Consultant in General and Interventional Radiology

Job responsibilities

Bedfordshire hospitals imaging department is a friendly and cohesive team offering a high quality patient centred service with a broad range of specialities across the two sites.

This is a new post created to support the redesign and redevelopment of the interventional radiology services at Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The trust has invested £150 million pounds in a new building, which will house two new high spec hybrid theatres to commence clinical work in the summer of 2025. This development is part of the relocation of the BLMK Vascular Hub from Bedford to Luton. We are expanding our workforce in preparation for this exciting move.

We are looking for a dynamic consultant with experience in all aspects of vascular and non-vascular interventional radiology to support and develop new services going forward.

The base hospital for this job is Luton with expectation to work cross-site 1 day a week to support interventional radiology services across both sites.

Dr Ramita Dey currently delivers vascular interventional radiology services at Bedford Hospital. Non-Vascular Interventional services are performed on both sites, supported by Dr Vivek Vohra (Bedford), Dr Simon Allen, and Dr Salman Rahimi at the Luton site.

There is currently discussions with East & North Herts Trust to develop a regional 7-day IR on call. The successful candidate is be expected to join this regional on call rota, once the rota is established.

The applicant would be required to participate in MDT subject to agreement.

2nd subspecialty interests such as HPB and GI imaging would be considered highly desirable.

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust imaging department is a friendly and cohesive team that supports one another. We are looking for an applicant who is keen to work collaboratively and contribute positively to delivering a high quality service.

The applicant should be a dynamic radiologist who would be looking to support and grow this service. Development of new services will be encouraged and supported.

The department is also looking for an applicant who will continue to develop close links and collaborative working with local trusts.

Over the years the imaging department has been proactive and innovative in developing new ways of working. This is to help support staff wellbeing, increase departmental productivity and to deliver high quality services for our patients. Below are a few but not exhaustive examples of innovative practice introduced locally.

The department developed an activity based dashboard almost a decade ago. This dashboard has supported business cases for expansion of workforce both in terms of radiology consultant and trainee numbers. Complexity scoring system was developed to provide a fair and more transparent way of measuring reporting output per PA.

Remote working/ home working was introduced a few years before the pandemic on a voluntary basis, to support flexible working. This was supported by the trust board and consultant colleagues and has been highly successful, particularly during the pandemic. Many consultants have 1 day of remote working built in to their job plans.

Changes to the on call particularly on the weekend to make it more manageable and safe led to a split on call on the weekend between 2 consultants supported by a Specialist Registrar on site. This change was incorporated after recruitment of additional consultants, specialist trainees and clinical fellows.

All of this innovative work has been positively acknowledged by GIRFT and CQC. This department has been designated as an exemplar site by GIRFT and outstanding and well led by CQC.

The allocation of programmed activities will be based on 8.5 for direct clinical care and 1.5 for supporting professional activities. The detailed job plans will be agreed in consultation with the Clinical Director, with the approval of the Medical Director and Chief Executive or his/ her representative.

The job plans will be a prospective agreement that sets out a consultants duties, responsibilities and objectives for the coming year. It will cover all aspects of a consultants professional practice including clinical work, teaching, research, education and managerial responsibilities. It will provide a clear schedule of commitments, both internal and external. In addition, it will provide personal objectives, including details of links to wider service objectives, and details of the support required by the consultant to fulfil the job plan and the objectives.

The pattern of work may change in the future to meet local changing needs and annual review meetings will take place in line with the new Consultant Contract, job planning and appraisal arrangements.

Our Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Travel between hospital sites may be required.

We have state-of-the art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

The Luton and Dunstable University Hospital (L&D) has always been renowned for its friendly atmosphere and good working relationships. The Hospital has an excellent track record of financial and senior executive stability.

The Trust has University Hospital status which provides an academic environment to the hospital. In addition to postgraduate training, we welcome medical students from the UCL Medical School throughout the year and by arrangement with the medical school provide a programme of clinical placements to support their education. We have an excellent reputation for junior staff training. Within the Centre of Multi-Professional Educational & Training (COMET) is the Medical Education Department, the library including an IT suite, and the Training & Development Department. The main aim of the Medical Education Department is to promote postgraduate and continuing medical education and training for all doctors and dentists. The Hospital actively promotes career development and progression for all staff.

