Consultant Acute Medicine (10 pa's)

Job summary

Acute Medical Unit

The Acute Medical Unit (AMU) within Croydon University Hospital has 46 beds where acutely unwell medical patients are admitted either directly from their GP's care, or most commonly, from the Emergency Department. Once in AMU patients are assessed, stabilised and have rapid initiation of evidence-based treatments before being referred and moved "downstream" to specialist medically "zoned" wards elsewhere in the Trust (eg. a respiratory or gastroenterology ward) for appropriate specialist medical care. This ensures patients receive the right care in the right place by the right clinician whilst still receiving early input and treatment from a senior clinician (Acute Medicine Consultant).

One of your primary responsibilities will be admitting, assessing, monitoring and treating patients with urgent medical conditions before identifying them for timely discharge, referral to an alternative pathway (such as the use of our Virtual Ward) or referring them on to the most appropriate speciality. Patients should not stay on AMU beyond 72 hours, so it is a fast-paced, exciting and rewarding environment full of variety. You will work closely with the other AMU consultants, the ward Matron and operational manager, whilst also being expected to work closely with clinical colleagues in the Emergency Department and General Medicine in order to facilitate the provision of high quality patient care.

Main duties of the job

Management of the AMU is provided at consultant level, by a group of 9 Consultant Acute Physicians (6 existing substantive Acute Physicians and 2 locums' currently). The trainee grades supporting AMU consist of 2FY1, 5 SHO grades and 2 Trust Registrars supporting the unit. The post holder has also got an opportunity to continue practicing their specialty of interest based on our consultant rota.

This dedicated AMU team will be responsible for the initial assessment and management of acute medical patients from 0800 until 1700 while on the ward, the ambulatory care duties are between 0900 and 1800 and the on call is from 0830 till 2030 during the working week depending on the rota. The appointed post holders will be expected to lead the team of junior doctors within the unit, provide consultant level decision making into the management of acutely unwell patients, aid with streaming of such patients to appropriate specialist zoned beds, and facilitate the early discharge of patients not requiring in-patient care. As part of the latter function, consultant delivered discharge clinics will be held within the ambulatory unit.

Outside normal working hours cover for the AMU is provided by the current body of Acute Physicians from 0800 to 1400 on Saturdays and Sundays, and it is anticipated that the post holders will participate in the General Medical Consultant rota at weekends (12-hours each Saturday and Sunday), which will be approximately 1 in 48 basis.

About us

Croydon University Hospital is a large urban DGH serving a diverse population of 340,000 in South London and has the second busiest A&E Department in London. The hospital has affiliated teaching status with St. George's Hospital Medical School and Guy's, King's and St Thomas School of Medicine. Croydon is situated to the South of London and has easy access to both central London and the south coast. It also offers a huge range of social, leisure and shopping options, with transport links to both Gatwick and Heathrow Airport.

We are a progressive Trust with emphasis on innovation.