Specialty Doctor in Palliative Medicine

This substantive post is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic doctor to join our dynamic palliative care team at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, which has been rated as 'outstanding' for end-of-life care. This position has arisen in response to an increased demand for specialist palliative and end of life services.The successful candidate will work 4 days per week (Monday to Friday). Working days and hours are potentially flexible in keeping with Trust policy, and time will be made in the job plan for supporting professional activities (SPA). The Specialist Palliative Care Team provides a 7-day service, and the successful candidate will be expected to take part in the 1:7 resident weekend on-call (0900-1700). If the successful candidate does not have sufficient experience of hospital palliative care, involvement in the weekend rota can be phased in over the first 6 to 12 months and supported by the consultant team., To work with the Consultants and other MDT staff to see patients with Specialist Palliative and end of life care needs within NNUH.oDaily ward review of patients.oOutpatient clinics are possible if desired (after relevant training).oSupport to resident doctors on the wards, including education relevant to palliative and end of life care.oCommunicating with peers and seniors in referring specialties as needed for patient care.oProactive participation in service development and quality improvementoInvolvement with clinical governance as required by all Trust employeesoActive involvement in the education activity carried out within the service including providing teaching and support to the nursing team, undergraduate medical students, F2 doctors, GP trainees, elective students etc.oContribution to the 1:7 weekend resident on-call in the hospital

The NNUH Specialist Palliative Care Team is one of the busiest in the country and we have grown to be among the largest hospital palliative care teams in the country to reflect this demand. We are an advisory service within the hospital, so no patients are directly admitted under our care. We provide specialist palliative care input to patients in all parts of the hospital except paediatrics, from A+E to ITU, and work with our colleagues across all medical and surgical directorates. We receive up to 300 referrals per month, and 98% of these have an initial review within 48 hours. Between 40% and 60% of our referrals come from oncology

Our consultants hold several outpatient clinics including a multi-disciplinary MND clinic based at Priscilla Bacon Lodge and an outreach clinic at Cromer hospital for patients living in the north of the county. We have a well-established breathlessness clinic run by our Band 8a Clinical Nurse Specialist, and a newly developed Advance Care Planning clinic run at Cromer hospital by one of our Band 7 nurses. In January 2025 we will be joined by a senior Clinical Psychologist, who will provide both inpatient and outpatient support to the team and our patients. We are aiming to develop a renal supportive care service, liver supportive care service and a Vulnerable Adult service when resources allow.