Job Description

We are seeking a dedicated GP or Consultant to join our Virtual Ward, Hospital at Home team, transforming care for adult patients as an alternative to hospital admission where clinically appropriate to receive acute level care in the community. This is an opportunity to lead and shape a multidisciplinary team that brings together professionals from a range of health care professions such as medicine, advanced clinical practice, nursing, pharmacy, therapy, and community services.



Our Virtual Ward team delivers acute level care to patients in their own homes by providing a Multi Disciplinary Approach to care either face to face or remotely dependant upon need. This aligns closely to the two hour urgent community response strategy to offer and alternative to hospital inpatient care.



Why Join Us?

Shape a developing service:

by contributing to the design and growth of this innovative service at its early stages.

Balanced schedule:

work Monday-Friday with on call on a weekend rota basis.

Purposeful work:

improve patient outcomes by addressing complex, acute level needs in a community setting.



This is a cross bay service with base to be negotiated upon appointment.



Opportunity to deliver acute level care differently in an innovative, proactive community team.



Previous applicants need not apply.



Who We Are Looking For



We are looking for a Consultant or GP with expertise in general medicine, frailty, and the complexities of community care. Candidates should be confident in independent decision-making, safe risk management and are passionate about working with patients in a collaborative, multidisciplinary team.



You will provide clinical leadership, guide the development of comprehensive patient management plans, and address patients' physical, mental, and social needs. Your responsibilities will include (but aren't limited to):



Leading the service with overall responsibility for the clinical caseload, service development, and innovative practice for the Service.



Leading MDT meetings to foster collaborative care strategies.



Conducting clinical assessments through home visits or remotely.



Providing leadership and support for the team with senior clinical decision-making.



Making autonomous clinical decisions, ordering appropriate investigations (e.g., blood tests, X-rays, CT scans, ECGs), and referring patients to other services as needed.



Screening patients for early disease risk factors using national and local guidelines, providing counselling, and promoting health education.



Reviewing clinical correspondence and investigation results, ensuring timely action.



Supporting clinicians and supervising medical students.



Contributing to audits and participating in educational and team meetings.



We operate from three main sites-Furness General Hospital (FGH) in Barrow, Heysham Primary Care Centre in Heysham, and Westmorland General Hospital (WGH) in Kendal.



FGH and the RLI have a range of General Hospital services, with full Emergency Departments, Critical/Coronary Care units and various Consultant-led services.



WGH provides a range of General Hospital services, together with an Urgent Treatment Centre, that can help with a range of non-life threatening conditions such as broken bones and minor illnesses.



All three main hospitals provide a range of planned care including outpatients, diagnostics, therapies, day case and inpatient surgery. In addition, a range of local outreach services and diagnostics are provided from community facilities across Morecambe Bay.



Our Virtual Ward team operates seven days per week, 08:00 - 20:00. As the Clinical Lead, you will be expected to be on site during core hours and support an on call rota. Applicants must have the ability and means to travel across the area as required.



We invite applications from Consultants, GPs or experienced clinicians who are able to provide independent, senior level decision making within the multi-disciplinary team. The programme supports patients aged 16+ years, so we are looking for candidates with experience managing general medicine and frailty who understand and enjoy the complexities of care in the community setting.



Please see the attached and Person Specification for more information.