Consultant Stroke Physician

Job content

We are looking for an excellent stroke physician to join our integrated stroke rota across the Princess Royal University Hospital and King’s College Hospital (Denmark Hill). The post will involve working predominantly at Princess Royal, with 1:8 weekend working at the Denmark Hill site. Night time on-call will be expected. The post holder would join the existing 12 stroke physicians who work across our two sites.

The Stroke service at the PRUH comprises of a 14 bedded Hyper Acute Stroke Unit (HASU) and a 26 bedded Stroke Unit (SU). The stroke service at the Denmark Hill site has a 12 bedded HASU and a 16 bedded SU. We see about 2400 acute stroke patients per year across the two HASU sites, and provide a 24/7 thrombolysis and a daily outpatient rapid access neurovascular service. The stroke services on both sites are consistently ranked at the top of the RCP national clinical audit performance tables. We provide a 24/7 thrombectomy centre for South East London and Kent on the Denmark Hill site.

The post holder will spend time, managing patients on the HASU, the TIA clinic, and supporting the thrombolysis and thrombectomy service.

King’s offers excellent opportunities for continuing career development and has a strong tradition of peer support and review. There is an active academic programme and a full range of subspecialist interests amongst the consultant staff. There is also a strong focus on service re-design and innovation.

Main duties of the job

The post-holder will be expected to work across the Trust sites. Candidates from parent specialities of geriatric medicine, neurology and acute medicine are invited to apply. There will be an opportunity to develop services and time will be allocated for this appropriately. There will be an average of 8.5 Programmed Activities of Direct Clinical Care, with the remainder being allocated for Supporting Professional and/or other Activities. We would envisage tailoring the job plan to suit the right applicant whilst meeting the needs of the service. There is also potential for additional PAs that could be negotiated when in post and any discussions thereof with the Clinical Stroke and Neurology leads. The out of hours / weekend on-call commitment will be no more than 1:8 rota.

About Us

King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King’s to another level.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King’s is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone’s contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust’s carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible

Job Description

Job responsibilities

As a senior employee of the Trust you will work in close co-operation with, and support other clinical, medical professional and managerial colleagues in providing high quality healthcare to the Trusts patients. Integral to these responsibilities is the following:-

• The provision of a first class clinical service
• Effective leadership to all staff engaged in the speciality
• Sustaining and developing teaching and research in conjunction with Kings College London
• Undertaking all work in accordance with the Trusts procedures and operating policies
• Conducting clinical practice in accordance with contractual requirements and within the parameters of the Trusts service plans
• Maintaining the confidence of business plans and development strategies formulated for the speciality, the Division or the Trust
  

The post holder will rotate between the two Stroke services with most of their time embedded in the PRUH based stroke service. Each Consultant will spend time, on rotation, managing patients on the HASUs, in the TIA clinics and supporting thrombolysis and thrombectomy. An applicant with geriatrics training would be expected to contribute to the care of patients on the SU; candidates with neurology or acute medicine experience would be encouraged to participate in the inpatient and outpatient services for those specialities.

Key Duties And Responsibilities

• Together with the other consultants in stroke medicine and the multidisciplinary teams, to provide a service for stroke patients. This includes all aspects of treatment and relevant management duties for the proper functioning of the department.
• Shared responsibility with the other consultants for providing 24 hour, 7 day a week cover for the stroke unit on a rota basis. Responsible also for covering colleagues periods of annual leave and short-term sickness
• Together with the other consultants, to provide an outpatient stroke and TIA service. This includes all aspects of outpatient treatment and related management duties.
• Clinical and educational supervision of junior medical staff as a shared responsibility with other consultant colleagues.
• To conduct all activities within the contracted level of service and operating plan for stroke services.
• Responsible for carrying out teaching, examination and accreditation duties as required and contributing to Continuing Medical Education and clinical governance initiatives.
• Responsible for outpatient clinic commitments in peripheral hospitals as agreed with the Divisional management team
• To contribute to departmental research interests in accordance with the Trusts R&D framework.
• Contribute to the audit programmes, Morbidity and Mortality, clinical governance programs and learning from Deaths.
• To contribute to the Audit Programme.
• To take an active role in the formulation, implementation and monitoring of the Care Groups Business Plan. This may include assisting with discussions regarding service plans and developments with both internal and external agencies.
• To exercise professional leadership for all staff working in the specialty. This will include fostering and developing projects focused towards these ends and ensuring that the momentum of post qualification professional education and other appropriate training is maintained.
• To be responsible, with management support, for your personal development and to actively contribute to the development of colleagues.
• To work in conjunction with clinical and professional colleagues to ensure that the productivity of staff within the specialty is maintained and their job satisfaction is enhanced. This may include involvement in the appraisal process for junior colleagues.
• To undertake Divisional management duties as agreed with the Stroke Clinical Lead and Clinical Director(s).
• To be aware of, and comply with, all Trust infection prevention and control policies, to include hand hygiene, personal hygiene, environmental and food hygiene.
• To undertake annual training/updates in infection prevention and control.
• To be accountable for implementation of the Code of Practice within own department/area of responsibility.
• To prepare for and undertake the protective interventions that you are responsible for in a manner that is consistent with evidence based practice and maintaining patient safety.
• Take an active role in the formulation, implementation and monitoring of the departments/ Divisions Business Plan. This may include assisting with discussions regarding service plans and developments with internal and external agencies.
• Conduct all activities within the contracted level of service and operating plan for service(s).
  

Person Specification

Essential

Training and Experience

• Wide experience in all aspects of Stroke and an appropriate linked specialty such as Geriatric medicine or Neurology, culminating in award of CCT or equivalent.
• Specialist fellowship or other training in Stroke.
  

Desirable

• Experience of successful working at the interface between the specialties of Stroke and other medical specialties
  

Admin & Management

Essential

• Experience in day to day organisation of Stroke services in a busy Teaching Hospital.
• Able to demonstrate leadership capability within multi-disciplinary teams.
• Sound intellectual skills are required, as evidenced by a professional training base, supplemented by managerial experience.
  

Desirable

• Familiar with current structure of Health Service and conversant with recent initiatives and changes.
• Management course and/or qualification.
  

Audit & Research

Essential

• Thorough understanding of principles of medical audit.
• Must have undertaken and completed audit projects.
• Experience of clinical research.
  

Desirable

• Publication of relevant review articles or case reports.
  

Teaching & IT

Essential

• Experience of undergraduate and post-graduate teaching and exam preparation.
  

Desirable

• Teaching skills course/ qualification.
• Familiarity with information technology and general computer skills
  

Essential

Qualifications & Registration

• Registerable medical qualification.
• MRCP or equivalent.
• Within six months of the expected date of CCT (or equivalent) on the day of interview
• Full registration with GMC and Name on Specialist Register on date of taking up appointment.
  

Desirable

• Other higher degree or diploma (e.g., MD)
  

BMJRef: BMJ-82274/213-PRUH-2571-D