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An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Consultant Physician in Rheumatology & General Medicine to join a dynamic team of physicians, specialists and allied health professionals providing high-quality rheumatology services across the region.
The successful candidate will work primarily within a modern, well-equipped clinical environment and join an established team of consultants and associate specialists delivering comprehensive rheumatology care.
The Rheumatology service provides a growing and comprehensive range of services, including outpatient clinics, inpatient consultations, day-case care and specialist rheumatology services. The department works closely with other specialities and allied health professionals to provide integrated care for patients with rheumatological and musculoskeletal conditions.

Main Duties of the Job

The successful candidate will:

• Provide specialist consultant-level rheumatology care to patients across outpatient, inpatient and day-case settings.
• Undertake outpatient rheumatology clinics.
• Provide specialist advice for patients referred from inpatient medical and surgical teams.
• Manage patients with a broad range of rheumatological and musculoskeletal conditions.
• Contribute to developing specialist interests within rheumatology.
• Work collaboratively with consultant colleagues, associate specialists, nursing teams, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and other allied health professionals.
• Participate in multidisciplinary clinical decision-making.
• Contribute to clinical governance, audit and quality improvement programmes.
• Provide teaching and supervision to junior medical staff, nursing staff and medical students.
• Participate in undergraduate and postgraduate medical education.
• Contribute to departmental and divisional meetings.
• Support service development and introduce improved models of care.
• Participate in research and multi-centre research programmes where appropriate.
• Maintain professional expertise through CPD, educational activities and relevant courses.
• Undertake annual appraisal and participate in job planning.
• Contribute to the General Medicine service and consultant on-call rota where agreed.

Rheumatology Service

The Rheumatology service provides a comprehensive range of care delivered primarily through outpatient services, with additional inpatient and day-case activity.
The department operates a hub-and-spoke model, with clinics provided across the region. An established multidisciplinary team supports the service, which works closely with other clinical specialities.
The current consultant team provides specialist expertise across areas including inflammatory arthritis, connective tissue disease, osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease, vasculitis, musculoskeletal ultrasound and other rheumatological conditions.
The service also has established links with radiology, dermatology, vascular surgery, orthopaedics, and other relevant specialities.
The service has a well-established biologics programme, with experience managing patients receiving biologic and immunomodulatory therapies for inflammatory rheumatological conditions.

General Medicine

The post also includes a General Medicine component, allowing the successful candidate to contribute to the wider medical service.
The General Medicine service includes a Combined Assessment Unit and Critical Care Unit, alongside a range of medical subspecialties.
The successful candidate will work collaboratively with colleagues across the Division of Medicine and contribute to the safe and effective delivery of general medical services where required.

Education & Training

The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to the teaching and training of:

• Undergraduate medical students.
• Postgraduate medical trainees.
• Junior medical staff.
• Nursing staff and other healthcare professionals.

The service has established links with Scottish universities and provides opportunities for undergraduate clinical teaching and postgraduate education.
Responsibilities may include:

• Formal and informal clinical teaching.
• Bedside teaching.
• Teaching on rheumatology-related clinical topics.
• Participation in postgraduate education.
• Supporting trainee development.
• Acting as a clinical supervisor where appropriate.
• Contributing to educational programmes and departmental teaching.

The candidate information pack specifically highlights undergraduate teaching, postgraduate education, journal clubs, CPD and supervision of nursing and junior medical staff.

Research & Professional Development

The department supports professional development and research participation.
The post holder will be expected to:

• Maintain a high level of specialist knowledge.
• Fulfil professional continuing development requirements.
• Participate in relevant clinical education and CPD.
• Contribute to research within the speciality.
• Participate in multi-centre research programmes where appropriate.
• Contribute to clinical audit and review of clinical practice.
• Identify opportunities to improve patient care and service delivery.

Opportunities exist to develop specialist interests and contribute to service development, in line with the department's needs and the candidate's professional interests.

Clinical Governance & Audit

The post holder will participate in the divisional clinical governance programme, including:

• Clinical audit.
• Quality improvement.
• Review of clinical practice.
• Service evaluation.
• Governance meetings.
• Implementation of improvements arising from audit and evaluation.
• Participation in relevant departmental and divisional activities.

The candidate information pack identifies clinical governance and audit as established components of the role.

 

Person Specification

Qualifications & Specialist Skills

Essential

• Primary medical qualification.
• Full GMC registration with a licence to practise.
• Entry on the GMC Specialist Register or eligibility for entry within six months of the date of the Advisory Appointment Committee.
• Appropriate Royal College membership.
• CCT or equivalent specialist qualification in Rheumatology.
• Evidence of appropriate specialist clinical training and experience in Rheumatology.
• Ability to provide expert clinical opinion within the speciality.
• Ability to take independent responsibility for patient care.

Clinical Experience

Essential

• Clinical experience appropriate to consultant-level practice in Rheumatology.
• Evidence of substantial experience in the speciality.
• Ability to provide specialist clinical care and advice.
• Experience managing patients referred to the service from other clinical teams.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Ability to contribute to the wider General Medicine service where required.

Management & Administration

Essential

• Experience of management and project leadership.
• Evidence of involvement in clinical governance.
• Understanding of service development and quality improvement.
• Ability to contribute to departmental and divisional planning.

Teaching

Essential

• Experience of teaching and training undergraduate and postgraduate medical staff.
• Experience of supervising junior medical staff.
• Willingness to contribute to undergraduate and postgraduate education.

Research

Essential

• Evidence of involvement in research.
• Understanding of research methodology and how to interpret research findings.
• Ability to contribute to research activity within the speciality.

Audit

Essential

• Evidence of participation in clinical audit.
• Understanding of audit's role in improving clinical practice.

Personal Attributes

• Commitment to high-quality patient care.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams.
• Commitment to professional development and lifelong learning.
• Flexibility to respond to changing service requirements.
• Willingness to contribute to service development and improvement.
• Ability to balance clinical, educational and professional responsibilities.
• Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Apply now