Locum Consultant Rheumatologist | Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust

Posting date:	05 September 2025
Salary:	Not specified
Additional salary information:	£109,725 - £145,478 Per annum/pro rata
Hours:	Part time
Closing date:	05 October 2025
Location:	MAIDSTONE, ME16 9QQ
Company:	Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust
Job type:	Contract
Job reference:	7419031/359-MSD7419031

Summary

This is an appointment to the Specialty Medical Directorate which provides clinical services at both Maidstone Hospital and Tunbridge Wells Hospital. There are opportunities to undertake outreach clinic in local community hospitals. Job share and less than full time applicants are welcome. The full-time post-holder will undertake five out-patient clinic sessions in Rheumatology across the sites.

The new consultant will participate in quality improvement and service development across the trust. Successful applicant will provide leadership and supervision to the multidisciplinary team, including registrars and nurse specialists. The rheumatology consultant team shares additional responsibilities including provision of advice and guidance for primary care colleagues, triaging of referrals and reviewing ward referrals. Development of sub-specialty interests and relevant non-clinical skills are strongly encouraged. Participation in General Medicine/Acute Medicine is optional.

Depending on the quality of applicants, the trust is prepared to appoint multiple candidates.

The successful candidate will join the team ofRheumatologistswho currently provide local services across the Trust. The Rheumatology department runs dedicatedearly synovitis, connective tissue disease, ultrasound and osteoporosis clinics. There is a weekly biologic MDM. The department delivers a high-quality audited biologic program that has published outcomes. We have a weekly MDT for switchers.Currently c.1600 new referrals are seen in the clinicseach year along withc. 7400 follow-up appointments. There is access to an ultrasound machine at both sites.

The department aims to formalise existing partnership with other specialties (ophthalmology, respiratory, renal), so that patients benefit fromcontinuous improvement in care quality.

Clinicians from our trust areengaged in regional initiatives, including the design of high cost drug pathways and participation in Large Vessel Vasculitis MDT and sitting on aregional MDT for HLH. A Rheumatologicalspecial interestis encouraged and would be an advantage. The successful candidate will ideally contribute to inresearchand will be active in nurse and junior doctor education/development. Active participation in audit and clinical governance is expected.

Dual training in General Medicine and contributing to themedical on call rotawould be welcome, but optional.

This position is for an initial 12 months contract, with opportunity for extension and/or conversion into a long term substantive position.

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust

The Trustwas established in April 2000 through the merger of Mid Kent Healthcare Trust and Kent & Sussex Weald NHS Trust. It provides general hospital care to ~590,000 people in West Kent and North East Sussex, and specialist cancer services to ~1.8 million. Its main hospitals are Tunbridge Wells Hospital (TWH) in Pembury and Maidstone Hospital (MGH), where the Trust HQ is also based. Key personnel include:Chair: Dr Annette Doherty,Chief Executive: Mr Miles Scott,Chief Medical Officer: Dr Sara Mumford

Clinical services are delivered via nine Directorates. Within theSpecialistMedicine Directorate(which includes Rheumatology):Lead for Rheumatology: Dr Bella Waller,Clinical Director: Dr Matt Szeto,Chief of Service (Medicine & Emergency Care): Dr Simon Webster

To provide a high standard of care to any patient for whom you have clinical responsibility, including any patients referred to you and cared for by you or by members of your team and any patients of consultant colleagues when you are covering for leave.
To participate in clinical and service developments with the aim of ensuring a high standard of patient care across the Trust.
To work in close co-operation with other medical, professional and managerial colleagues, both within and outside the specialty, to provide high quality health care to the Trust’s patients, and to make a contribution to future thinking about the Trust’s strategic direction.
To participate fully in and share leadership of the clinical governance of the specialty covering its Trust-wide activities. To attend clinical governance half-days as detailed in the Trust’s Guide to Job Planning unless on agreed leave or while attending emergencies.
To participate actively in departmental audits, sharing co-ordination of audit activities within the department and implementation of change.
To take an active responsibility for undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, training and supervision.
To assume responsibility, both personally and corporately with consultant colleagues, for the management of junior medical staff. You are expected to be involved in their professional development, both clinical and personal as per guidance from the Deanery.


This advert closes on Sunday 21 Sep 2025