The Hospital has excellent access to the surrounding areas with easy access to central London and the rural Chilterns. The rural areas include many attractive villages and towns within easy reach of the Hospital including St Albans and Harpenden. Excellent schools are found nearby. There is also very good access to the Midlands and North by road using the M1 or A1, or by rail to one of the Lutons three stations. A direct link using the new Busway takes passengers from Luton Train station just 7 minutes to reach a stop that is within a short walking distance of the hospital. London Luton Airport is within fifteen minutes of the hospital.

Applicants must be fully registered on the UK General Medical Councils Specialist Register and have MRCP. Specialist Registras may apply if within 6 months of CCT.

Residence is required within ten miles by road or thirty minutes travelling time of the Hospital.

Candidates unable for personal reasons to work full-time are also invited to apply.

The appointment will be subject to full Occupational Health Clearance and Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check for the successful candidates prior to commencement.

Please note that all shortlisted candidates will be required to attend a pre-interview assessment process and thereafter successful applicants will be invited to interview for the post.

Closing Date: Thursday 28th September 2023

Interview Date: Monday 6th November 2023

Please refer to the Job Description for full details of the post.

Training

Essential

• Training and experience equivalent to that required for UK CCT (or within 6 months of it being issued).

Registration

Essential

• Entry on GMC Specialist Register in General Radiology or eligibility to enter it within 6 months from the time of the interview and hold a Licence to Practice.

Qualifications

Essential

• MB ChB or Equivalent
• FRCR

Desirable

• MD or equivalent Higher Degree or evidence of relevant research

Clinical Experience

Essential

• Evidence of thorough and broad training and experience in General Radiology.
• Expertise in Vascular and Non Vascular Interventional Radiology
• Able to take full and independent responsibility for clinical work and delivering service without direct supervision.

Desirable

• Any 2nd subspecialty training. GI and HPB Imaging would be considered highly desirable
• Oncological Intervention

Professional Interest

Essential

• An interest which improves the core clinical service for patients using the imaging service at the Trust.

Job Specific

Essential

• Able to organise and prioritise workload.
• An understanding of accountability for patient care.
• Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Desirable

• Experience of team leadership.

Clinical Effectiveness

Essential

• Understanding of clinical governance and ability to demonstrate ongoing CPD.
• Experience of guideline appraisal.
• Participation in relevant local audits.
• Ability to interpret and apply clinical research.

Desirable

• Participation in relevant national audits.

Teaching

Essential

• Knowledge and ability to teach all grades of trainees and medical students.
• Understands learner centred teaching
• Teaching ability and experience in conducting clinical/radiological meetings

Desirable

• Has attended Teaching the Teachers or similar course.

Clinical Governance

Essential

• Able to demonstrate a broad understanding of the principles and elements of clinical governance.

Management

Essential

• Evidence of management experience or training.
• Time management skills. IT literacy.

Desirable

• Ability to share departmental management duties e.g. staff rotas.

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Caring, honest and reliable.
• Able to foster good working relations with staff.
• Excellent verbal and written skills in English.
• Ability to co-operate in a democratic team environment.
• Able and willing to work with consultant colleagues in equitable sharing of clinical, non-clinical and on-call duties.

Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge and Experience of Safeguarding for Children and Adults.

Standards

Essential

• Has a thorough knowledge and understanding of "Good Medical Practice" set out by the GMC.

Domicile

Essential

• Residence within 10 miles by road or up to thirty minutes travelling time of the hospital for purposes of on-call emergencies.

Police Check

Essential

• Satisfactory DBS check.

General Health

Essential

• Satisfactory Trust health screening prior to appointment.

Communication and language skills

Essential

• Excellent verbal and written skills in English.
• Ability to communicate effectively with clinical colleagues, other specialities and support staff.
• Good knowledge of and ability to use spoken and written English.
• Ability to present effectively to an audience, using variety of methods and to respond to questions.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).