Job Description

Cheltenham General Hospital is seeking dedicated resident doctors to join our stroke unit team. As a resident doctor on the stroke unit, you will play a crucial role in providing high-quality care to patients suffering from strokes and related conditions



These posts offer excellent experience in all aspects of stroke medicine and plenty of general medicine care.



These posts are ideal for resident doctors who have completed their foundation training and are considering or have already tak en a career break ( e.g. to work abroad ) before joining a specialist training programme .



The stroke unit in Gloucester shire H ospitals NHS F oundation T rust is currently located in Cheltenham General Hospital. We are a busy unit with a great team of doctors , nurses and therapists with lots of opportunities for learning.



W e have a 21 - bedded hyperacute stroke unit (HASU) , with a direct admission pathway for patients , avoiding the need for patients to attend the emergency department. We provide thrombolysis onsite and assessment and onward referral for thrombectomy at Southmead Hospital in Bristol. This pathway is highly performing with one of the best door-to-needle times in the country.



We also have a 32 - bedded acute stroke unit providing onward care and rehabilitation for stroke patients .

Assessment and diagnosis:

You will c onduct thorough assessments of patients presenting with stroke symptoms, including neurological examinations and diagnostic test s to determine the type and severity of stroke .



You will gain skills in Stroke and neurology assessment and management, other general medical conditions as well as complex decision making, advanced care planning and palliative care.

Treatment planning:

You will c ollaborate with senior medical staff to develop comprehensive treatment plans tailored to each patient's needs, including medication management, rehabilitation programs, and lifestyle modifications.

Patient management:

You will m onitor patients' progress throughout their hospital stay, adjusting treatment plans tailored to each patient's needs, including medication management, rehabilitation programs and lifestyle modifications.

Education and support:

You will learn how to e ducate patients and their families about stroke prevention strategies, rehabilitation techniques, and community resources available for ongoing support post - discharge .



We take pride in placing people at the centre of everything we do, working together as a united team. Driven by a shared ambition to continually grow, develop, and learn, we recognise and value every contribution. By combining our experience and skills, we not only support our vibrant, diverse communities, but also support one another.



With a team of over 9,000 employees, we are proud to be the largest employer in Gloucestershire and rank among the top 10 largest Trusts in the South West region.?By joining our Trust, you will benefit from an excellent package that includes exclusive benefits, flexible working opportunities and the chance to gain valuable experience in one or both of our innovative hospitals .



As well as generous annual leave allowance, you will have access to the excellent NHS pension scheme, competitive bank rates, discounts at local shops and restaurants, access to two on-site nurseries, discounted public transport, reward and recognition and a range of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.



Clinical R esponsibilities /Key Responsibilities

Assessment and diagnosis:

You will c onduct thorough assessments of patients presenting with stroke symptoms, including neurological examinations and diagnostic test s to determine the type and severity of stroke .



You will gain skills in Stroke and neurology assessment and management, other general medical conditions as well as complex decision making, advanced care planning and palliative care.

Treatment planning:

You will c ollaborate with senior medical staff to develop comprehensive treatment plans tailored to each patient's needs, including medication management, rehabilitation programs, and lifestyle modifications.

Patient management:

You will m onitor patients' progress throughout their hospital stay, adjusting treatment plans tailored to each patient's needs, including medication management, rehabilitation programs and lifestyle modifications.

Education and support:

You will learn how to e ducate patients and their families about stroke prevention strategies, rehabilitation techniques, and community resources available for ongoing support post - discharge .



Professional D evelopment, Education and Training



The stroke unit staff contribute to w eekly Stroke X -ray meetings and weekly in-house lunchtime teaching sessions including journal club, case presentations and morbidity and mortality meetings . Y ou will have opportunities to prepare and present cases to help build your CV.



There is a weekly medical Grand Round in which all specialties can attend and contribute.



The Stroke team run Stroke Sim training, and you can access lots of other educational opportunities across the trust.



Links with the University of Bristol medical students and the Three C ounties m edical school in Worcester provide you with the opportunity to teach regular sessions to the medical students during their placements .



Research and Development



We have a well-established team contributing to R esearch and Q uality I mprovement projects. You will be encouraged to contribute to these, and complete QI projects. You can join Quality Improvement training courses.



Communication s and W orking R elationships

Multidisciplinary collaboration:

You will w ork closely with nurses, therapists, and other healthcare professionals to ensure coordinated care delivery and optimal patient outcomes.



Clinical Governance



In the Stroke department we have monthly directorate, audit and Morbidity & Mortality meetings. Our Trust has a well-established framework for clinical governance that incorporates our clinical audit program.



All stroke units in the country contribute to The Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme (SSNAP) - your role helps us deliver against the targets and we regularly review our performance against the measures , which helps us drive improvements to the service.