CONSULTANT CARDIOLOGIST
AND PHYSICIAN
ROYAL ALEXANDRA
HOSPITAL/VALE OF LEVEN
HOSPITAL
INFORMATION PACK
REF: 24546D
CLOSING DATE: 2ND MARCH 2012
www.nhsggc.org.uk/medicaljobs
SUMMARY INFORMATION
POST: CONSULTANT CARDIOLOGIST AND PHYSICIAN
BASE: ROYAL ALEXANDRA HOSPITAL/VALE OF LEVEN HOSPITAL
Applications are invited for the post of Consultant Cardiologist and Physician within NHS
Greater Glasgow and Clyde, based at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, Paisley and Vale of
Leven Hospital, Alexandria. This post has been previously agreed as part of a planned
expansion in consultant numbers to support unscheduled and scheduled medical services
at both the Royal Alexandra Hospital and Vale of Leven Hospital.
The successful candidate will integrate into a team comprising five consultants and
expected to provide a full range of consultant services as agreed with colleagues and
management. This will include in-patient and out-patient care, acute medical/cardiology
receiving and participation in consultant out-of-hours on call rota. This offers a real
opportunity for the successful candidate to be involved in the development of a successful
modern consultant led service across two hospital sites.
Interventional cardiology services, including cardiac and thoracic services, are fully
operational within the West of Scotland Regional Heart and Lung Service based at the
Golden Jubilee National Hospital. Jointly, the well established medical cardiology services
within NHSGG&C and the GJNH provide a high quality clinical service in all areas of
cardiology including full range of cardiac catheterisation procedures, brady and complex
pacing device implantation, electrophysiology, general cardiology, heart failure and adult
congenital heart. There is a substantial academic presence and very good links with
Glasgow University in all areas of the services provided. A number of consultants have
national and international reputations. There is also a well established Cardiology
Managed Clinical Network; the lead clinician is Dr D Murdoch, Consultant Cardiologist.
Both the Royal Alexandra and Hospital Vale of Leven Hospital are close to the city of
Glasgow, with excellent transport links and access to the countryside.
Applicants must hold full registration with the General Medical Council and have a licence
to practice. Those trained in the UK should have evidence of higher specialist training
leading to CCT or eligibility for specialist registration (CESR) or be within 6 months of
confirmed entry from date of Interview. Consideration will be given to applicants who are
unable for personal reasons to work full time.
NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde
Emergency Care and Medical Services – Clyde Sector
Consultant Cardiologist & Physician
Royal Alexandra and Vale of Leven Hospitals
This post of Consultant Cardiologist will be based at the Royal Alexandra Hospital (RAH),
Paisley, five miles from the bustling West end of Glasgow. The post has been agreed as
part of a planned expansion in Consultant numbers to support unscheduled and planned
medical services at the Vale of Leven Hospital (VOL) as well as developments at the RAH.
The successful candidate will integrate into a team comprising five Consultants to develop
Cardiology across both Hospitals. This will offer a real opportunity for the successful
candidate to be involved in the development of a successful modern consultant led service
across two Hospital sites.
1.
General Information
The Royal Alexandra Hospital (RAH) is situated in Paisley and provides acute
health care services to Renfrew District (pop 205,000). The Hospital is a 968 bed
modern District General Hospital (DGH) which opened in 1986 and is one of the
largest and busiest non-teaching DGHs in Scotland. In addition the hospital is
currently the base for provision of surgical, orthopaedic, ophthalmology, paediatric
and the majority of maternity services to the population north of the Clyde served by
the Vale of Leven Hospital.
The hospital provides a wide range of District General Hospital specialties with
excellent support facilities. The hospital has a first class modern radiology
department and services. Pathology services for the Clyde division of Greater
Glasgow and Clyde (GG&C) are centered on this site. All departments participate in
undergraduate teaching and there is an active postgraduate educational
programme. The hospital enjoys an enviable reputation for undergraduate teaching
and is highly popular with training grades. There is a good medical library service.
