Rheumatology Services 

The Rheumatology Department at Connolly Hospital is a busy tertiary referral centre. The clinical team includes 4.7 WTE Consultant Rheumatologists and One WTE GIM Consultant, a variety of NCHDs including 2 Specialist Registrars, nursing staff at both ANP and CNS level, musculoskeletal physiotherapists and an academic tutor linked to the RCSI. The department operates a very busy outpatient service including several general rheumatology clinics weekly in addition to a variety of specialist clinics including a combined consultant clinic for complex cases, an adolescent transition clinic, an interstitial lung disease clinic, an inflammatory back pain clinic and a fracture liaison service. The Rheumatology team also provides an inpatient rheumatology consult service within the hospital. Diagnostic procedures such as musculoskeletal ultrasound, capillaroscopy and microscopy are also provided within the department. A multi-disciplinary approach to patient care is encouraged with the team working closely with nursing, physiotherapy and radiology in addition to other specialties.

The Rheumatology department contributes to the general medical service within the hospital including an on-call commitment to the general medical rota and on-going management of general medical inpatients.

The Rheumatology department has an academic role within the hospital through links with both the RCPI and RCSI. Involvement in undergraduate teaching includes both bedside teaching of medical students and delivery of the RCSI MSK lecture programme at undergraduate level. The department also provides post graduate teaching to NCHDs with consultants acting as trainers for both BST and HST trainees with the RCPI. The Rheumatology consultants participate in examinations as examiners at both undergraduate and post graduate level through the RCSI and RCPI respectively.

NCHDs are encouraged to engage in research and audit under the supervision of the Rheumatology consultants

For informal enquiries, contact:
Dr. Eithne Murphy, Consultant Rheumatologist email: eithnemurphy@rcsi.ie

Principle Duties and Responsibilities

1. The annual Clinical Directorate Service Plan will detail how plans are to be implemented and will be assessed by reference to a series of performance monitoring arrangements. The Employee agrees to complete and submit their plan (ie the consultant-level component of the Clinical Directorate Service Plan) on an annual basis or as required contributing to the Clinical Directorate Service Plan.
2. The Clinical Directorate Service Plan will set out how regulatory and legislative compliance requirements will be achieved by the Employee and the team in which the Employee works for the time being.
3. Certain decision-making functions and commensurate responsibilities may be delegated to the Employee by the Employer. These will be documented in the Clinical Directorate Service Plan.
4. In addition to their normal duties, the Employee may be required to undertake other duties appropriate to their position as may be assigned to them, including deputising as appropriate.
5. The Employer is required to comply with Government policy in respect of the future provision of healthcare. The Employee is required to cooperate and engage proactively with the implementation of such policy including by cooperating with any changes in the organisation of healthcare services (and any consequential changes in reporting relationships), arising from such policy. Subject to the compliance by the Employer with its legal obligations, any significant changes in the organisation of healthcare services implemented by the Employer further to its compliance with Government policy will, prior to implementation, be the subject of consultation by the Employer through established consultation processes.
6. The Employee will have line management responsibilities for NCHDs on their team.
7. The Employee is required to work to the Employee’s job description which may be amended during the course of the Employee’s employment. The Employee’s obligations will include the following.
   • To participate in the development of and undertake all duties and functions pertinent to the Employee’s specialty, as set out within the applicable Clinical Directorate Service Plan or alternative Plan for community-based services and in line with policies as specified by the Employer.
   • To discharge any statutory obligations attaching to any particular consultant role held (e.g. the clinical director role under the Mental Health Acts 2001 and 2018, or the medical officer of health role under the Health Acts 1947 to 2020).
   • To ensure that duties and functions are undertaken in a manner that minimises delays for patients and possible disruption of services.
   • To work within the framework of the hospital/agency’s service plan and/or levels of service (volume, types etc.) as determined by the Employer. Service planning for individual clinical services will be progressed through the Clinical Directorate structure or other arrangements as apply.
   • To be subject to the HSE’s Performance Achievement Policy which will be structured to take account of the particular needs of consultants and ensure regular review/appraisal of performance and individual needs for effective service delivery. The Clinical Director will be responsible for the implementation of the Performance Achievement Policy with the Employee.
   • To co-operate with individual and team-based performance review processes as outlined by the Employer, the focus of which will be on quality, patient safety and supporting individual and/or team performance.
   • To deliver a quantity and quality of care that is evidence-based and included in the Clinical Directorate Service Plan and appraised at performance meetings which is aimed at addressing patient care needs and supporting individual professional practice.
   • To carry out the duties of the post in such a way as to achieve high standards of clinical care, conduct and performance of work. In the event that the Employee fails to achieve these standards the Employer’s disciplinary procedure that (for the time being) applies to the Employee will be invoked.
   • To co-operate with the expeditious implementation of the Employer’s disciplinary procedure that (for the time being) applies to the Employee. Any update to the disciplinary policy will apply to the holder of this contract.
   • To lead in clinical programmes of work which include quality improvement, education, both intra and inter-disciplinary, promotion of excellence, and information technology.
   • To formally review the execution of the Clinical Directorate Service Plan with the Clinical Director periodically. The Clinical Directorate Service Plan will be reviewed periodically at the request of the Employee or Clinical Director. The Employee may initially seek internal review of the determinations of the Clinical Director regarding the Clinical Directorate Service Plan as it relates to the Employee’s commitment.
   • To participate in the development and operation of the Clinical Directorate structure and in such management or representative structures as are in place or being developed. The Employee will receive training and support to enable the Employee to participate fully in such structures.
   • To lead and manage the professional development of staff, including establishing and maintaining a positive team culture and enhancing staff engagement.
   • To lead and manage the performance of the consultant team in which the Employee works for the time being to ensure the standards expected by the Employee and the Employer are met.
   • To provide, as appropriate, clinical consultation in their area of designated expertise in respect of patients of other consultants at the request of such persons.
   • To ensure in consultation with the Clinical Director that appropriate senior clinical decision makers cover is available at all times having due regard to the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997.
   • To supervise and be responsible for diagnosis, treatment and care provided by NCHDs treating patients under the Employee’s care.
   • To participate as an obligation in selection processes for NCHDs and other staff as appropriate. The Employer will provide training as required. Where practicable the Employer will ensure that a consultant representative of the relevant speciality/sub-speciality is involved in the selection process.

The above Job Description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.

Relevant attachment

Temporary Rheumatology job spec

Skill, Competencies and / or Knowledge

• Demonstrate evidence of effective planning and organising skills including awareness of resource management and importance of value for money
• Demonstrate ability to manage deadlines and effectively handle multiple tasks
• Demonstrate effective communication skills including: the ability to present information in a clear and concise manner; the ability to facilitate and manage groups through the learning process; the ability to give constructive feedback to encourage learning
• Demonstrate awareness and appreciation of the service user
• Demonstrate leadership and team management skills including the ability to work with multi-disciplinary team members
• Demonstrate evidence of ability to empathise with and treat patients, relatives and colleagues with dignity and respect.

The following qualifications shall apply to this appointment:-

Professional Qualifications

Registration as a specialist in the Specialist Division of the Register of Medical Practitioners maintained by the Medical Council in Ireland in the speciality of medicine.

Age

Age restriction shall only apply to a candidate where he/she is not classified as a new entrant (within the meaning of the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2004). A candidate who is not classified as a new entrant must be under 65 years of age on the first day of the month in which the latest date for receiving completed application forms for the office occurs.

Health

A candidate for and any person holding the post must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the post and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

Character

A candidate for and any person holding the post must be of good character.