Consultant in Geriatric Medicine
The Elderly Medicine department has introduced a modern purpose-built Older Person Assessment & Liaison (OPAL) unit. The Trust has a drive for integration and OPAL is a new element in the system wide Frailty pathway which aims to deliver the right care by the right person in the right place for the frail older population. The Frailty Assessment service is based at The Princess Alexandra Hospital and is a model developed based on best practice to establish a role for Interface Geriatrics so that pathways cross boundaries between the acute hospital and the community and improve the quality of assessment and care for frail older people. This model is supported within the Trust and the west Essex system as the direction of travel towards creating an integrated care organisation where patients are at the centre and teams arranged around them. OPAL accommodates daily admission avoidance clinics; accepting referrals from GPs, community health and social care services for same-day assessment and treatment aimed at delivering a real alternative to A & E attendance for those patients who do not have life-threatening conditions.

The geriatric inpatient service comprises of a total of four inpatient wards plus a frailty assessment unit. The service has a dedicated orthogeriatric, short stay and surgical liaison ward. The service is developing its movement disorder offering, with currently a fortnightly clinic (with scope for expansion).

Working as part of the Geriatric Medicine team at The Princess Alexandra Hospital can offer:

• Opportunities to lead on the provision of exceptional quality of life for our population, and to demonstrate geriatric expertise across different specialties and in the community
• Be the named consultant as part of a two consultant team managing a 28 bedded ward or part of the OPAL SDEC and short stay unit (18 total slots)
• Undertake clinic and OPD activity in the form of admission avoidance clinic, general geriatric clinic or movement disorders
• Encouragement and support to work as part of an established multidisciplinary team and will help develop new models of care within acute elderly pathways
• Opportunity to embed interest and additional skills to promote and develop the service to improve diagnosis and management
• Adoption of clinical leadership role or development/training in clinical leadership
• Informal support for Portfolio Pathway completion
• Case study and research project publication
• Presence and contribution to Service Review Meetings, Team and Service level job planning, Clinical Governance and Effectiveness meetings
• Work closely with our General Medicine and Palliative care department to promote excellent care for frail patients
• Work towards a home first approach to patient care through use of follow up clinics and virtual wards
• Secretarial support via a communal geriatric secretary with access to a Consultant lounge with workstations

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAHT) is proud to care for the communities of West Essex, delivering safe, compassionate, and high-quality services. We are part of the Neighbourhood Wave—a national programme that’s changing how care is delivered by focusing on prevention, early support, and more joined-up services across health, social care, and the voluntary sector.

This means we’re working more closely with local partners to bring care closer to home and support people to live healthier, more independent lives.

We’re a supportive and inclusive organisation that values its people. We offer development opportunities, flexible working, and a strong focus on wellbeing. As a Disability Confident and equal opportunities employer, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences.

Join us and help shape the future of care in West Essex.