a DXA service based at St Albans City Hospital.

Main duties of the job

The new consultant will have a timetable consisting of general rheumatology clinics, admin sessions, referral sessions, and SPA time. There is a fortnightly X-ray meeting and monthly department or clinical governance meeting. Sample Timetable is as follows:

• Tuesday - Clinic
• X-ray Meeting
• Clinical Governance meeting
• SPA time
• Friday - Clinic
• Ward referrals

Job responsibilities

A typical clinic would comprise:

• 3 new patients (30 minutes per patient)
• 7 follow-up patients (15 minutes per patient)
• Supervision of Rheumatology ST1- ST6 level, IMT, GPVTS, and nurse specialists

The average number of outpatients currently seen by each Consultant Rheumatologist per year is 454 new patients and 746 follow-up patients. Referrals for Rheumatology to the Trust have been increasing by 3% per year over the last 5 years.

The rheumatology team has an in-patient bed base of 16. They look after GIM and Rheumatology inpatients.

To enhance our reputation as an Employer of Choice, the Trust has approved the following Recruitment and Retention incentive for each successful candidate: £7000 Golden Hello payment for new recruits to be paid in 12 equal instalments (together with £8k relocation payment as per WHHT relocation policy if relocation is required) £12k retention payments in year 1 to 3 for all ED consultants (new recruits and existing consultants). Successful candidates will also be eligible for a relocation allowance of up to £8,000 (if required).

Person Specification

Please refer to the job description for specific qualifications and experience required.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Salary: £105,504 to £139,882 a year (London Fringe £149 per annum)