Consultant Stroke Physician

The role will involve participation in our reperfusion

on-call service including thrombolysis and selecting patients for mechanical

thrombectomy at our local neurosciences centre.

As a well-respected centre for collaborative stroke research

there is the opportunity to be at the forefront stroke research delivery in all

domains and to enable innovative service improvement to provide outstanding

patient care. CDDFT has a partnership with Durham University to explore

original research capabilities.

The ideal candidate should have appropriate training as

outlined in the job specification and a well -developed medical knowledge,

allowing the ability and confidence to function decisively and autonomously.

Candidates should be hard-working, dependable, collegial, and professional in

keeping with GMC good medical practice.

We are keen to explore a candidates interests

and try to tailor a post to these, appreciating that a consultant working in a

team within their area of interest is an asset in driving forward service

development. Our existing medical consultant team comes from a wide range of

backgrounds (including geriatrics, general medicine, neurology and

neuro-rehabilitation.)

The stroke service sits within Integrated Medical

Specialities Care Group. The care group is supported by the following

Care

Group Director: Dr Deepak Kejariwal

Associate

Director of Operations: Jo

Associate

Director of Nursing: Sharon Morgan

Central to the provision of our high-quality service is the

32-bed stroke unit at University Hospital North Durham (UHND). This comprises 8

hyper-acute beds and 24 acute beds. Supported by our current stroke

consultants, the post-holder will take part in a dedicated on-call rota

providing 24/7 reperfusion decisions. This is done remotely via telemedicine in

evenings and overnight (1:7) with an on-site commitment at weekends (1:5) for

which compensatory leave during the week is provided. The post does not have

any acute medicine on call responsibilities, but this can be explored as an

area of interest if required. There is

excellent support staff within the stroke unit made up of:

Specialty

and Foundation Trainees

Stroke

nurse consultant and Advance Care Practitioner

Nurse specialists (Band 7 Practitioner and Band 6 Practitioners)

multi-disciplinary therapy team

Seeing approximately 1100 new stroke patients per year, the

team are continually focussed on reducing our door to needle times. The service

has access to 24 hour CT and CTA imaging and CT perfusion, as well as

Artificial Intelligence clinical decision aids and 7-day MRI access within

working hours.

The stroke service also provides access to daily TIA

services with rapid access to imaging, including MRI, and a close relationship

with the vascular surgical team.

The Trust has a dedicated 30-bed rehabilitation unit at

Bishop Auckland Hospital (BAH) with a dedicated multi-disciplinary therapy

team. With significant consultant input

and presence at the rehabilitation unit this allows early transfer of stable

patients from the acute unit to the rehabilitation unit. There is an Associate Specialist assigned to

the ward and dedicated junior doctor support on the rehabilitation unit. There is also a weekly MDT meeting on the

rehabilitation stroke unit.

Outpatient services

The post holder will help deliver outpatient clinic review

to stroke survivors to optimise secondary prevention, appropriate investigation

and support a patients ongoing rehabilitation. This now includes a botulinum

toxin therapy service and is set to develop a dedicated young stroke clinic to

address the more specific needs of our stroke population.

There has been significant investment in our community

therapy teams across County Durham and Darlington which now enables the stroke

team to discharge promptly with rapid community review and ongoing therapy.

This drives the Trusts aim to provide care closer to home and improves the

patient journey.

There is a 32 bedded Acute Medical

Unit (Ward 4 UHND) and an MAU of 30 beds at DMH. There are Coronary Care Units

at both sites. There are critical care facilities at both sites. At present,

the majority of GIM accredited consultants rotate to cover AMU (Physician of

the day), with the input into MAU based around RCP guidelines. However currently the stroke consultants are

not expected to participate in this rota unless they have an expressed wish to

do so. If the post holder has an interest in acute general medicine, we will of

course consider a flexible job plan. Job

plans are continuously under review to ensure that it is both acceptable to

consultants and sufficient to meet the needs of the service. Please contact us

to discuss in more detail if required.

Based

primarily at UHND or BAH to provide in-patient and out-patient services.

undertake clinical work in conjunction with colleagues and other professional

staff in order to maintain and develop stroke services and develop specialist

skills in accordance with the needs of patients.

Responsible

in conjunction with colleagues for planning future developments of our stroke

care pathway and stroke services.

maintain continuing responsibility for the care of patients in their charge and

to provide a collaborative support to consultant colleagues in other clinical

disciplines in the hospital, and to general practitioners in County Durham and

Darlington.

To cover

colleagues in their absence and ensure continuous patient care.

The

professional and educational supervision of junior staff.

Participate

in the postgraduate teaching of medical staff and undergraduates attached to

the Trust and in the training of all grades of staff across disciplines.

To

actively lead and develop research and innovation activities within stroke

services.

Professional Development (CPD) - The post-holder is responsible for ensuring

that they meet the national requirements for CPD, both internal and

externally and will be expected to

attend regularly, and contribute to, the weekly half-day educational activities

held by the Care Group. The Trust supports requirements for CPD as laid down by

the Royal Colleges and is committed to providing support for these activities.

To

actively and regularly participate in clinical audit.

The

post-holder will be expected to deputise in the absence of colleagues in cases

of annual leave, study leave and sickness as far as practicable.

appropriate, to work on behalf of the Trust to provide appropriate

consultations and services for other agencies.

To be

familiar with, and follow, national guidance and Trust policies, procedures and

guidelines in relation to patient care, health and safety, governance and

equality of opportunity.

The final job plan/on-call arrangements will be agreed in

partnership prior to appointment. The

stroke service is committed to increasing flexibility in working hours and

extended-days may be considered to suit the needs of the candidate and service.

It is anticipated that each PA of direct clinical time will

attract a further 0.2 PA of admin time.

Upon starting, a formal job plan will be agreed between the

appointee and their clinical lead within the first 6 months, and approved by

the Medical Director. The job plan will then be reviewed annually in accordance

with the Trust policy on Consultant Job Planning.

We would be keen to discuss this in more detail with

interested candidates.

Commitment

to being on-call on a 1 in 7 basis

Participation

of Physician of the week 1 in 6 (ward rounds)

Outpatient

clinics, including TIA and stroke follow-up

consultant cover on our rehabilitation ward

The post-holder will be expected to deputise in

the absence of colleagues in cases of annual leave, study leave and sickness as

far as is practicable and ensure continuous patient care.

If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager.

You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks.

We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.

We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented.

Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents.

Over reliance on

AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of

success.

For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.

Please note that we may close any vacancy early once a sufficient number of applications have been received.

Statutory Registration

Essential: - Full registration with GMC and inclusion on specialist register (or pending in next 6 months)

Experience

Desirable: - Subspecialty interest; - Involvement in research, including previous CI / PI role where applicable; - Leadership of an audit project

Qualifications

Desirable: - Preferably sub-speciality CCT in stroke medicine and CCT in GIM

Special Skills & Knowledge