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An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Locum Consultant in Acute Medicine to join a dynamic Acute Medical service in North East England.

The Acute Medicine service provides rapid assessment, diagnosis, and management of patients presenting with acute medical conditions. The successful candidate will join an established multidisciplinary team delivering high-quality care through the Acute Medical Unit (AMU) and Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) services.

The role offers opportunities to develop specialist interests such as frailty, ultrasound training, enhanced care, clinical leadership, research, medical education, or quality improvement alongside core Acute Medicine responsibilities.

Main Duties of the Job

The successful candidate will contribute to the delivery and development of acute medical services across the organisation.

Key responsibilities include:

• Provide consultant-led care for patients presenting with acute medical conditions.
• Deliver post-take ward rounds and clinical reviews of new admissions on the Acute Medical Unit.
• Provide consultant input into the Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) service, reviewing ambulatory patients and supporting assessment pathways.
• Participate in the consultant on-call rota for General Medicine (approximately 1:12 weekdays and 1:6 weekends)
• Conduct rolling clinical reviews of acute admissions in collaboration with the on-call medical team.
• Provide clinical leadership within the Acute Medical Unit and multidisciplinary teams.
• Support the assessment and admission process for emergency and primary care referrals.
• Provide clinical advice and support to emergency department clinicians and general practitioners.
• Participate in clinical governance, audit, quality improvement and risk management.
• Contribute to teaching, supervision and mentoring of junior doctors, physician associates and medical students.
• Participate in service development initiatives to improve patient pathways and efficiency.
• Undertake administrative duties associated with patient care and departmental management.
• Maintain continuing professional development and participate in appraisal and revalidation.

Consultants are also expected to support the continuous improvement of Acute Medicine services and participate in strategic planning within the division.

Job Plan

The post is typically offered as 8–10 Programmed Activities (PAs).

Typical structure includes:

Direct Clinical Care (DCC):

• Post-take ward rounds on the Acute Medical Unit
• Rolling clinical review of acute admissions
• Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) clinical sessions
• Administrative duties related to patient care
• Participation in the consultant on-call rota

Supporting Professional Activities (SPA):

• 1 SPA session per week supporting appraisal, CPD, teaching, audit and governance activities

Flexible working arrangements and modified job plans may be discussed to support work-life balance and service requirements.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Medical Degree (MBBS or equivalent)
• Full GMC registration with a licence to practise
• MRCP (UK) or equivalent
• Eligibility for appointment at Consultant level in Acute or General Internal Medicine

Desirable

• Higher postgraduate qualifications such as MD, PhD or equivalent
• Qualification as Educational Supervisor

Clinical Experience

Essential

• Minimum 1 year NHS experience
• Extensive experience in Acute Medicine or General Internal Medicine
• Experience managing acute medical admissions and emergency presentations

Desirable

• Experience in subspecialties such as:
  • Respiratory Medicine
  • Care of the Elderly / Frailty
  • Diabetes
  • Rheumatology

Skills and Attributes

Essential

• Strong clinical leadership and teamwork skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary clinical team
• Commitment to clinical governance and risk management
• Ability to manage high-acuity patient workloads

Desirable

• Evidence of service development or clinical innovation
• Experience in clinical leadership roles

Audit, Research and Teaching

Essential

• Experience participating in a clinical audit
• Commitment to evidence-based clinical practice
• Experience teaching junior medical staff and healthcare professionals

Desirable

• Research activity with peer-reviewed publications
• Membership of the Society for Acute Medicine
• Eligibility to act as Clinical or Educational Supervisor

Professional Requirements

Essential

• Full GMC registration with a licence to practise
• Compliance with clinical governance, appraisal and revalidation requirements
• Eligibility to work in the United Kingdom