Role Summary
Applicants are invited for the post of Consultant Physician in Stroke Medicine and Healthcare for Older People at the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. This post sits within the trust’s Eastern services based at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. We are seeking an enthusiastic individual to join our dynamic, cohesive and diverse team. The individual should share our commitment and passion for the delivery and development of Stroke services across the Trust. There are ample opportunities to get involved in clinical research as well as teaching, both undergraduate and postgraduate. The Stroke team is embedded within the Healthcare for Older People Department which has 21 consultants working in different subspecialties, 7 of which work in predominantly in Stroke but who all have commitments to Healthcare for Older People services.
About the Role
The post is a substantive, full-time NHS post, and applicants wishing to work less than full time are welcome to apply (minimum 7 PA). The post will be of interest to those who hold, or are within 6 months (at the date of interview) of being awarded, Certificates of Completion of Training (CCT) in General (Internal) Medicine and Geriatric Medicine, and who may also have a subspecialty CCT in Stroke Medicine, or have appropriate previous training and experience in these specialties.
The advertised job is a rotational position working in Stroke Medicine and Healthcare for Older People specialties, across both in-patient and out-patient areas. All Stroke Consultants participate in the General Medicine on-call rota.
We are very proud of our outstanding Stroke service which comprises of:
- Acute Stroke Unit – this is a 28-bedded ward with hyperacute and acute beds. We have a loyal and knowledgeable nursing team and ward-based multidisciplinary team. Our trainee doctors are supported by Advanced Care Practitioners. There is dedicated rehabilitation space, a garden, gym and therapy kitchen.
- Stroke Practitioner Team – lead the hyperacute stroke team response in the efficient delivery of treatments alongside the Medical Registrars/ Advance Care Practitioners and with support from the Stroke/ Healthcare for Older People Consultants.
- Stroke Rehabilitation Unit – this is a modern, 12-bedded inpatient therapy unit led by a Consultant Physiotherapist with medical support from the Stroke Physicians. It is located within the RD&E Wonford site and has a close working relationship with ASU and Stroke Support Team (SST).
- Stroke Support Team (SST) – provides early supported discharge and community stroke rehabilitation across Eastern Devon. The team actively pulls patients from hospital to home and our discharge to home rates are above the national average.
- Rapid access stroke clinic – currently 2 clinics daily, 5 days a week including dedicated same-day MRI slots.
- Stroke and General Medicine follow-up clinics – provided at several sites including community hospitals, community hubs as well as the main RD&E Wonford site.
- Stroke Research Team – dedicated research team who work with the clinical teams in a number of acute and rehabilitation trials. Healthcare for Older People is an Academic Department with an excellent reputation and recruitment to trials including Stroke, Parkinson’s Disease and Dementia.
- Teaching – the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital is a teaching hospital, providing an enriched environment for medical, nursing and Physician Associate students and trainee Advanced Care Practitioners. Consultants are actively engaged in both undergraduate and post-graduate teaching. We have multidisciplinary teaching sessions and a programme to enhance medical education for trainees at all stages of training.
In April 2022, the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital NHS Foundation Trust formally merged with Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust to form the Royal Devon University Healthcare (RDUH) NHS Foundation Trust. As part of the Trust clinical integration strategy, Stroke and Healthcare for Older People services are 2 of the 8 priority service areas for integration. The RDUH Eastern Services continue to work collaboratively with Northern Services colleagues and NHS England to better align and integrate our Stroke and Healthcare for Older People services across both Eastern and Northern sites. Therefore, whilst this role is based predominantly within our Eastern Services at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital and peripheral community sites, occasional travel to and cross-site working at North Devon District Hospital in Barnstaple may be required.
Interested candidates are encouraged to contact Dr Nicky Mason (Clinical Lead for Stroke) on nmason3@nhs.net, Dr Jane Sword (Clinical Director for Medical Services and Governance) on j.sword@nhs.net or Dr Helen Lockett (Deputy Medical Director) on hlockett@nhs.net.
Preference will be given to staff with ‘Priority’ and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon.
The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust reserves the right to close vacancy when sufficient applications have been received.
The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was established in April 2022, bringing together the expertise of both the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust and Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust.
About Us
Stretching across Northern, Eastern and Mid Devon, we have a workforce of over 15,000 staff, making us the largest employer in Devon. Our core services, which we provide to more than 615,000 people, cover more than 2,000 square miles across Devon, while some of our specialist services cover the whole of the peninsula, extending our reach as far as Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
We deliver a wide range of emergency, specialist and general medical services through North Devon District Hospital and the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (Wonford). Alongside our two acute hospitals, we provide integrated health and social care services across a variety of settings, including community inpatient hospitals, outpatient clinics, and within people’s own homes. We also offer primary care services, a range of specialist community services, and Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC).
Our state-of-the-art equipment, leading technologies and strong links to local universities put us at the forefront of research and innovations, enabling us to provide world-class care to our local communities.
Our values are at the heart of everything we do, click here to find out more
It has never been a more exciting time to join the Royal Devon, as you will help to shape our services as we continue along our integration journey.
Benefits
Looking after you is important to us.
We strive to help our staff create a healthy work-life balance through flexible working schemes and our family friendly policies.
If you are starting out in the NHS, you’ll start with 27 days paid annual leave (plus bank holidays), rising to 34 days plus bank holidays depending on grade and years of service.
You will benefit from access to our own comprehensive occupational health services, including counselling, onsite wellbeing activities and groups.
We will work together to maintain a culture that develops and supports you and your team.
This might include funding for a care certificate, a degree or leadership qualifications. Or it might include days off to study, engage in CPD or rotational placements to help you hone your skills. Wherever you are heading in the NHS, we will help you get there.
Salary is not the only financial benefit
You will have access to an extensive range of staff discounts on shopping, fitness and leisure options and you can spread the cost of technology and home appliance purchases from major retailers. You will also have access to other benefits including:
- National discount services such as the Blue Light Card and Health Service Discounts.
- Salary sacrifice options including our OFSTED rated outstanding nursery onsite at Exeter
- Car lease schemes.
- The NHS Pension scheme (one of the most generous and comprehensive in the UK).
- Cycle to work scheme
These are just a few of the benefits available – if the role is something you are interested in, we would love to hear from you.
