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Job overview

We are seeking to appoint a full-time substantive Consultant Rheumatologist. The appointee will work with Consultant colleagues to provide a comprehensive service for residents across West Sussex. The Rheumatology department is part of the MSK Directorate including Trauma and Orthopaedics and Pain Management. The post will be based predominantly at Worthing Hospital. However there will be some sessions at other Trust locations. This post is available on a full time 10 programmed activities (PAs) basis.

However, applicants looking for part time work are also welcomed.

The post offers an excellent opportunity for you to develop as a Consultant and also contribute to service development.

In-patient’s facilities are at St Richard’s and Worthing under Shared Care with GIM physicians. Outpatient clinics for this post will be undertaken at Worthing, Southlands and or St Richards (Chichester) Hospitals. There is use of the Medical Day Case Unit (MDCU) in Worthing for infusional therapies.

The appointee will be for the Rheumatology Services for the population served by the Trust. The majority of the work takes place in the outpatient departments of Worthing, Southlands and St Richards Hospitals. In-patients are treated on the medical wards at Worthing or St Richards Hospitals. Clinical Assistants help in outpatient clinics at both Worthing and Southlands Hospitals.

Main duties of the job

The majority of work is outpatient based, but the post-holder will be required to see inpatient referrals & liaise with general medical teams. If rheumatology patients require admission to hospital, they will be admitted via the general medical team on-call. Ongoing care is shared with the subsequent ward-based general medical team. General medical wards are broadly speciality-based. 

Existing Consultant Rheumatologists currently undertake several combined clinics with orthopaedics, dermatology, paediatrics & ophthalmology. There is scope for developing these further, depending on  applicant’s interests & service requirements. We have specialist clinics for ankylosing spondylitis/axial spondyloarthropathy & hand/wrist led ESPs, who all have injection skills. These clinics run alongside consultant’s lists to allow close clinical supervision & discussion. Each consultant undertakes 2 Early Arthritis Clinics per month for the initial assessment & further management of patients with early inflammatory arthritis. These clinics are supported by the senior CNS, a non-medical prescriber.

The role includes:

Outpatient clinics: assessment of all new patients at their first appointment; review of follow-up patients; discussion & review of follow-up patients seen by clinical assistants & clinical nurse specialists; joint injections & other procedures.

• Ward referrals
• Administrative duties
• Phone & email advice
• Clinical audit
• Involvement with the Trust Governance programme

Working for our organisation

At UHSussex we’re proud to be at the heart of the NHS. As one of the UK’s largest acute Trusts, we’re a leading example of the excellence, the ambition and the values that have embodied the NHS for over 70 years.

Improving lives: We are a vibrant and inclusive organisation, with hardworking, talented and dedicated individuals, who work together towards a common goal, to always put our Patient First.  Our mission is summed up by our ‘where better never stops’ motto and no matter the role at UHSussex, you will play a part in driving us forwards and in improving the lives of patients across Sussex.  We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our wellbeing programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.

Build a career with us: As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.