Job Title: Locum Rheumatology Consultant
Department: Rheumatology
Location: MKUH
Programmed Activities: 0.4 WTE
Fixed term until 17th August 2027

We reserve the right to close posts early if we receive a sufficient volume of applications. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

This post is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service Check.

We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

Milton Keynes is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Full GMC registration and license to practice is essential for this role. Candidates without GMC registration at the time of shortlisting will not be considered.

Main duties of the job
The candidate will be joining an enthusiastic, friendly, and growing local department. We also have established networks with many Centres of National Excellence and the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Oxford is our Tertiary Centre. We have high quality, supportive primary care colleagues including one with a specialist interest in rheumatology (GPwSI). The wider hospital community works closely with rheumatology for cross-speciality cases.

In addition to clinical work, there are opportunities for research and teaching, both undergraduate and post-graduate. These can be discussed as a part of the job planning process.

We are looking for a colleague to both complement the existing team and also to bring their own ideas, input, and professional expertise to the department.

About us
Milton Keynes University Hospital, in proud partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital committed to advancing patient care through cutting-edge research and education. With a "Good" rating from the CQC and significant investment underway, this is an exciting time to join our team and grow your career.

As a medium sized general hospital, we provide a full range of general medical and surgical services, including a busy Emergency Department, Maternity, and Paediatrics. As the population of our city and surrounding areas continues to grow rapidly, we are expanding and enhancing our facilities to meet rising demand and improve access to care for all our communities.

We are also proud to offer a growing portfolio of specialist services. In January 2025 we opened our state-of-the-art Radiotherapy Centre, bringing advanced cancer treatment closer to home. Our services also include neonatology, specialist surgical care, and a wide range of diagnostics, supported by the new Community Diagnostic Centre at Whitehouse Health Centre. We have just opened the Oak Wards - a new ward block featuring two 24-bed wards.

Further investment is underway, including the recently approved Women and Children's Centre, set to open by 2030.

Visit our website to explore the latest news and opportunities at MKUH - News - Milton Keynes University Hospital.

For further information about Milton Keynes please visit Visit Milton Keynes.

Details
Date posted: 15 October 2026
Pay scheme: Hospital medical and dental staff
Grade: Consultant
Salary: £113,565 to £150,569 a year Per annum pro rata
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 10 months
Working pattern: Part-time
Reference number: 430-SURG26-1011A-A

Job responsibilities
Through its inclusive and comprehensive job planning process, the trust commits to providing equitable working conditions to medical colleagues across specialties and their sub-specialties. Delivery of job plans, whilst owned by consultants and their Clinical Service Unit Leads, is overseen by the Divisional Director and subject to peer challenge at divisional level, thus enabling a further layer of objectivity to our commitment in this regard.

Review of Job Plan
The job plan is subject to review once a year and is signed off between the post holder, the CSU Lead and an Executive Director of the Trust. Participation in annual appraisals is a contractual requirement. The Trust has procedures for resolving disagreements concerning job plan, either following appointment or at annual review.

Teaching
There are a number of specific roles within the hospital relating to our joint endeavours with the University of Buckingham Medical School. These roles involve teaching and the wider management of the undergraduate training programme. These activities are recognised explicitly in job plans. Day-to-day teaching on the wards and in clinic is accounted for within direct clinical care (DCC) time.

Research and Development
Over the last few years, Research and Development has been one of the fastest growing areas within the hospital and we are consistently in the top five small acute trusts in England for our research performance. We are actively involved in research that is developing and trialling new treatments for patients. We believe that conducting cutting-edge health research helps us to provide better care for our patients.

Our main clinical research areas are:

• Cancer & Haematology
• COVID-19
• Reproductive Health
• Intensive Care
• Cardiology
• Gastrointestinal & IBD
• Respiratory
• Rheumatology
• Paediatrics
• Trauma & Orthopaedics
• Accident and Emergencies
• Diabetes
• Stroke
• Ophthalmology

The Appointee
Facilities for appointee
The appointee will have access to an office, and secretarial support will be available. Consultant offices are equipped with a Personal Computer with suitable peripherals and connectivity. The library has access to current books and journals.

Annual appraisal
All doctors must have an annual appraisal and review of the job plan part of which will include completion of Mandatory Training. Trust appraisers are appointed by the Medical Director for appraisal and revalidation. Key issues arising from the appraisal process are relayed to the CSU Lead and Medical Director.

Continuous Personal Development
The Trust is fully committed to CPD. There are internal meetings (with certificates issued) plus a study leave allowance of 30 days over 3 years with funding available. As part of the job plan there is a core SPA (1PA) for supporting professional activities and CPD.

Person Specification
Audit

• Essential: Evidence of participation in audit

Knowledge

• Essential: Appropriate level of clinical knowledge
• Essential: Knowledge and application of up to date evidence based practice
• Desirable: IT Skills
• Desirable: Breadth of experience within and outside speciality

Leadership

• Essential: To motivate and develop both medical staff and non-medical staff

Communication / Teaching

• Essential: Good written and verbal communication skills
• Essential: A proven background in organising and delivering undergraduate and post-graduate teaching and research with evidence of training for the role is highly desirable
• Desirable: Ability to appraise both trainees and other staff
• Desirable: A qualification in Medical Education, such as a Diploma

Qualifications / Registration

• Essential: Medical degree, FCEM or equivalent
• Essential: Will be required to maintain full registration with the General Medical Council
• Desirable: Interest / Qualification in Education / Research
• Desirable: Other tertiary qualification including Education / Research

Experience / Training

• Essential: Minimum seven years' postgraduate experience, including higher medical training - five years as a Specialist Registrar / Trainee. Part of this period may be in a post of equivalent responsibility and training potential
• Desirable: Interest / accreditation in Education

Other Requirements

• Essential: Ability to work independently as well as part of wider team of both doctors and allied health care professionals
• Essential: To balance individual requirements against those of the Directorate and Trust as a whole
• Essential: Ability to gain the trust and confidence of colleagues and patients
• Essential: Commitment to developing new services
• Essential: Ability and desire to take part in Clinical Directorate management

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: Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Rheumatology - Med Staff (Dept), Milton Keynes, MK6 5LD, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.mkuh.nhs.uk/working-at-mkuh

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Consultant Clinical Lead, Dr Shoma Banerjee, Shoma.Banerjee@mkuh.nhs.uk

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