At the beginning of 2005 Paisley University Nursing School left the RAH campus.
Proposals for the use of the vacant space at the heart of the hospital are being
sought and are likely to include the further development of ambulatory care, day
surgery, endoscopy services and improved educational facilities.
The Vale of Leven Hospital (VOL) is situated in Alexandria, an area of outstanding
natural beauty and serving a population in excess of 88,000 largely from
Dumbarton, Alexandria and Helensburgh. The Vale of Leven Hospital has
undergone a period of re-configuration following the implementation of the Vale of
Leven Vision in December 2010. This vision includes the retention of unscheduled
medical care at the Vale of Leven Hospital, led by the Consultant Physician team
based at the Royal Alexandra Hospital and supported by GP and GP trainees. In
addition there will be inpatient medicine for the elderly beds, short stay surgical
beds together with day surgery and a full range of diagnostic and support services.
2.
The Medical Unit
The Medical Unit at the Royal Alexandra Hospital has 203 beds. This includes an
18 bedded Coronary Care/Chest Pain Unit and a 30 bedded medical receiving
ward. The medical unit provides an acute service in general medicine with clinics in
general medicine, diabetes and endocrinology, gastroenterology, cardiology,
asthma, respiratory medicine and haematology.
The Vale of Leven Hospital medical unit includes a Medical Assessment Unit, 12
bed receiving unit with provision for monitored beds and a further 27 general
medical beds.
.
3.
Workload of Adult Medicine
(Approximate to year ending March 2009)
RAH
Inpatients 12,394
Day Cases 190
New outpatients 3,907
Inpatients 4,121
Day Cases 93
New outpatients 1,950
VOL
4.
Consultant Staffing
Between the RAH and VOL there are currently 21 consultant physicians with special
interests as noted.
Dr Iain Findlay
Dr Stuart Hood
Dr Eileen Peat
This post
Vacant Post
Cardiology
Cardiology
Cardiology
Cardiology
Cardiology
Prof Martin McIntyre
Dr James Boyle
Dr Clare Harrow
Dr Neil McGowan
Diabetes and Endocrinology
Diabetes and Endocrinology
Diabetes and Endocrinology
Diabetes and Endocrinology
Dr James McPeake
Dr Graham Naismith
Dr Rizwan Hamid
Dr Mathis Heydtmann
Gastroenterology
Gastroenterology
Gastroenterology
Gastroenterology
Dr Alistair Dorward
Dr Jane Gravil
Dr M Al-Shamma
Dr Douglas Grieve
Respiratory Medicine
Respiratory Medicine
Respiratory Medicine
Respiratory Medicine
Dr Gillian Roberts
Dr Martin Perry
Rheumatology
Rheumatology
Dr Gautam Ray
Dr Chris Foster
Vacant Post
Acute Medicine
Acute Medicine
Acute Medicine
5. Junior Staff
Specialist Registrars
ST/FTSTAs
Foundation Year 2
Foundation Year 1
GPST1
6.5 (RAH)
8 (RAH)
6 (RAH) moving to 6
17 (RAH/VOL)
6 (VOL)
There are Specialist Nurses in Diabetes, Respiratory Medicine, Cardiac
Rehabilitation, Cardiac Failure, Haemato-Oncology, DVT, Chest Pain management
and inflammatory bowel disease across both Hospitals.
6.
Cardiology Services
The Royal Alexandra Hospital provides a busy non invasive cardiology service to
the population of Renfrew and beyond. Cardiac intervention and surgery is provided
at the Golden Jubilee National Hospital in Clydebank.
6.1
Coronary Care & Chest Pain Assessment Unit
The purpose built unit opened in October 2007. Patients with acute myocardial
infarction, acute coronary syndromes, arrhythmias or congestive cardiac failure are
admitted to the 18 bedded coronary care & chest pain assessment unit.
The unit is staffed during the day by one of the consultant cardiologists on a
rotational basis and supported by junior medical staff from the cardiology ward.
Over 2,500 patients are admitted per year.
