Job summary
The Specialist Palliative Care Team at Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has an exciting opportunity to join their team as they are seeking to appoint two Locum Specialist Palliative Care Consultants with a focus on inpatient work as well as supporting the Community Service. The successful candidate will join a clinical team of 2 Consultant Colleagues, 1 WTE Band 8a Practice Development Nurse, 7.2 WTE Band 7 Specialist Nurses and 2 WTE Band 6 Specialist Nurses cross site.

The Specialist Palliative Care Team are based at both Luton and Dunstable Hospital and Bedford Hospital and support patients across the hospital sites, visiting patients on the wards when required. The post holder will provide consultant advice in palliative care to specialist nurses, specialty doctors, GPs, consultant colleagues in other specialties and other health care professionals within the hospital and community as required. The Specialist Palliative Care Team at Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust work closely with all hospice services within the area.

Bedfordshire Hospitals Foundation Trust is an anchor organisation in the BLMK Integrated Care System. The Bedfordshire Care Alliance (BCA) is a collaborative of health and care providers working across the county of Bedfordshire to reduce inequalities and drive up improvements in population health outcomes.

Main duties of the job

• Provision with Consultant colleagues of a service to Luton and Dunstable Hospital/Bedford Hospital with responsibility for providing and advising on Palliative Care within the hospital
• To work with the Palliative Care team and wider team on Trust wide development of the palliative pathways
• To support the Community Teams and the wider system through regular board rounds and virtual ward

About us
Bedfordshire 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 Values
We 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.

Job responsibilities

• To take part in research and education and looking at new ways to teach End of Life Care.
• Cover for colleagues' annual leave and other authorised absences
• Any responsibility, which relates to a special interest
• Participating in medical audit, the Trusts Clinical Governance processes and in CPD
• Willingness to undertake additional professional responsibilities at local, regional or national levels
• The post holder must at all times carry out his/her duties with due regard to the Trusts Equal Opportunities Policy
• It is the responsibility of all employees to maintain a safe and healthy environment for patients, visitors and staff.
• It is the responsibility of the post-holder to ensure that all duties are carried out to the highest possible standard, and in accordance with current quality initiatives within the area of work
• All staff who have access to or transfer data are responsible for that data and must respect confidentiality and comply with the requirement of the Data Protection Act 1998, in line with the Trusts policies.
• The post-holder is responsible for data quality and complying with the policies, procedures and accountability arrangements throughout the Trust for maintaining accuracy and probity in the recording of the Trusts activities.
• Staff is required to comply with the requirements of the Freedom of Information of Act 2000 in line with Trust Policy.
• Any other duties, which may be required from time to time.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Medical Degree
• Relevant postgraduate qualification

Desirable

• MD or equivalent Higher Degree or evidence of relevant research

Registration
Essential

• Full GMC Registration (GMC Licence to Practice is mandatory before employment commences)

Desirable

• 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)

Clinical Experience
Essential

• Excellent all round experience of DGH work
• Evidence of thorough and broad training and experience in Palliative care
• Able to take full and independent responsibility for clinical work and delivering service without direct supervision.

Desirable

• Experience in acute and/or general medicine

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

Desirable

• Has attended Teaching the Teachers or similar course

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).

Employer details
Employer name: Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Bedford Hospital & Luton and Dunstable Hospital (2 posts), Britannia Road, Bedford and Luton, MK42 9DJ, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
General Manager
Karen Jackson
karen.jackson@bedsft.nhs.uk
01234355122

Details
Date posted: 18 August 2026
Pay scheme: Hospital medical and dental staff
Grade: Consultant
Salary: £113,565 to £150,569 a year per annum
Contract: Locum
Duration: 12 months
Working pattern: Part-time
Reference number: 416-GM-Pall-288
Job locations: Bedford Hospital & Luton and Dunstable Hospital (2 posts), Britannia Road, Bedford and Luton, MK42 9DJ, United Kingdom

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