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An exciting opportunity is available for a Consultant in Respiratory Medicine to join a large regional tertiary respiratory service serving Lancashire and South Cumbria.
The regional respiratory centre provides a broad range of specialist services, including Severe Asthma, Long-Term Ventilation and Interstitial Lung Disease, alongside nationally recognised Interventional Pulmonology and Complex Breathlessness/Airways Services.
The respiratory service is undergoing a transformation programme focused on strengthening a 7-day consultant-led respiratory service, including expanded respiratory assessment provision and dedicated Respiratory High Care support for the regional long-term ventilation service.
There are also opportunities to develop individual specialist interests. The service can support interests including:

• COPD
• Asthma
• Sleep Medicine
• Acute and Long-Term Ventilation
• Interstitial Lung Disease
• Lung Cancer
• Pulmonary Sepsis
• Other specialist respiratory interests aligned with service needs.

The centre also has developing links with regional universities, providing opportunities to engage in research, education, and the development of an academic Respiratory Hub.

Main Duties of the Job

The successful Consultant will work collaboratively with colleagues to provide high-quality respiratory care and contribute to the ongoing development of the regional respiratory service.
Key responsibilities include:

• Actively contribute to the planning, development and delivery of the Respiratory Service.
• Provide direct clinical care to patients.
• Contribute to multidisciplinary teams and coordinate patient care.
• Provide specialist and general respiratory clinical input.
• Share responsibility for patients on the respiratory ward and Respiratory Support Unit.
• Develop close working relationships with General Practitioners.
• Maintain high professional standards of clinical care.
• Participate in clinical governance and quality improvement.
• Maintain continuing professional development.
• Support service development and develop specialist areas of interest according to service priorities
• Provide cover for consultant colleagues during agreed periods of annual leave, study leave and short-term absence.

Clinical Responsibilities

The Consultant will provide General and Specialist Respiratory Clinics using the standard clinic template, comprising 3 new and 6 follow-up patients.
The role will also involve:

• Respiratory ward rounds
• Respiratory Assessment Unit activity
• General Thoracic Clinics
• Specialist respiratory clinics
• Procedure lists
• Multidisciplinary team working
• Clinical supervision
• Educational activities
• Management of acute and complex respiratory presentations.

On-Call & Job Plan

The post is based on a 10 PA job plan, including 1.5 PA of core Supporting Professional Activity (SPA), with the remaining programmed activities incorporating direct clinical care.
The current job plan includes:

• 1 in 4 hot weeks, Monday to Friday, involving respiratory ward/Respiratory Support Unit rounds and a Respiratory Assessment Unit session
• General Internal Medicine on-call responsibilities, including evening post-take ward rounds
• 1 in 12 weekend respiratory ward round commitment, followed by telephone cover
• 1 in 12 weekday telephone cover, from 5 pm to 9 am, for urgent complex respiratory patients
• General thoracic clinics
• Specialist clinics
• Procedure lists
• Educational activities
• Clinical supervision.

The job plan and service commitments may change as part of the ongoing respiratory service transformation.

Education & Training

The service is based within a teaching environment and encourages consultants to contribute to:

• Undergraduate medical teaching
• Postgraduate teaching
• Training and supervision of doctors and other learners
• Continuing Medical Education
• Development of specialist clinical interests.

The organisation provides support for Continuing Medical Education, annual appraisal and revalidation, with consultants also having access to a named mentor on appointment.

Audit, Governance & Service Development

The successful candidate will be expected to play an active role in:

• Departmental audit
• Clinical governance
• Quality improvement
• Service development
• Clinical leadership
• Maintaining and improving professional standards.

The person specification specifically requires evidence of commitment to audit and improving clinical practice/service development, with clinical leadership experience desirable.

Person Specification

Essential Qualifications

Applicants must have:

• Full GMC Registration and Licence to Practise
• MBBS or equivalent
• MRCP
• CCT in Respiratory and General Medicine, or CESR with inclusion in the Specialist Register.

Essential Experience

Candidates should demonstrate:

• Wide experience in Respiratory and General Medicine
• Evidence of dedicated respiratory training
• Training through a recognised speciality training programme
• Appropriate experience managing respiratory and general medical patients.

Subspecialty respiratory experience is desirable, particularly where it complements the existing regional service.

Management & Leadership

The successful candidate should demonstrate:

• Commitment to clinical audit and service improvement
• Evidence of clinical leadership
• Ability to contribute to the planning and development of respiratory services
• Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary environment
• Commitment to high-quality patient care.

Personal Attributes

Applicants should demonstrate:

• Effective communication skills
• Strong organisational skills
• Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team
• Commitment to professional development
• Ability to prioritise clinical workload effectively

Apply now