6.2
Cardiology Ward
The cardiology ward, ward 8 has a total of 29 inpatient beds and is situated
adjacent to the Cardiac Physiology Department. Facilities on the ward include the
pacing room and treadmill.
6.3
Medical Staff
There are currently five Consultant posts at the Royal Alexandra Hospital. They
provide 1 in 5 weekly cover for CCU, rapid access chest pain clinics, pacemaker
implantation, 8 outpatient clinics per week and supervision of the cardiology ward.
Over 2,000 new and 4,500 return outpatients are seen each year.
They are currently supported by an ST7 and ST5 cardiology trainees. There is a
staff grad, a CMT trainee, a GPST trainee, 1 FY2 trainee and 2 FY1 doctors.
6.4
Cardiology Physiology Department
The Department at the RAH is staffed by a total of 13.5wte, including support staff.
There is a good skill mix with a number of staff highly skilled in echocardiography.
Workload of the Department in 2008/09 was as follows:
Cardiology Procedure
Routine ECG Recordings
Ambulatory Monitors
Exercise Tests
Echocardiograms
Pacemaker Implantations
Pacemaker Checks
2008/09
32,167
1,467
1,917
3,733
108
764
The Department at the Vale of Leven Hospital is staffed by a total of 3.9wte.
Workload of the Department in 2008/09 was as follows:
Cardiology Procedure
Routine ECG Recordings
Ambulatory Monitors
Exercise Tests
Echocardiograms
2008/09
3,688
820
606
1,098
6.5
Cardiology Specialist Nurses
There are 2.4 wte acute chest pain nurses and 1.8 wte heart failure liaison nurses
based at the Royal Alexandra Hospital.
6.6
Cardiac Rehabilitation
We offer a gold standard cardiac rehabilitation service to all patients with a step
change in their cardiac condition. It is recognised as one of the best services in the
U.K. with a full compliment of multi-disciplinary staff.
6.7
Pacing Service
We now implant approximately 140 brady pacemakers and Reveal devices per
annum. The service is consultant led with support from NASPE trained technicians.
Patients are therefore followed up locally at the RAH. The consultants provide
training in pacemaker implantation to cardiology registrars.
7.
Acute Medical Services
The team of Consultant Physicians at the Royal Alexandra Hospital will have
responsibility for acute medical services at both the Royal Alexandra Hospital and
the Vale of Leven Hospital.
7.1
Acute Receiving Ward
Acute medical admissions are admitted to the acute receiving ward (currently ward
2) at the RAH or through the medical assessment unit (MAU), which is staffed by
one of the consultants, together with the Acute Physician on a rotating ‘Physician of
the Week’ basis Monday morning to Friday lunchtime. Patients are then triaged to
the appropriate specialty wards if not for early discharge.
Acute medical admissions at the VOL are admitted to ward 3, which is staffed by a
third consultant on a rotating ‘Physician of the Week’ basis Monday morning
through to Friday pm. The Physician of the week will also lead inpatient ward
rounds at the Vale of Leven Hospital during this week.
Weekend cover is provided by two Consultant Physicians with joint morning ward
rounds at the RAH and afternoon ward rounds at both the RAH and VOL.
7.2
Medical High Dependency Unit (HDU)
The RAH has three medical HDU beds at present within the combined 12 bedded
HDU, with scope to increase to four or more medical HDU beds if required.
7.3
Junior Doctors out-of-hours
A Hospital @ Night service started at the RAH in August 2006. This is part of a
wider work assessing the impact of Modernising Medical Careers and implementing
plans to support the delivery of high quality sustainable services.
Junior medical support at VOL is provided by GPST1 and GPs supported by the
HAN Practitioner service.
7.4
Medicine for the Elderly Service
Medicine for the Elderly is part of the Rehabilitation and Assessment Directorate,
but many of its activities and adult medicine are combined. In particular, out-ofhours cover is provided by juniors from Medicine for the Elderly and adult medicine
and both department share educational meetings.
