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An opportunity has arisen for a Temporary Consultant Physician in General Medicine / Acute Medical Assessment Unit to join a busy acute medical service in Ireland. This is a specified-purpose, full-time post for 12 months, based within an established Acute Medical Assessment Unit, with responsibility for delivering high-quality general medical care, supporting admission avoidance, and helping to shape the continued development of acute medicine pathways. The post is suited to a clinician with specialist registration in General Internal Medicine who is confident working within a fast-paced acute medical environment and leading service improvement within AMAU.

Main Duties & Responsibilities

• Provide consultant-led General Medicine services through the Acute Medical Assessment Unit.
• Deliver senior medical care for patients attending the AMAU, including inpatient and outpatient activities.
• Provide clinical cover across the AMAU service hours and support the safe and efficient management of acute medical admissions.
• Lead the ongoing implementation and development of the Acute Medicine Programme.
• Provide senior medical direction for the day-to-day functioning of the AMAU.
• Supervise, direct and support NCHD staff assigned to the unit, including responsibility for diagnosis, treatment and clinical care under the consultant's team.
• Lead optimisation of AMAU processes with a particular focus on admission avoidance.
• Liaise with on-call teams and speciality teams to support early review pathways, ambulatory management and avoidance of unnecessary admissions.
• Support the development of physician-led outpatient AMAU clinics.
• Support the feasibility and development of a physician-led short-stay ward.
• Work closely with the Emergency Department team, including senior nurses and ED consultants.
• Participate in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, departmental educational activity and continuing professional development.
• Contribute to leadership and policy development in the management of general medical patients and best-practice pathways.
• Liaise with senior medical and nursing staff regarding service efficiency, patient flow and clinical governance
• Participate in the recruitment, supervision, training and rostering oversight of junior doctors working within the unit.
• Support audit, governance, research, service planning and data collection to improve performance and patient outcomes
• Attend relevant divisional and governance meetings and support hospital-wide service development initiatives.

Service Overview

The post sits within a well-developed General Medicine and Acute Medicine service serving a large and growing population in Ireland. The service includes:

• A General Medicine consultant team supported by specialists in Gastroenterology, Endocrinology, Respiratory Medicine and Geriatrics
• Wider consultant input from Cardiology, Neurology, Dermatology, Rheumatology, Oncology, Haematology and Palliative Care
• NCHD support typically includes SpR, Registrar, SHO and Intern level doctors
• A large nursing and advanced practice workforce, including ANPs and CNSs across acute medicine and medical subspecialties
• A busy Acute Medical Assessment Unit linked to inpatient and ambulatory emergency care pathways
• A General Medicine on-call rota
• On-site critical care, stroke services, psychiatry liaison and a full range of HSCP services

Facilities & Clinical Exposure

The successful candidate will work in a service with access to a broad diagnostic and speciality support network, including:

• Radiology, including CT, MRI, ultrasound, elastography, DEXA and fibroscanning
• Cardiac diagnostics, including TTE, TOE, ILRs and other monitoring
• Endoscopy services including OGD, colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy, ERCP, stenting, APC, variceal banding and polypectomy
• Critical care support, including ICU / CCU / HDU capacity
• A dedicated Acute Stroke Unit
• Liaison with local GPs and community services through regular integrated care meetings
• Opportunities to contribute to undergraduate and postgraduate medical education

Person Specifications

Requirements

Essential

• Registration as a Specialist in the Specialist Division of the Register of Medical Practitioners maintained by the Medical Council in Ireland in the speciality of General (Internal) Medicine.
• Eligibility to take up a consultant-level post in General Medicine within Ireland
• Availability to undertake a role as a General Physician, including duties related to general medicine on-call and general medical inpatients, where required
• Strong clinical expertise in the relevant speciality area with the ability to work independently at the consultant level
• Leadership capability in patient care, safety, governance and service development
• Ability to supervise and support junior doctors and work effectively within a multidisciplinary team
• Commitment to clinical governance, audit, teaching, service planning and continuous professional development
• Strong communication, organisational and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work under pressure and respond effectively to the complexity and uncertainty of acute medical practice

Skills, Competencies & Attributes Sought

The postholder should demonstrate:

• Detailed specialist knowledge in General Internal Medicine / Acute Medicine
• Ability to make clear, proactive clinical decisions in complex acute cases
• A patient-centred and safety-focused approach to care
• Leadership in clinical service delivery, governance and quality improvement
• Effective teamworking and collaboration across consultants, nursing staff and wider MDT colleagues
• Strong organisational ability and prioritisation skills in a high-volume acute environment
• Commitment to education, innovation, research and ongoing service improvement
• Resilience, sound judgement and the ability to remain calm under pressure