Locum Consultant Paediatric Emergency Department

Overview

This locum post as consultant in the paediatric emergency department is to cover maternity leave and will join a dynamic team of six Paediatric Emergency Medicine (PEM) consultants at University Hospital Lewisham. The role includes working in the dedicated PED with a co‑located Short Stay Unit (PSSU) and participating in a rota of 6 consultants (5.6 WTE). The post holder will provide weekday on‑call coverage on the general paediatric rota and weekend cover (1 in
6) for the PED.

The candidate should have a CCT (or be within 6 months of CCT) in Paediatrics (RCPCH) or Emergency Medicine (RCEM). Experience in paediatric emergency medicine is preferred, but general paediatricians with interest and experience in acute paediatrics are also encouraged to apply.

Those who have a CCT in Paediatrics and broad experience in acute paediatrics but do not have equivalent training/experience in PEM are encouraged to apply.

Key duties include:

• Ensure patient flows are actively managed on the shop floor.
• Daily running of the PED when on shift, including supervision of junior medical staff.
• Governance of the PED: review of results including pathology and radiology, ensuring clinical guidelines are up to date.
• Coordinate with Matron, nurse in charge, and paediatric inpatient ward consultant for clinical care and handover.
• Engage with all medical and surgical teams that see patients in the ED (orthopaedics, surgery, ENT).
• Lead or supervise resuscitation cases, including medical and trauma.
• Provide educational supervision of PED trainees and teaching for medical students.
• Participate in a rota to lead and chair the weekly safeguarding MDT and maintain day‑to‑day safeguarding responsibilities.
• Develop audit programmes and take part in QI projects suitable to PEM.

The appointee will undertake the following duties, with emphasis potentially changing over time:

• Patient flow management on the shop floor.
• Day‑to‑day running of PED including supervision.
• Governance and audit.
• Liaising with inpatient, surgical, and nursing teams.
• Resuscitation leadership.
• Educational supervision.
• Safeguarding leadership.
• QI and audit programme development.