AAU Consultant
An exciting opportunity has opened up to join the dynamic Acute Medicine team at St Marys Hospital on the Isle of Wight. The team are actively seeking to review and develop the acute services in line with the changing demand. We are looking for an enthusiastic colleague who will join a team of 7 Consultants and specialist doctors in developing and delivering acute care provision. The team promote best practice in the management of emergency medical admissions, discharges, and admission avoidance.
The successful candidate will join an existing team of Acute Medicine Consultants and Specialist doctors working across the Acute Medicine services at St Marys Hospital. The expanded team will progress the development of Acute Medicine and Same day emergency care service (SDEC) across the emergency floor. This includes the ongoing development of SDEC and Acute Medical Unit re-design, seven-day acute medical model to improve patient safety, continuity of care experience and good clinical outcome. RCP approval pending.
There is the potential for prospective candidates to take on a clinical leadership role or develop their speciality interest as part of their acute job role. These can be discussed further before formal application. We are also open to discussion regarding flexible working, annualised job plans and recruitment and retention arrangements.
The successful candidate will be responsible for covering a range of clinical duties which will include patient care on Acute Medical Wards and in the SDEC.
As an Acute Physician, you will be providing consultant/specialist led care for patients based on the Acute Medical Unit. The Unit is a modern purpose-designed ward in very close proximity to the Emergency Department and consists of 24 beds including a number of monitored beds. Consultant ward rounds are conducted every morning with a second round in the afternoon in line with acute medicine standards. Multi-disciplinary board rounds take place twice a day with speciality in-reach for advice.
SDEC will be consultant led and is aiming to open 7 days a week and accepts referrals directly from GPs, Urgent Care, and the Emergency Department. The unit also sees step down patients from the Acute Medical Units that require rapid follow up or further treatment following discharge from hospital. We are currently looking at expanding this service to take more patients from the acute medical take and directly from the community.
The Isle of Wight NHS Trust is the only truly integrated Trust in the country, delivering acute, community, mental health and ambulance services to a population of 140,000 that increases significantly during the summer months. The breadth of its services and the demographics of the population presents its own unique challenges as well as some great opportunities.
Working for our Trust brings a variety of benefits, including an onsite day nursery, cycle to work scheme, discounts at local businesses and gyms, and the opportunity to hire the Trust's beach hut in Ryde. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement for you and if it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
The Acute Assessment Unit and Same Day Emergency Care Department:
The Acute Assessment Unit (AAU) occupies 24 beds and works together with the Emergency department to facilitate smooth, seamless care for patients. On average 25-35 patients are seen over a 24-hour period, with a majority of these being discharged from AAU within 48 hours.
Junior doctor support currently consists of a Specialty Doctor, Specialist Doctor (SAS), an Acute Medicine Registrar, Acute Medicine deanery trainee (ST3 and above), a Foundation Year 2 (FY2) and two Foundation Year 1 (FY1) doctors. There will also be Junior and Senior Clinical Fellows.
Speciality interface occurs through a direct referral system. Patients remain under the care of the AAU teams until transfer to other appropriate clinical areas. This will change with the ongoing development of amended internal professional standards.
The AAU is also supported by a physiotherapist, occupational therapist and social worker who operate between AAU and ED. Early morning and afternoon huddles with the full multi-disciplinary team ensure facilitated discharge of appropriate patients whenever possible and continuous rounding ensures patient assessment and treatment is delivered without unnecessary delay.
The team works seamlessly with Emergency Care providing responsive in-reach, rolling reviews of medical patients and early senior clinical decision making and support as appropriate.
SDEC is supervised currently by an Acute medicine consultant and Middle grade doctor. Additional or alternative support is provided by a senior nurse, and an Advanced Nurse Practitioner. SDEC is currently provided in A bay of the AAU and there is a plan for SDEC to move to a dedicated space as part of an exciting estates improvement programme and expansion to a seven-day service.
Medical take patients on average can be 35 / 40 in a 24hr period. On average SDEC reports 330 monthly attendances; the average length of stay is 3.2 hours (direct discharge) and 5.6 hours for ward transfer.
The Acute Medicine consultants contribute to the Medicine on call roster (currently 1 in 11 weekday nights (Mon to Thursday 1700-0800) and the Saturday on-call (1700-0800) when covering the Acute Medicine 1 in 7 weekends on AAU (0800-1700).
All Acute Medicine consultants contribute to education, mentoring and supervision of junior medical staff and the development of Advanced Nurse Practitioner roles within the department.
On appointment, specific clinical responsibilities will be agreed with the post holder and the job plan can be adjusted to meet the service needs and interests of the appointee.
Please note this job description is pending Royal College Approval.
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