Clinical Fellow in Acute Internal Medicine

, NHS Greater and

The Queen Elizabeth University Hospital opened its doors in May 2015. The hospital has 1109 beds and provides medical care to a population of around 700000 people in west and south Glasgow. The hospital provides the full range of medical and surgical services including many tertiary specialties including neurology, ENT and renal medicine. It is also one of the 4 hospitals in Scotland to admit major trauma cases.

We enjoy close links with ’s three universities and make a significant contribution to teaching at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.  Research also has a high profile within the organisation.  We provide excellent facilities for students and their tutors in the , based at . 

The work of the Acute Medical department and Medical High Dependency unit

The Acute Receiving complex is based on the ground floor of the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and has 118 bays/beds including the Initial Assessment Unit (IAU), 90 Acute Receiving Unit (ARU) speciality cluster beds and an Ambulatory Emergency Care Unit (AECU).

Initial Assessment Unit (IAU)

IAU has 17 bays and provides a 24/7 service for GP referrals to medicine. There is a team of consultant, registrar, middle grade and FY1 staff working in the unit each day. All patients requiring medical admission from the Emergency Department are instead admitted directly to the medical ARU cluster beds which have their own staffing teams.

Ambulatory Emergency Care Unit (AECU)

AECU has 11 bays and is currently co-located with IAU for the management of low acuity patients referred by their GP with medical conditions. There is a team of Medical Nurse Practitioners (MNP’s) working in AECU alongside a GP with Specialist Interest in Acute Medicine. There is also consultant support and a rotating team of senior trainees. There are good links with radiology to enable rapid investigation and early clinical decision-making. Medical hot clinics are also provided in the mornings on weekdays within AECU.

Medical High Dependency Unit (MHDU)

The medical high dependency unit (MHDU) is on the critical care floor of the QEUH. It comprises up to 12 beds with facility for non-invasive respiratory support, vasopressor administration, and invasive monitoring. Patients undergo twice daily ward round review, either by consultant or trainee with consultant supervision. Level 2 critical care is also provided for a range of patients attending several regional units including the Beatson Oncology Unit, pulmonary hypertension unit, and apheresis unit. There is a consultant ward round twice per day Monday to Friday.

AIM Staff

Consultants:

There is a team of 17 consultants working within IAU and the linked ground floor units including AECU. The consultant body derives from a range of backgrounds including Acute Medicine, Infectious Diseases, Diabetes/Endocrinology, Rheumatology & Clinical Pharmacology. There is consultant cover 7 days a week – 8am-8pm on weekdays and 8am-4pm at weekends.

Management:

Dr Neil Ritchie is the Deputy Clinical Director for medicine and unscheduled care lead. Dr Allan Drummond is the IAU Clinical Lead. Graham Christie is the General Manager.

MHDU Staff

Consultants:

There is daily consultant provision Monday to Friday. The consultant body derives from a range of backgrounds, including nephrology, respiratory medicine, acute medicine and intensive care.

Management

The MHDU lies under the medical directorate in the QEUH. Dr Jacqueline Adams is Clinical Director, and Dr Keith Gillis is Clinical Lead; Catherine Nivison is Interim General Manager.

AIM with an interest in MHDU

This role is intended for doctors who have completed CMT/IMT or ACCS and are considering a career in Acute Internal Medicine, an acute medical speciality, or Intensive Care Medicine. The role will provide a wide range of acute and critical care medicine experience and an opportunity to work under a diverse range of consultants with individual specialist interests.

The appointee would be expected to spend time working across the Acute Medicine department, within IAU, AECU and ARU5. They would be expected to review and manage their own patients under the close consultant supervision provided by the department.

They would also work within MHDU, where they would provide their own independent ward rounds as well as work under consultant supervision. They would gain experience in holding the cardiac arrest page and MHDU referrals phone, developing their experience in the initial management of the acutely unwell medical patient.

Whilst the appointee will work across the acute medical department, the focus will be on medical HDU work, and the doctor will be encouraged to optimise their time spent there, including by participating in the dynamic QI environment within the department.

During the post, the appointee would develop their skills in the common medical procedures, including central venous access, arterial line deployment, and chest drain insertion. They would perform independent ward rounds and develop their skills managing medical and critical care patients.

The successful applicant will also be expected to help with teaching of undergraduates, more junior trainees, and attend departmental educational meetings. They would also lead and participate in quality improvement and research projects.

General Medicine

The successful applicant will take a full part in the IMT3 or Medical mid-tier daytime and on call rota, depending on level of experience.

​​NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.