Salaried General Practitioner Urgent Treatment Centre

This role is primarily located in the Westmorland General Hospital in Kendal with easy access to the Lake District National Park and its many diverse activities.

There is also quick motorway links to cities such as Liverpool and Manchester.

Kendal Urgent Treatment Centre is a walk-in unit that provides same day assessment and treatment of patients who present with minor illness and/or minor injuries.

Opening hours: 8am-11pm, 365 days a year.

The Clinical Team comprises General Practitioners and Advanced Clinical Practitioners.

Patients can access the department either as a walk in, 111 bookable appointments or referral from Primary Care and paramedics.

Available investigations include: same day X-ray, ultrasound and CT imaging.

There are close working relationships with senior staff in the local Emergency Departments and Acute Teams to provide support with patient management.

The Kendal Urgent Treatment Centre provides the only acute services at Westmorland General Hospital.

There will also be an expectation that the successful applicant will work occasional sessions at the Minor Treatment Unit at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary.

All acute services are on site and the department benefits from access to direct referrals to ED/SDEC and Acute Surgical Unit.

Opening hours are: 8am-8pm 365 days a year.

As a General Practitioner in the service, you will be expected to participate in developing new pathways and models of working to improve overall patient care.

We are looking for enthusiastic applicants to help progress this development whilst working alongside a well established highly functioning team.

Support will be given to upskill in areas where the applicant may have less experience e.g. advanced life support courses and Urgent Care diplomas.

The successful applicant will be a key member providing primary medical services to patients presenting to the department, proactively manage patients' conditions and anticipate future needs.

They will be fundamental in developing appropriate care plans focusing on high quality patient care. The role requires the applicant to undertake a shift pattern of working but where possible flexible hours of working may be negotiated.

Experience offered

Opportunity to share your specialized General Practitioner skills and knowledge with professionals and those who access the service.

Liaise regularly with Secondary Care Consultants who provide invaluable experience and advice to enable appropriate investigation and management of patients in the community.

Protected Continuing Professional Development in line with BMA guidance. for Salaried General Practitioners.

We operate from three main hospitals-Furness General Hospital (FGH) in Barrow, the Royal Lancaster Infirmary (RLI), and Westmorland General Hospital (WGH) in Kendal, as well as a number of community healthcare premises including Millom Hospital and GP Practice, Queen Victoria Hospital in Morecambe, and Ulverston Community Health Centre.

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.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

CLINICAL

Deliver primary medical services to patients that present to the department

Make autonomous decisions in relation to presenting problems and request clinically appropriate investigations including blood tests, microbiology tests, X rays, Ultrasound, CT scans and ECGs.

Assess patients with undifferentiated and undiagnosed problems, making clear agreed management plans based upon their health and social needs and realistic goal setting.

Screen patients for risk factors for early disease and illness using National and local guidelines.

Provide counselling and Health Education where appropriate.

Refer patients where appropriate, to other services, either electively or as an emergency.

Review clinical correspondence and results of investigations on all patients that are present in the department or that have attended recently, ensuring appropriate and timely action related to results obtained.

Work well with other health care professionals.

Comply with relevant practice/policies as set out in the departmental guidelines.

Accept appropriate referrals for community colleagues and direct to more suitable services where the Urgent Treatment Centre is not able to provide patient care.

Respond to ALS calls to other areas of the hospital when required.

Support Advanced Clinical Practitioners who are working the same shifts and supervise medical students.

ORGANISATIONAL

Work with the Advanced Clinical Practitioners, UTC Matron and other clinical colleagues to ensure continuous clinical cover on the unit.

Contribute to audit within the department

Follow instructions at the direction of the Clinical Lead

Attend and participate in educational meetings and team meetings within the department.

MRCGP or equivalent

Previous experience in an acute setting i.e. General Medicine or Emergency Medicine.

Competence interpreting blood results, ECGs and X ray results

Ability to manage common acute illness presentations to the department.

Inclusion on the local Providers List.

Maintain up to date appraisal and revalidation.

Desired

Previous experience in managing minor injuries

ALS

ATLS or equivalent

APLS

Experience in fracture reductions and manipulation of dislocated joints.

Experience with regional anaesthesia blocks (hematoma blocks) and use of inhaled sedatives.