Job summaryApplications are invited for the post of stroke specialist at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. We are very proud of the stroke services we provide to our patients. The service has an excellent reputation with scoring consistently highly within the Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme (SSNAP).
We provide a 24/7 thrombolysis service, stroke research, pre-hospital video-triage, seven day stroke ward rounds and TIA service, stroke follow up clinics and refer patients to Addenbrookes Hospital for mechanical thrombectomy. We have excellent working relationships with colleagues in the emergency department and radiology departments. We are regular contributors to regional stroke networks and events and are often asked to present on current topics.
This is an opportunity for the right candidate, with an inspirational and visible leadership style to be able to help us drive and continue to deliver excellent stroke care at West Suffolk.
Please See Full Job Description attached for detailsInterviews to be held on Friday, 11th September 2026
Main duties of the job- To be part of the Stroke team in the assessment and management of all possible stroke and TIA patients.
- To contribute to stroke service delivery by participation with colleagues in: - Hyper-acute stroke care, including thrombolysis and referring for thrombectomy - TIA Clinics - Inpatient care - Outpatient care
- To provide clinical leadership with other stroke consultants to ensure the continuous development of stroke services.
- Contribute to the implementation of national and regional initiatives to improve stroke care.
- Teaching and training of: - multi-disciplinary professionals - stroke team - medical students
- To participate actively in both stroke service and Trust clinical governance, audit and research.
- To have responsibility for ensuring active participation in continuing medical education (CME), appraisal and revalidation.
- Maintenance of the highest clinical standards in the management of patients with stroke.
Please See Full Job Description attached for detailsAbout us#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community
We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.
The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.
Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.
We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.
With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.
We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.
Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?
Job responsibilitiesWSFT currently provides hyper acute stroke services in a dedicated combined specialist Hyper Acute Stroke, Acute Stroke, and Stroke Rehabilitation Unit. We have a 24 bedded stroke unit and operate a 24 hour a day stroke thrombolysis service and daily TIA assessment service supported by stroke specialist nurses. The 30 bedded ward is used flexibly to accommodate patients during the hyper acute and acute phase of their stroke including rehabilitation, supported by an SpR, 2 specialty doctors, a junior doctor team and 4 consultant level doctors to provide medical management of patients.
Approximately 575 patients with diagnosed strokes were admitted to WSFT in the previous financial year from a catchment population of about 285,000.
Within the current model, the Emergency Stroke Outreach Team (ESOT) provides an immediate response to all patients attending WSFT with suspected stroke. These patients receive immediate structured assessment to determine likely diagnosis and suitability for thrombolysis. ESOT currently includes Stroke Clinical Nurse Specialists Stroke Specialty Doctor, and Stroke Consultant during working hours. In addition to the ESOT the Trust uses the Stroke Telemedicine Service (Stakeholder Partnership across the East of England) to support thrombolysis out of hours. The service also provides assessment and referral for thrombectomy to Cambridge University Hospital 24/7. This is supported by an onsite team consisting of Stroke Telemedicine Nurse, and Medical Registrar. Through this partnership, thrombolysis is provided 24/7 to confirmed stroke patients.
The ESOT Clinical Nurse Specialist Team provides 7 Day Service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year alongside the Medical and Stroke Team. This also supports the timely assessment and treatment of patients who suffer a stroke whilst an inpatient at WSFT.
Patients who have a confirmed or likely diagnosis of a stroke or who have been referred for thrombectomy will be admitted directly to the HASU on the stroke unit for specialised stroke care.
Please See Full Job Description attached for detailsPerson SpecificationQualificationsEssential- MBBS or Equivalent
- MRCP or Equivalent
- Full registration with the GMC and hold a License to Practice.
DesirableClinical ExpertiseEssential- Have at least 12 years' experience in Medicine and Stroke.
- Must have at least 3 years' training experience in Stroke at register level.
- Have clinical experience and training at SpR level for at least 3 years, to be confident in assessing and managing patients with stroke medicine including Hyper acute care, i.e. thrombolysing patients independently and assess and referring patients for mechanical thrombectomy.
- Have the skills, training, and knowledge in assessing and interpreting complex imaging e.g. CT Angiograms, CT Perfusion scans. etc
- Have the clinical training and experience to assess and care for patients admitted with acute medical conditions.
- Ability to offer expert clinical opinion on a range of problems in adult medicine.
- Ability to take full and independent responsibility for clinical care of patients.
Desirable- Completion of supervised training in an appropriate SpR equivalent training programme
Management and Administrative ExperienceEssential- Ability to facilitate the smooth running of emergency stroke medicine services with the stroke team.
- Ability to participate in and lead a multidisciplinary team balancing specialty and generalist objectives.
- Ability to contribute to development and implementation of services.
- Ability to organise and prioritise work effectively.
- Ability and willingness to work within the Trust and NHS performance framework and targets.
Desirable- Experience in project management.
- Management skills
- Training Qualification - to support above
Knowledge / CommunicationEssential- Ability to facilitate the smooth running of emergency stroke medicine services with the stroke team.
- applicants to have demonstrable skills in written and spoken English that are adequate to enable effective communication about medical topics with patients and colleagues which could be demonstrated by one of the following that applicants have undertaken undergraduate medical training in English. ? PLAB1 ? PLAB2 If applicants believe that they have adequate communication skills, but do not fit into one of the examples they need to provide evidence.
Teaching ExperienceEssential- Experience supervising junior trainees.
- Ability to teach clinical skills to students and trainees.
Desirable- Experience of teaching basic clinical skills to undergraduates
- Experience of teaching other professional groups
- Training Qualification - to support above
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 name: West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
Address: West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, Hardwick Lane, Bury St. Edmunds, IP33 2QZ, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.wsh.nhs.uk
For questions about the job, contact:Lead Consultant in Stroke
Dr Abul Azim
abul.azim@wsh.nhs.uk
01284712883
