Job summary
- Main area
- Rheumatology
- Grade
- Consultant in Rheumatology
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time
- Part time
- Flexible working
- Job ref
- 153-M3805
- Employer
- University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Christchurch
- Town
- Christchurch
- Salary
- £109,725 - £145,478 Per Annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 12/03/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Consultant in Rheumatology
Consultant in Rheumatology
As University Hospitals Dorset we are a three site acute trust with ‘university hospital’ status through our partnership with Bournemouth University, working with an annual budget of £730m.
We offer highly regarded health services, employing some 10,000 staff. Our ambitious £500m transformation programme is well on the way to delivering state-of-the-art facilities over the next two years to meet the current and future healthcare needs of the populations we serve.
In an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with over seven miles of sandy beaches you’ll find inspirational opportunities to achieve your perfect work/life balance. With the New Forest and the Purbecks on our doorstep, we’re also less than three hours from London by road or train. The thriving towns of Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch give way to idyllic villages and unspoilt landscapes just minutes from our hospitals.
We believe that having a diverse workforce, and allowing people to be themselves, is essential in ensuring we offer an inclusive, welcoming and productive place to work.
We especially welcome applications from minority groups in the community who may be underrepresented in our workforce.
At UHD our active staff network groups are the Women's Network, Black Asian Minority Ethnic Group (BAME), Pride Network, European (EU), Pro Ability Staff Network, and the Armed Forces Support Group.
As a Trust we are proudly signed up to the Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant guaranteed interview schemes.
We are aware that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support the preparation of their application. While this is not discouraged, we kindly remind applicants that submissions should remain an honest and accurate representation of your own experience and suitability. Personal integrity is an important part of the recruitment process.
Job overview
We are seeking to appoint a Consultant Rheumatologist to join the Dorset-wide Rheumatology service. This post will be primarily based at Christchurch Hospital, working in close partnership with the substantive consultant teams across Dorset.
The Dorset Rheumatology service delivers a comprehensive secondary care rheumatology service for the population of Dorset. Services are centred on our two major hub sites at Christchurch Hospital and Dorset County Hospital, with additional outpatient activity delivered through a hub-and-spoke model across Dorset. Inpatient rheumatology consultations are provided via Royal Bournemouth Hospital in the east of the county and Dorset County Hospital in the west.
This appointment comes at an exciting period of development following the merger of Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals and Poole Hospital to form University Hospitals Dorset, and the subsequent extension of collaborative working across Dorset County Hospital. The successful candidate will join a supportive, forward-looking consultant body and will have opportunities to contribute to service development as the Dorset Rheumatology service continues to evolve.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will contribute to the delivery of high-quality consultant-led rheumatology care across Dorset. The role includes consultant outpatient clinics based at Christchurch Hospital, with inpatient rheumatology input delivered via Royal Bournemouth Hospital. There may also be scope for limited satellite outpatient activity within the east of Dorset, subject to service need and job planning.
The post holder will work closely with consultant colleagues across the county and within the wider multidisciplinary team, contributing to urgent and routine rheumatology pathways, clinical governance, teaching, and continuous service improvement.
There is flexibility to shape aspects of the role in line with the appointee’s experience and interests. Ideally, applicants should have experience or a strong interest in connective tissue disease and giant cell arteritis, and the service particularly welcomes candidates with an interest in contributing to GCA assessment pathways, including vascular ultrasound, with support for further development available where required.
Working for our organisation
Our values define who we are as #TeamUHD. They underpin everything we do now and in the future. They define how we treat our patients, visitors, and each other, our valued teammates and colleagues.
UHD are investing in services across the Trust, with many being transformed and developed following merger and the New Hospital Programme.
This means that some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or long term. Recruiting Managers interviewing for this role will be happy to answer any specific questions that you have at interview.
As part of our commitment to delivering high-quality care across seven days, this post may involve participation in an out-of-hours rota, including evenings, weekends, and/or bank holidays, in accordance with service needs. Any work undertaken outside standard hours/PA’s will attract remuneration in line with the respective NHS Medical and Dental Terms and Conditions of Service.
We do reserve the right to close this advertisement early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For a full description of the role, responsibilities, and person specification, please refer to the attached job description and person specification documents.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- MRCP (UK) or an equivalent qualification
- Entry on the General Medical Council (GMC) Specialist Register for Rheumatology
Experience
Essential criteria
- Satisfactory training in Rheumatology
- Involvement in undergraduate and postgraduate education.
Ability & Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Wide knowledge of Rheumatology
Motivation
Essential criteria
- Hard working and positive outlook
- Committed to service development in Rheumatology
Personality
Essential criteria
- Able to work in a team
- Friendly and supportive to staff and patients
Audit
Essential criteria
- Experience in hospital clinical audit
Research
Essential criteria
- An understanding of the Research process
Management ability
Essential criteria
- Management ability
Other requirements
Essential criteria
- Innovative, committed, hard working.
- Proficient in both written and verbal communication skills in English
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Dr Jonathan Marks
- Job title
- Clinical lead for Rheumatology
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0300 019 5389
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