Job Opportunity Overview
East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer an exceptional opportunity for an enthusiastic and passionate Consultant Geriatrician to join our forward-thinking Department of Older People’s Medicine at Ipswich Hospital. This is a substantive consultant position offering a generous welcome package including a £12,000 bonus and relocation assistance, specifically designed to support international candidates relocating to the United Kingdom.
About Our Trust
We are ESNEFT, one of the largest NHS organizations in England, providing comprehensive hospital and community health services to nearly one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver exceptional care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, clinics, and patients’ own homes. With over 12,000 staff members, we pride ourselves on supporting our team through extensive training opportunities, flexible working options, and a commitment to staff wellbeing.
Visa Sponsorship Available
We are pleased to confirm that Certificate of Sponsorship is available for this position. Applications from job seekers requiring current Skilled Worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. This represents an excellent opportunity for international medical professionals seeking to build their career within the UK’s renowned National Health Service.
Salary and Benefits Package
The successful candidate will receive a competitive salary ranging from £109,725 to £145,478 per annum, depending on experience. Our enhanced welcome package includes an additional £12,000 welcome bonus and comprehensive relocation costs to support your transition to the UK. We offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments where applicable, 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata), and access to a wide range of NHS discounts and benefits.
Working Arrangements
We understand the importance of work-life balance, particularly for those relocating to a new country. This position offers flexible working arrangements including full-time, part-time, and flexible working opportunities. We are committed to supporting our staff through our comprehensive Staff Health and Wellbeing programme, ensuring you feel supported throughout your relocation and integration into UK healthcare.
Role Description
The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in our innovative Acute Frailty service, running ward rounds on our virtual ward supported by Staff Grade doctors or Specialist Registrars. You will provide clinical leadership to our progressive, innovative multidisciplinary ward team and participate in daily consultant-led board rounds conducted via online platforms.
Emergency Department Responsibilities
You will have scheduled time working in the Emergency Department as part of our FIT team, completing comprehensive frailty assessments of patients at the ‘front door.’ This role involves covering two sessions per week in our Frailty Assessment Base (FAB), with the actual sessions varying weekly as cross-cover is included in the programmed activity calculation.
Community Integration
This position supports REACT services with clinical expertise, linking with the community Dementia Intensive Support Team, social services, and the Red Cross to support patients through short-term deteriorations in health and function. You may also hold the ‘hot phone,’ enabling GPs and community therapists to seek advice or book same/next day patients into FAB.
On-Call Opportunities
The post can include participation in the general medicine on-call rota, which operates on a 1 in 8 weekend basis with 12-hour shifts reviewing acutely admitted patients. This is supported by an acute on-call junior team and two medical Specialist Registrars during the day, with a Hospital at Night scheme providing overnight coverage.
Service Development
We are developing our GLINT (Geriatric Liaison to the Integrated Neighbourhood Teams) service to move falls assessments out of FAB and into local teams with consultant support. This innovative approach improves patient experience and eliminates assessment duplication between community and FAB therapists.
Specialist Skills Welcome
We particularly welcome candidates with sub-specialist skills and attributes, such as onco-geriatrics, orthopaedic liaison, or virtual ward community experience. Where possible, we are happy to negotiate time within the timetable to allow these specialized skills to flourish and enhance our service delivery.
Digital Transformation
This is an exciting time to join our trust as we prepare for the rollout of Epic – our new electronic health record system scheduled for 2025. This digital transformation will bring what’s widely regarded as the world’s best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming hospital life for both staff and patients.
Essential Qualifications
Candidates must be included on the GMC Specialist Register for Geriatrics or within six months of their expected date of CCT (or be eligible for entry onto these registers within 6 months of application). MRCP or equivalent qualification is essential, along with evidence of working effectively within multi-disciplinary teams.
Essential Experience
The ideal candidate will demonstrate the ability to organize and prioritize complex demands while offering expert clinical opinion on a full range of acute medical emergencies, rehabilitation, and intermediate care. Evidence of teaching and training skills for junior doctors is required, along with the ability to manage risk and make end-of-life decisions.
Additional Requirements
A full UK driving licence and regular access to a car are essential for this position. For international candidates, we understand that obtaining a UK driving licence may take time, and we can discuss reasonable accommodations during the transition period.
Desirable Qualifications
While not essential, training in appraisal techniques, postgraduate diplomas or higher degrees, and knowledge of current national agendas affecting the NHS would be advantageous. Management training and experience, along with human factors training, are also desirable attributes.
Location and Relocation
The position is based at Ipswich Hospital, Heath Road, Ipswich, IP4 5PD. Ipswich offers an excellent quality of life with beautiful Suffolk countryside, coastal areas, and good transport links to London. We provide comprehensive relocation support to help international candidates settle into their new community.
Application Process
Applications must be submitted through the NHS Jobs website before the closing date of 03 October 2025. The reference number for this position is 432-MI2736. For further information or to discuss the role in more detail, please contact Dr Dan Coates, Clinical Lead, at [email protected] or call 01473 704674.
Equal Opportunities
East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust is proud to be an equal opportunities employer and disability confident employer. We welcome applications from all sections of the community and are committed to providing a supportive and inclusive working environment for all our staff.
Professional Development
We are committed to supporting your professional development and career progression. The trust offers extensive training and development opportunities, and we encourage consultants to pursue areas of special interest and research that align with service needs and personal career aspirations.
Why Choose ESNEFT?
Choosing to join ESNEFT means becoming part of a forward-thinking, innovative organization that values its staff and patients equally. Our philosophy that ‘Time Matters’ drives our commitment to continuous improvement and excellence in patient care. If you are passionate about geriatric medicine and want to develop your skills while making a real difference to patients’ lives, we want to hear from you.
Next Steps
If you are an international medical professional seeking to relocate to the UK with visa sponsorship, this represents an outstanding opportunity to join a progressive NHS trust with excellent development prospects. We encourage you to apply and look forward to welcoming you to our team and supporting your transition to working and living in the United Kingdom.
