Consultant in Palliative MedicineNHS
Job summary
Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust is looking to appoint a dynamic, innovative, flexible and forward-thinking consultant colleague with a particular interest in hospital based palliative care on a 12month fixed term contract to cover maternity leave. The successful applicant will join existing consultants based in Torbay; Dr George Walker, Dr Sarah Human and Dr Fay Murray-Brown. The Torbay and South Devon Specialist Palliative Care Service is delivered by 2 providers; Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust and Rowcroft Hospice. Although not formally integrated, the 2 organisations aim to provide a seamless service for patients; the cornerstone of this provision is a combined medical consultant team, covering acute, community and hospice inpatient facilities. This post is based with the Hospital Palliative Care Team at Torbay Hospital.
Main duties of the job
The postholder will join the Hospital Palliative Care Team based on the Torbay hospital site. The team forms an integral component of both the Cancer Support Team and the Torbay and South Devon Specialist Palliative Care Service.
The HPCT provides a specialist palliative care service in the acute setting from 0900 to 1800 Monday to Friday and 09.00 to 14.00 at weekends. This is a liaison service, working with teams throughout the hospital to provide support, expert advice and guidance for the care of patients requiring palliative and end of life (EOL) care. The service receives an average of 124 new referrals per month, 48% of patients with cancer and 52% with non-cancer diagnoses.
Current direct clinical medical input to the HPCT is provided by Dr Fay Murray-Brown (0.6wte), Dr Emily Russell (0.6wte) and Dr Helen Kimble (0.6wte); these figures exclude on call commitment for the whole service. Dr Sarah Human and Dr George Walker provide additional clinical support when cover required.
On call activity
The on-call commitment is 1 in 5 second on call out of hours advice for Rowcroft Hospice, Torbay Hospital and community services; this may be subject to change as the consultant workforce develops. On call activity includes support for rotating medical trainees covering the hospice first on call. There is also a 1 in 25 Friday/weekend first on call commitment for the inpatient unit at Rowcroft Hospice; admissions are taken out of hours 24/7.
Job description
The postholder will join the Hospital Palliative Care Team (HPCT) based on the Torbay hospital site. The team forms an integral component of both the Cancer Support Team and the Torbay and South Devon Specialist Palliative Care Service.
The HPCT provides a specialist palliative care service in the acute setting from 0900 to 1800 Monday to Friday and 09.00 to 14.00 at weekends. This is a liaison service, working with teams throughout the hospital to provide support, expert advice and guidance for the care of patients requiring palliative and end of life (EOL) care. The service receives an average of 124 new referrals per month, 48% of patients with cancer and 52% with non-cancer diagnoses. In addition to direct patient care, the team has a key role in education and leadership to enhance a palliative care approach for all patients by all staff.
There are close working relationships with oncology and haematology services as well as the wider cancer support team including psychology, dietetics, speech and language services and chaplaincy. The HPCT provides representation at all cancer MDTs apart from breast, skin, urology and haematology. Support for patients with non-malignant disease forms a significant part of the workload and has recently been extended with input into Heart Failure and Liver Disease Supportive care MDTs. Specific interests of the postholder with regards to specialty MDT provision will be supported where possible.
On call activity
The on-call commitment is 1 in 5 second on call out of hours advice for Rowcroft Hospice, Torbay Hospital and community services; this may be subject to change as the consultant workforce develops. On call activity includes support for rotating medical trainees covering the hospice first on call. There is also a 1 in 25 Friday/weekend first on call commitment for the inpatient unit at Rowcroft Hospice; admissions are taken out of hours 24/7.
About us
Why Work With Us
Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust is an Integrated Care Organisation providing acute health care services from Torbay Hospital, community health services and adult social care. The Trust runs Torbay Hospital as well as five community hospitals, stretching from Dawlish to Brixham.
Torbay Hospital is a medium-sized, progressive and innovative District General Hospital providing acute services to South Devon with a 10-bedded Critical Care Unit, six general theatres, three orthopaedic theatres and a day surgery unit. We provide services in most specialties within Torbay but have close working relationships with Royal Devon University Healthcare (Exeter and North Devon) and University Hospitals Plymouth.