The Medicine for the Elderly consultants visit the acute receiving ward at the RAH
daily and arrange transfer to the Medicine for the Elderly Unit of those appropriate
patients. A Stroke unit (Ward 4) taking all age groups is led by Dr L Erwin.
The service at the Vale of Leven supports post-admission care of appropriate
patients with 37 rehabilitation beds which will also provide near to home
rehabilitation for patients admitted initially to the RAH.
8.
Management Arrangements
Emergency Care and Medical Services Directorate – Clyde Sector, consists of
Accident & Emergency and General Medicine. The consultant appointed will be
expected to participate fully in the work of the Directorate.
The Clinical Director for Medicine across Clyde is Prof Martin McIntyre, based at
RAH. There are two Lead Clinicians for Medicine across Clyde; Dr Stuart Hood at
RAH/VoL and Dr Chris Jones at Inverclyde Royal Hospital.
The Clinical Director for Cardiology services across NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde
is Professor Stuart Cobbe.
9.
Summary of the Post
The appointee will provide consultant leadership in Cardiology.
10
Duties of the Post
ROYAL ALEXANDRA HOSPITAL
The successful candidate will be expected to provide a full range of consultant
services as agreed with colleagues including in-patient management of patients
admitted to the Medical Wards and Coronary Care Unit. There are usually three
outpatient clinics per week. It is likely that some of the clinic commitment will be at
the Vale of Leven Hospital on a rotational basis with other colleagues at the RAH.
The successful candidate will undertake consultant duties for CCU in the RAH on a
1:5 basis. This includes twice daily ward rounds Monday-Friday and a ward round
on a Saturday morning. During the CCU week the consultant cardiologists currently
see up to 3 Rapid Access Chest Pain patients daily. It is anticipated that the
cardiologist of the week will be available for telephone consultation and support for
the physician at the Vale. There is no separate on call commitment for Cardiology.
The appointee would be expected to be on call from home for advice for RAH and
VOL every 20th night. Weekend commitments to unscheduled medical admission
will consist of 1:20 as “first on” which would involve twice daily ward rounds on
Saturday and Sunday in the RAH and on call for advice both nights. There would
also be a 1:20 “second on” which would consist of morning ward rounds in the
acute medical admissions unit at both the RAH and VoL. The second on person
would not be on call for advice that weekend. The total weekend commitment is
therefore 1:10.
10.2
Suggested job plan
The job plan will be tailored to the successful candidate’s interests and the
following should be taken as guidance. A detailed job plan will in due course be
agreed with the Clinical Director or Lead Clinician and thereafter this will be subject
to periodic review and adjustment if necessary. The appointee may be required to
support clinical activity elsewhere across Greater Glasgow and Clyde.
Duty
Outpatient Clinics (3 clinics, 4 weeks in 5)
CCU (1 week in 5)
Ward Rounds
Admin
Subspecialty (4 weeks in 5)
Out-of-hours
PAs
2.4
2.0
1.0
1.0
1.6
1.0
9
Total DCC
SPA
1.0
TOTAL
10
Cover for study leave, holidays will be provided from within existing consultants.
10.3
Support staff
There is secretarial support for the consultant.
11.
Postgraduate and Undergraduate Training
The unit has a postgraduate programme which includes a weekly unit meeting,
monthly journal club and SHO tutorial sessions. There are weekly hospital
postgraduate meetings during term time. Mr Andrew Renwick is the postgraduate
tutor.
The Medical Unit teaches a number of medical students from Glasgow University.
As part of the new curriculum teaching of years one to five is becoming established.
12.
