ENT Consultant - Remote; Locum

Role purpose:

To provide consultant-level remote clinical input to support timely, safe management of ENT and audiology-related referrals and follow-ups. The post holder will triage referrals, deliver Advice and Guidance (A&G), complete diagnostic reviews (including scans), undertake harm reviews where required, and support delivery of contractual performance requirements (KPIs) while maintaining high standards of clinical governance.

• Referral triage (e-RS / Systm One): clinically triage incoming ENT referrals and associated clinical information to determine urgency, appropriate pathway, investigations required prior to appointment, and most suitable management plan.
• Advice and Guidance (A&G): provide timely, high-quality A&G responses to referring clinicians, including clear recommendations on investigations, interim treatment, red flags, safety-netting, and onward referral where indicated, in line with local pathways and national guidance.
• Contractual KPI delivery: support achievement of contract performance measures (for example response times) by prioritising work appropriately, tracking completion, and escalating capacity or pathway risks early.
• Diagnostic / scan reviews: review relevant investigation results (including imaging and diagnostic reports where provided), document an interpretation within scope, and make clear next-step recommendations (discharge, treatment plan, further investigation, or onward referral).
• Harm reviews: complete harm reviews for patients waiting within the service as required, identifying deterioration, safeguarding concerns, or clinical risk; document outcomes; and ensure appropriate action, escalation, and communication.
• Audiology follow-up: clinically review audiology outcomes and investigations, advise on next steps, and ensure appropriate follow-up plans (including discharge advice, patient-initiated follow-up where appropriate, or onward ENT review).
• Documentation: maintain accurate, timely clinical records on e-RS/Systm One (or the agreed digital platform), including clear rationale for decisions, coding where required, and completion of mandatory fields needed for reporting and audit.
• Communication: communicate effectively and professionally with referrers, service managers and the wider MDT; provide clear written outputs suitable for sharing with patients/GPs where required.
• Clinical governance: comply with information governance, safeguarding, infection prevention (where relevant to remote work), incident reporting, and participate in audit/quality improvement as agreed.

Clinical Director / Medical Lead (as locally defined).

General Manager / Service Manager, ENT clinicians, audiology team, admin/referral management team, and primary care referrers.

Remote/home working (UK-based), with attendance at virtual virtual doctors meeting as required.

Access and use of NHS e-Referral Service (e-RS) and Systm One (or agreed clinical record systems) in line with local information governance requirements.

Turnaround expectations:
Deliver A&G and triage activity within agreed service standards and contractual KPIs, escalating promptly where safe turnaround times cannot be met, and supporting the General Manager in maintaining a safe, high-quality service.

• Full registration with the General Medical Council (GMC) with a licence to practise.
• ENT consultant-level experience with ability to provide independent clinical decision-making remotely.
• Demonstrable experience of referral triage and/or delivering specialist Advice and Guidance to primary care (including via NHS e-RS or equivalent).
• Ability to review and interpret investigation results and imaging reports to formulate safe management plans within scope.
• Strong written communication skills, producing clear, actionable clinical advice and safety-netting.
• Competence in using electronic clinical record systems and maintaining high-quality documentation.
• Understanding of clinical governance, incident reporting, safeguarding, confidentiality and information governance.
• Ability to work autonomously, manage workload against turnaround times/KPIs, and escalation risk appropriately.

• Prior experience using Systm One in community services.
• Experience of working within or alongside community/intermediate ENT services and pathways.
• Experience of working closely with audiology services, including review of audiology investigations and…