Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustConsultant Paediatrician - With Respiratory Medicine InterestJob summaryThis appointment is a full-time substantive replacement post with an interest in Paediatric Respiratory Medicine (and preferable some allergy experience) based on the Bedford Hospital site. We would encourage anyone looking for flexible working or less than full time to apply as this may be able to be accommodated.
The successful candidate will join a team of 11 paediatric consultants at Bedford Hospital. The team provide 1 in 10 paediatric attending and on call cover to general Paediatrics and Special Care Neonatal Unit. They would also cover three neonatal consultant weeks in a year.
It is expected that the post holder, once appointed, will work in partnership with the existing Consultant Paediatricians, as well as the cross-site subspecialty Respiratory MDT team to provide a safe and resilient service.
The Paediatric service is based at Riverbank Unit and includes a Children's Assessment Unit, Inpatient Ward, Ambulatory Care and a dedicated Children's OPD on site. The Children's Emergency Department as part of the general Emergency Department has been redeveloped to have a dedicated space with a separate waiting area. The department has close working links with a number of tertiary centres including Addenbrooke's Hospital and Great Ormond Street Hospital.
Closing Date: 02.08.26
Assessment date: Week Commencing 24.08.26
Interview Date: 07.09.26
Main duties of the job- Maintenance of the highest clinical standards in the management of Paediatric and Neonatal patients
- To share, with colleagues in the Paediatric Department the management of children requiring emergency review, assessment, and admission to the Paediatric Unit
- To share with consultant colleagues in providing the on-call non-resident out-of-hours rota
- Teaching and training of resident and locally employed doctors, nursing staff and medical students
- To support speciality specific training and development
- To actively participate in both departmental and Trust matters concerning Clinical Governance and audit
- To have responsibility for and actively participate in continuing professional development (CPD)
- To lead on specialty specific guideline developments, audits, peer review preparations, continue and strengthen MDT working locally, cross-site and with the Speciality Networks
- To share with colleagues in the department and trust speciality knowledge and experience.
About usBedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation 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. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology.
Our ValuesWe not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.DetailsDate posted: 17 July 2026
Pay scheme: Hospital medical and dental staff
Grade: Consultant
Salary: £113,565 to £150,595 a year
10 PA's
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: Bedford
Job locations: Bedford, Britannia Road, Bedford, MK42 9DJ, United Kingdom
Job descriptionJob responsibilitiesThis post is part of a friendly and enthusiastic team of 10 General Paediatricians providing out of hours, inpatient and outpatient care for local children (+2 consultants not on the on call rota). The unit aims to deliver a consultant led service. The appointee will provide much needed respiratory input.
The appointee will be required to attend on the ward and support acute admissions on CAU as outlined in the table above. They will also have an average of 2 clinics per week when not providing acute inpatient care. For the purpose of Job planning a year is calculated as 42 weeks, this allows for A/L and S/L.
The Trust is part of the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Health and Care Partnership (Integrated Care System), which is now part of the Central East ICB cluster. As a result of this, the successful candidate may be required to adapt their job plan in the future to work across more than one site within the area; this may also include delivering aspects of care in community settings which supports the Trusts vertical integration strategy.
A 10 PA week consists of 8.5 PAs direct clinical care and 1.5 PAs for Supporting Professional Activity (SPA). The Direct Clinical Care PAs will consist attending on the ward, Neonatal Unit and Childrens Assessment unit along with 1 in 10 night on call as well as general paediatric and asthma clinics.
Job planning will be used to reflect the needs of the department, ensuring that contracted work is appropriately remunerated. An initial job plan review will be undertaken by the Clinical Director after 3 months and annually thereafter, or if the work pattern changes. Any additional PAs contracted by the Trust will be agreed as a separate part of the job plan by mutual consent.
The on-call commitment is approximately 1:10 non-resident on call nights. The appointee will be expected to take hand over at 16:30, be resident on site till 21:30 supporting the evening team. After attending the night-time handover the appointee will be non- resident on call. He/she will be expected to support and attend the unit as required by the night team.
The post requires the appointee to be resident within 10 miles or 30 minutes travelling distance of the hospital while on call. There is an on-call availability supplement of 3% in the contract for Class A availability.
Person SpecificationRegistrationEssential- Full GMC Registration (GMC Licence to Practice is mandatory before employment commences)
- Entry onto the GMC Specialist Register: ?CCT (or within 6 months of receipt of CCT at time of interview) ?CESR - portfolio pathway (must be on Specialist Register at time of applying
EducationEssentialDesirable- MD or equivalent Higher Degree or evidence of relevant research
Clinical ExperienceEssential- Excellent all round experience of DGH work
- Evidence of thorough and broad training and experience in Paediatrics including respiratory medicine
- Evidence of interest in respiratory medicine
- At least 6 months of neonatal experience in tertiary neonatal unit at tier 2 level
- Able to take full and independent responsibility for clinical work and delivering service without direct supervision
- Level 3 Child protection training
- APLS/ EPLS & NLS course or equivalent
Desirable- GRID or SPIN respiratory training or equivalent
- Experience in paediatric allergy
Clinical EffectivenessEssential- Understanding of clinical governance and ability to demonstrate ongoing CPD
- Experience of guideline appraisal
- Participation in relevant local audits
- Evidence of service development/QI
- Ability to interpret and apply clinical research
Desirable- Participation in relevant national audits
- Participation in research
- GCP
TeachingEssential- Knowledge and ability to teach all grades of trainees and medical students
Desirable- Has attended Teaching the Teachers or similar course
Personal SkillsEssential- Ability to co-operate in a democratic team environment
- Flexible attitude, team player with good management skills
- Leadership Skills
Desirable- Attended recognised management / leadership course
Clinical GovernanceEssential- Able to demonstrate a broad understanding of the principles and elements of clinical governance.
Personal CircumstancesEssential- Residence within 10 miles by road or up to thirty minutes travelling time of the hospital for purposes of on-call emergencies.
- Fit to undertake the role with satisfactory Occupational Health clearance
- Satisfactory DBS clearance
Disclosure and Barring Service CheckThis 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 SponsorshipApplications 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 RegistrationApplicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer detailsEmployer name: Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Bedford, Britannia Road, Bedford, MK42 9DJ, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/
Employer contact detailsFor questions about the job, contact:Consultant Paediatrician/Clinical Director
Dr Anne Ingram
emma.matthews@ldh.nhs.uk
01582718457
