This is an exciting opportunity foraPhysician Associate to join the dynamic Elderly Care Medicine Department at the Royal Berkshire Hospital.

The first Physician Associate in the department was successfully appointed in 2017. The number has since grown to eight. We have the potential to increase our numbers further having seen the benefits of having Physicians Associates working within the department.

Main duties of the job

Take detailed histories from patients or their next of kin and perform structured physical examinations. Record the findings and formulate differential diagnoses in the Enhanced Recovery Pathway for older people

Review new patients admitted to the ward and provide subsequent management of their care in conjunction with the medical team. Order appropriate investigations, interpret results, form a list of differential diagnoses and recommend treatment accordingly.

Perform Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) for all patients along with the multidisciplinary team to improve patient outcomes

Perform diagnostic/ therapeutic procedures subject to training and experience. These include (but not exclusively): venepuncture, cannulation, arterial blood gases, injections, ECG, urethral catheterization, nasogastric tube insertion.

Ensure documentation in the Enhanced Recovery Pathway is legible and clear.

About us

The Royal Berkshire is a large, busy hospital voted as one of the CHKS top 40 hospitals. While a general hospital, it also provides many specialist services usually associated with teaching hospitals- cancer, specialist orthopaedic, dialysis, heart attack and stroke centre. We provide high quality care and our patients consistently give us one the highest scores in the country for patient experience.

We are highly research active, recruiting to a large number of trials and have just formed a joint Clinical Trials Unit with NHS partners and the University of Reading, increasing the research opportunities for all staff.

We pride ourselves on our education and training; the Royal Berkshire is consistently the most popular site for junior doctor training in the Thames Valley and more than half of our newly appointed consultants have trained here.

Job description
Job responsibilities

Please see attached job description and personal specification for further details of the expectations of this post.

Person Specification
Professional Qualifications
Essential

• BA/BS degree prior to undertaking PA programme
• PG Dip in Physician Associate from a UK training Programme
• Current & Valid certification or recertification by the PA National examination
• Registration with the UK Managed Voluntary Registry for PAs
• Membership of the Faculty of Physician Associates (RCP)
• If US trained: current & valid certification with the national commission on PA Certification for Physician Assistants

Desirable

• ILS certification
• ACLS certification

Clinical Experience & Skills
Essential

• Ability to organise & prioritise workload effectively
• Ability to exercise sound judgements when faced with conflicting pressures
• Ability to adhere to regulations as well as work flexibly to meet the needs of the Trust
• Caring attitude toward patients
• Ability to communicate effectively with colleagues, patients, relatives, nurses, other staff and agencies

Desirable

• Be able to demonstrate an interest in Elderly care
• Experience of conducting clinical audit

Clinical Knowledge
Essential

• Knowledge of medical procedures and terminology

Audit Management & IT
Essential

• Ability to work within clinical governance guidelines
• Good IT skills, use of patient and hospital database.

Personal Qualities
Essential

• Ability to communicate with clarity and intelligently in written and spoken English
• Willingness to take responsibility, and exert appropriate authority.