Neonatal Consultant | and Tunbridge NHS Trust

Overview

We are keen to appoint an enthusiastic substantive Neonatal consultant to join the team at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust. This is a new position in the Department of Paediatrics, providing a clinical service at Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury (TWH) and Maidstone Hospital. The post is created to complement the existing 6 consultants on the NNU on-call rota and aligns with the recent BAPM guidelines to provide 1 in 7 NNU on-call coverage.

The role offers the experience of working at consultant level with a 1:7 rota in level 2 NNU. Consultants are expected to conduct normal neonatal follow-up and general paediatric clinics for all ages (0–16 years) during non-hot weeks. Preference will be given to candidates who have completed a SPIN module in neonates and can demonstrate adequate neonatal experience. There is no commitment to Resident on-call coverage unless there are emergency gaps on the rota.

General Paediatrics on-call is covered by the General Paediatrics cohort; there is no commitment to cover general paediatric on-calls. We welcome part-time and job-share applicants.

TWH at Pembury handles approximately 6,500 deliveries per year. The aim is to provide a high standard of care to patients under your clinical responsibility, including those referred to you or cared for by your team, and, when covering on-call or during annual leave, patients of consultant colleagues.

• Provide high-quality neonatal and general paediatric care as part of the on-call and routine duties.
• Participate in clinical and service developments to ensure high standards of patient care across the Trust.
• Work collaboratively with medical, professional, and managerial colleagues inside and outside the specialty to support Trust goals.
• Lead and participate in clinical governance, attend governance half-days, and contribute to department-wide audits and implementation of change.
• Take responsibility for undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, training, and supervision, including delegation of tasks to trainees within their competence.
• Support the professional development of junior medical staff and ensure supervision aligns with Deanery guidance.
• Ensure compliance with the General Medical Council's Good Medical Practice and related duties of a doctor.

• Experienced neonatal consultant or equivalent level with demonstrable neonatal expertise.
• Preference given to candidates with a SPIN module in neonates.

We are a flexible, work-friendly organisation and will consider adjusting hours or other flexible arrangements to suit individuals, the needs of our patients, and the Trust.

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust ranks among the top 10 NHS Trusts nationwide and was named the second-best Trust to work for in the South East in the 2023 and 2024 NHS Staff Survey. We are a large acute hospital trust in south-east England, serving around 600,000 residents with over 8,000 staff and specialist cancer services via the Kent Oncology Centre.

Fordcombe Hospital joined the Trust in October 2024 and provides planned care with two operating theatres, 28 beds, diagnostic services, and treatment rooms.

• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Membership in the NHS Pension Scheme, with 23.7% employer contribution and life assurance
• Blue Light card eligibility
• Additional benefits as described in the trusts benefits documents

The Department of Paediatrics offers a wide range of general and specialist paediatric services, with shared-care arrangements with tertiary centres. The department includes:

• General Paediatric bed base of 23 single rooms, including 2 HDU beds
• Level 2 NNU unit with 18 cots and 3 ICU cots
• Ambulatory Unit (Woodlands) open 7 days a week, 9:00–00:00
• Ambulatory Unit (Riverbank @ Maidstone) open 5 days a week, 09:00–19:00, supporting the ED unit
• Day Surgery across both sites
• Outpatient Clinics across both hospitals