Further information
For further information and arrangements to visit the department,
Please contact
Prof Martin McIntyre
Clinical Director,
Consultant Physician / Endocrinologist
Royal Alexandra Hospital
Paisley
Tel 0141 314 6826
Email: martin.mcintyre@rah.scot.nhs.uk
Dr Stuart Hood
Lead Clinician, Medical Unit
Consultant Cardiologist
Royal Alexandra Hospital
Paisley
PA2 9PN
Tel 0141 314 7214
Email: stuarthood@nhs.net
Dr Iain D Findlay
Link Consultant Cardiologist, Medical Unit
Consultant Cardiologist
Royal Alexandra Hospital
Paisley
PA2 9PN
Tel 0141 314 6878
Email: iain.findlay@nhs.net
Prof S M Cobbe
Clinical Director Cardiology Services NHS GG&C
Consutlant Cardiologist
3rd Floor, Walton Building
Queen Elizabeth Building
Royal Infirmary
Glasgow
Tel 0141 211 4722
Email; stuart.cobbe@clinmed.gla.ac.uk
PERSON SPECIFICATION
ESSENTIAL
QUALIFICATIONS 

MRCP or equivalent.

Clinical training and

experience equivalent to that
required for gaining UK CCT
in Cardiology.
Ability to offer expert clinical
opinion on a range of clinical
problem in Cardiology.
Ability to take full and
independent responsibility for
clinical care of patients.
Ability to advise on the

efficient and smooth running
of the Cardiology Service.
Ability to organise and
manage ward patients and
outpatient priorities.
Experience of audit
management.
Ability and willingness to work
within NHS GG&C and NHS
Scotland performance
framework and access
targets.
Experience of supervising

medical trainees.
Ability to teach clinical skills.



MANAGEMENT
AND
ADMINISTRATIVE 
EXPERIENCE



TEACHING
EXPERIENCE
OTHER
ATTRIBUTES
Full GMC and a Licence to
Practice
Those trained in the UK
should have evidence of
higher specialist training
leading to CCT or eligibility
for specialist registration
(CESR) or be within 6 months
of confirmed entry from date
of interview.

CLINICAL
EXPERIENCE





DESIRABLE
Ability to work in a team.
Good interpersonal skills.
Caring attitude to patients.
Ability to communicate
effectively with patients,
Sub-specialty interest.
Attendance at
management course for
clinicians.
Experience of MMC
assessment tools.

relatives, GPs, nursing staff
and other relevant parties.
Commitment to the
requirements of clinical
governance.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE
The conditions of service are those laid down and amended from time to time by the Hospital
and Medical & Dental Whitley Council.
TYPE OF CONTRACT
Permanent
GRADE AND SALARY
Consultant
£ 74,504 £ 100,446 per annum (pro rata)
New Entrants to the NHS will normally commence on the minimum point of the
salary scale, (dependent on qualifications and experience). Salary is paid
monthly by Bank Credit Transfer.
HOURS OF DUTY
Full Time 40.00
SUPERANNUATION
You have the option to join the NHS Superannuation Scheme, to participate in
the State Earnings Related Pension Scheme or to take out a Personal
Pension. Employee’s contributions to the NHS Scheme are Tiered based on
your earnings and the employers contribution equates to 13.5 % of salary.
Employees in the NHS Scheme are “Contracted-out” of the State Earnings
Related Pension Scheme and pay a lower rate of National Insurance
contributions. Employees who choose to participate in the State Earnings
Related Pension Scheme pay the higher rate of National Insurance
contribution. A Stakeholder Pension is also available. A Personal Pension is a
private arrangement agreed with the pension provider that will be an
organisation such as a Bank, Building Society or Insurance Company.
REMOVAL EXPENSES
Assistance with removal and associated expenses may be given and would be
discussed and agreed prior to appointment.
EXPENSES OF
CANDIDATES FOR
APPOINTMENT
Candidates who are requested to attend an interview will be given assistance
with appropriate travelling expenses. Re-imbursement shall not normally be
made to employees who withdraw their application or refuse an offer of
appointment.
TOBACCO POLICY
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde operate a No Smoking Policy in all premises
and grounds.
