Job summary
The appointee will join the current eight consultants in the Acute Medicine department. One of these consultants currently has a Specialty Interest in Nephrology.

A Needs Based Care (NBC) model has been introduced across the Medicine wards where timely allocation is predicated on a patient's clinical need and not on age. Early allocation of patients to a speciality team according to their clinical need, improved continuity of care across seven days, with minimal handovers and an identified single responsible consultant is associated with safer practice, improved clinical outcomes and higher levels of patient and workforce satisfaction.

Main duties of the job
The keys tasks for the role of Locum Consultant Acute Medicine are;

• Maintenance of the highest clinical standards in the management of all patients presenting to the Hospital.
• To undertake duties as defined within the agreed job plan.
• To participate in any on-call rotas providing specialist, timely advice in line with the seven day working national agenda and local service need.
• Teaching and training of intermediate grade and, junior medical staff, nursing staff and medical students. Supporting members of the multi-disciplinary team.
• 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)

About us
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.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. Please ensure that you make your application as soon as possible.

Job responsibilities
The appointee will be expected to work with the other Consultants in Acute Medicine, Specialist Consultants and the Elderly Medicine Physicians to deliver a comprehensive emergency service in Acute General and Elderly Medicine.

The Acute Physicians rotate through the Emergency Assessment Unit (EAU) and the short stay wards. During the acute take they also cover, the Same-day Emergency Care (SDEC) unit.

The appointee will take part in the Acute rota on a 1 in 12 basis. This consists of overseeing the take and conducting a rolling review of newly admitted patients, along with supervising and supporting the training of junior medical staff. This rota is supported by a second consultant working 2pm-10pm and specialty in-reach from Cardiology, Respiratory, Gastroenterology and Frailty consultants. During the acute take consultant input will also be provided to SDEC as required.

When working in the acute wards, the consultant is responsible for running Board round and daily review of patients to ensure safe, effective management and early discharge.

There is opportunity to undertake an out-patient clinic to see follow-up patients in rotation with other interested colleagues.

He/she will review results of patients discharged from Emergency Assessment Units / Short Stay wards and take any action that is considered appropriate. The same applies to patients seen in SDEC and seen on the acute take.

There may also be an optional specialist activity, if desired.

Person Specification
Qualification
Essential

• Medical Degree
• MB ChB or Equivalent
• Valid ATLS, ALS, APLS or equivalent

Desirable

• MD or equivalent Higher Degree or evidence of relevant research
• Other relevant post-graduate qualifications e.g. DipIMC
• Instructor Status in ATLS, ALS, APLS or equivalent.

Registration
Essential

• 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 (must be on Specialist Register at time of applying)

Clinical Experience
Essential

• Excellent all round experience of DGH work
• Evidence of thorough and broad training and experience in Acute or General Medicine. Able to offer expert clinical opinion on all aspects within General Medicine.
• Able to take full and independent responsibility for clinical work and delivering service without direct supervision

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
• Evidence of implementing relevant evidence based medicine
• Implementation of evidence based guidelines
• Participation in relevant national audit
• Recent published clinical research in peer reviewed journal
• Evidence of strategic work e.g. contribution to planning and policy development
• Ability to deliver change

Teaching
Essential

• Knowledge and ability to teach all grades of medical and clinical staff, including ACP's, paramedics, nurses, PA's and ENP's

Desirable

• Has attended Teaching the Teachers or similar course

Personal Skills
Essential

• Ability to co-operate in a democratic team environment
• Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Flexible attitude, team player with good management skills
• Leadership Skills
• Able to organise and prioritise workload
• An understanding of accountability for patient care
• Evidence of management experience or training
• Time management skills
• IT literacy

Desirable

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

Clinical Governance
Essential

• Able to demonstrate a broad understanding of the principles and elements of clinical governance
• Understanding of patient safety and risk management

Personal Circumstances
Essential

• Caring, honest and reliable
• Able to foster good working relations with staff
• Excellent verbal and written skills in English
• A shared ethos and to values of the Trust
• Able and willing to work with consultant colleagues in equitable sharing of clinical, non-clinical and on-call duties
• 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

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.

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.

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.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details
Employer name: Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Luton & Dunstable Hospital, Luton, LU4 0DZ, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Clinical Director
Rajeev Kumar
medicalstaffing@ldh.nhs.uk

Details
Date posted: 20 August 2026
Pay scheme: Hospital medical and dental staff
Grade: Consultant
Salary: £113,565 to £150,569 a year
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 6 months
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 418-M-GM-308
Job locations: Luton & Dunstable Hospital, Luton, LU4 0DZ, United Kingdom