Locum Consultant in Hepatology

Job summary

The post is designed to provide clinical service provision for acute paediatric Hepatology and small bowel transplant inpatients, acute management and advice for patients outside of the hospital, outpatient care for new and returning patients, contribute to hepatology theatre sessions for patient requiring liver biopsy or therapeutic endoscopy and contribute to the efficient high standard working of the unit. A subspecialty interest that is complementary to the overall department strategy is highly desirable. The applicant will be expected to contribute to teaching within the department and educational supervision of our doctors in training. We are a research active department and would welcome applicants who will contribute academically.

The appointee will undertake clinical services weeks where they will be responsible for managing the inpatients (1 in 6 rota), in which referrals (internal and external) will be managed, clinics (new referrals, follow up patients and emergency patients who do not need admission), and theatre lists which will be allocated on a rotational basis.

The applicant should come from a paediatric background and have or be eligible for CST in Paediatrics or equivalent. He/she should have some experience in paediatric hepatology, ideally including management of children pre and post liver transplantation and small bowel transplantation.

Main duties of the job

Applicants will be expected to have or be eligible for accreditation in paediatrics, with specialist skills in hepatology, gastroenterology and nutrition. It is expected that the appointee will be able to manage a full range of paediatric hepatology procedures including the ability to perform therapeutic endoscopy for upper gastrointestinal bleeding and liver biopsy. Experience in therapeutic endoscopy and ERCP is desirable. He/she will also be expected to work closely with the transplant and hepatobiliary surgical teams.

The appointee will be offered a standard contract based on 10 Programmed Activities (PAs)/week on average, including out-of-hours cover (Friday to Friday) which is shared with the existing 5 hepatologists per annum. The job plan will offer sessions for direct clinical care and supporting professional activities on a 85% – 15% ratio basis per week on average.

During the service week, the on-call consultant is responsible for all hepatology in-patients, including those normally under follow up by another colleague. This arrangement allows for simpler communication and more efficient ward rounds.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• oEligible For Full GMC Registration with a licensed to practise medicine in the UK oMRCP/MRCPCH or equivalent by examination oEligible for inclusion on Specialist Register as Paediatric Gastroenterologist/Hepatologist (CCT) or equivalent in paediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition

Desirable

• oHigher Degree (MD, PhD, etc)

Clinical Experience

Essential

• oGeneral paediatric experience oExperience and training in all aspects of Paediatric Hepatology, liver- and small bowel transplantation in an internationally recognised training centre oAppropriate progression of career to date. Making independent decisions on complex patients

Desirable

• oExperience in management of intestinal failure oIntensive care experience oExperience at working at a Consultant level oExperience in subspecialty field within hepatology e.g. cystic fibrosis liver disease

Practical skills

Essential

• oExperienced in performing liver biopsy oCompetent in therapeutic upper GI endoscopy and management of gastrointestinal bleeding

Desirable

• oExperience in lower GI endoscopy oExperience in ERCP in children

Governance

Essential

• oPrevious personal audit experience oBasic life support training oChild Protection Training (level 3) or equivalent

Desirable

• oCompletion of at least one clinical audit cycle in last 3 years oExperience of appraisal and/or assessment

Teaching & Training

Essential

• oExperience of contributing to multidisciplinary teaching and training in gastroenterology/hepatology

Desirable

• oEvidence of having developed learning opportunities for others oTraining the trainers course

Research

Essential

• oPrevious personal Research Experience oPrevious peer reviewed publications, poster/plenary presentations, book chapters, etc

Desirable

• oExperience in undertaking clinical trials oGCP training up to date oPrevious experience in developing research protocols or grant applications

Personal skills

Essential

• oCapable of building strong and effective relationships with patients and families oWork well within the MDT team including equitable sharing of clinical, non-clinical and on call duties oAble to respond to and cope with change oAble to work calmly under pressure with good organisational skills and time management oDemonstrates Honesty, Probity And Integrity

Desirable

• oWillingness to undertake additional professional responsibilities

Closing Date: 10 August 2026