Job overview

This role offers an excellent opportunity to join a team of 19 committed Acute Paediatric Consultants with a focus on Epilepsy. The post includes one general outpatient clinic and one Epilepsy clinic each week, along with attending duties on the Children’s Ward, Neonatal Unit, and Paediatric Assessment Unit (PAU). While on PAU, you may also be required to undertake Child Protection Medicals.

The Epilepsy service includes a Lead Consultant, a specialty doctor, and an Epilepsy Nurse, supported by tertiary input from the Paediatric Neurology team at Oxford University Hospitals. Monthly MDT clinics are held with visiting neurologists, and we work closely with the community Paediatric team at Upton Hospital, Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust.

Each week, two Consultants provide attending cover—one for Paediatrics and one for Neonates. When covering Paediatrics, the post holder oversees the Ward and HDU; when covering Neonates, responsibilities include the Neonatal Unit, Delivery Suite, postnatal ward, and transitional care.

A consultant-led GP Hotline operates Monday to Friday, 0900–1800, offering acute referral support and clinical advice. Out-of-hours on-call is 1 in 12 for both Paediatrics and Neonates, with attendance at night handover expected. All admitted patients are reviewed by a consultant within 14 hours. Weekend duties are shared between two Consultants, and every handover is consultant supervised.

Main duties of the job

Children, Young People and Babies sit within the Frimley Health Division, alongside Maternity, Radiology, Outpatients and Pathology.

Paediatric Unit Ward 24, has 29 cots and beds for infants, children and teenagers, plus 7 spaces in the Paediatric Assessment Unit (PAU). The ward accepts direct ED admissions, supports elective activity, and the PAU takes direct GP referrals. Some patient groups have open access. Ambulatory care is delivered through our Outpatient and Ambulatory Care Unit. The ward includes designated areas for medical patients, surgical cases and those with infectious diseases. The unit has recently been designated a Level 2 HDU.

Neonatal Unit The Local Neonatal Unit (LNU) has, 17 cots for babies born from 27 weeks onwards and provides care for a wide range of neonatal conditions. We work closely with neonatal transport teams to transfer babies requiring Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU) to specialist centres.

Paediatric Assessment Unit The PAU sits next to the inpatient ward and is staffed by nurses and Resident Doctors with Consultant oversight. It functions as an SDEC service, with 7 beds and a daily throughput of 20–30 children. The unit supports ED flow, accepts direct GP referrals, and provides day care, ambulatory care and open access for selected patient groups.

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