DISCLOSURE SCOTLAND
CONFIRMATION OF
ELIGIBILITY TO WORK IN
THE UK
This post is considered to be in the category of “Regulated Work” and
therefore requires a Disclosure Scotland Protection of Vulnerable Groups
Scheme (PVG) Membership which currently costs £59.00. The cost of the
PVG Membership will be initially paid by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and
will required to be repaid through a payroll deduction mandate from the
successful candidate’s first salary.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) has a legal obligation to
ensure that it’s employees, both EEA and non EEA nationals, are legally
entitled to work in the United Kingdom. Before any person can commence
employment within NHS GGC they will need to provide documentation to
prove that they are eligible to work in the UK. Non EEA nationals will be
required to show evidence that either Entry Clearance or Leave to Remain in
the UK has been granted for the work which they are applying to do. Where
an individual is subject to immigration control under not circumstances will they
be allowed to commence until the right to work in the UK has been verified.
ALL applicants regardless of nationality must complete and return the
Confirmation of Eligibility to Work in the UK Statement with their completed
application form. You will be required provide appropriate documentation prior
to any appointment being made.
REHABILITATION OF
OFFENDERS ACT 1974
The rehabilitation of Offenders act 1974 allows people who have been
convicted of certain criminal offences to regard their convictions as “spent”
after the lapse of a period of years. However, due to the nature of work for
which you are applying this post is exempt from the provisions of Section 4 of
the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 by virtue of the Rehabilitation of
Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions Orders 1975 and 1986). Therefore, applicants
are required to disclose information about convictions which for other purposes
are “spent” under the provision of the act in the event of employment, failure to
disclose such convictions could result in dismissal or disciplinary action by
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Any information given will be completely
confidential.
DISABLED APPLICANTS
A disability or health problems does not preclude full consideration for the job
and applications from people with disabilities are welcome. All information will
be treated as confidential. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde guarantees to
interview all applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the
post. You will note on our application form that we ask for relevant information
with regard to your disability. This is simply to ensure that we can assist you,
if you are called for interview, to have every opportunity to present your
application in full. We may call you to discuss your needs in more detail if you
are selected for interview.
GENERAL
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde operates flexible staffing arrangements
whereby all appointments are to a grade within a department. The duties of an
officer may be varied from an initial set of duties to any other set, which are
commensurate with the grade of the officer. The enhanced experience
resulting from this is considered to be in the best interest of both NHS Greater
Glasgow and Clyde and the individual.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
The postholder will undertake their duties in strict accordance with NHS
Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s Equal Opportunities Policy.
NOTICE
The employment is subject to three months’ notice on either side, subject to
appeal against dismissal.
MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE
In terms of NHS Circular 1989 (PCS) 32 dealing with Medical Negligence the
Health Board does not require you to subscribe to a Medical Defence
Organisation.
Health Board indemnity will cover only Health Board
responsibilities. It may, however, be in your interest to subscribe to a defence
organisation in order to ensure you are covered for any work, which does not
fall within the scope of the indemnity scheme.
FURTHER INFORMATION
For further information on NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, please visit our website
on www.show.scot.nhs.uk
View all our vacancies at www.nhsggc.org.uk/medicaljobs
Subscribe to our Medical Jobs Vacancy Bulletin Click Here
Register for Text Alerts for medical vacancies – email your mobile number and
the grade and specialty you are interested in to gg-uhb.medicaljobs@nhs.net
Applicants wishing further information about the post are invited to contact Professor
S M Cobbe on 0141 211 4722 with whom visiting arrangements can also be made.
HOW TO APPLY
To apply for these posts please include your CV and names and addresses of 3
Referees, along with the following documents; (click on the hyperlinks to open)
Medical and Dental Application and Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form
Declaration Form Regarding Fitness to Practice
Immigration Questionnaire
Alternatively please visit www.nhsggc.org.uk/medicaljobs and click on the “How to
Apply” tab to access application for and CV submission information.
RETURN OF APPLICATIONS
Please return your application by email to nhsggcrecruitment@nhs.net or to the
recruitment address below;
Medical and Dental Recruitment Team
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Recruitment Services
5th Floor, Tara House
46 Bath Street
Glasgow
G2 1HJ
CLOSING DATE
The closing Date will be 2nd March 2012