Locum Consultant in Stroke Medicine
Full time (10 PA, including up to 2 PA SPA
Fixed term for 12 months
Salary Scale - £111,430- £148,064 per annum (pro rata if part time)
Looking for a new and exciting challenge? Then think about working in NHS Forth Valley in the heart of Scotland.
NHS Forth Valley seeks to appoint an enthusiastic and innovative colleague to join the Stroke Service within NHS Forth Valley’s Ageing and Health Team. Sitting within Acute services is the Stroke Service. It is an exciting time for the service with plans for future services including the introduction of thrombectomy services within Scotland. 2020 saw the development of a Hyperacute Stroke Unit (HASU) within the footprint of the current Stroke Unit and Ambulatory care for the rapid assessment of people with suspected TIA. We also have an established fully funded Early Supported Discharge team (our START team) to support earlier discharge and rehabilitation into the community.
This post will be focused on delivery of care in the acute/early stages of admission to hospital but there are opportunities to work within the wider stroke service and services aligned to clinical expertise.
Patients with suspected stroke or TIA are currently admitted through the Emergency Department and/or Acute Medical Unit and are then subsequently moved to our HASU. We look after adult patients of all ages with stroke. The vast majority of patients with stroke will be cared for within the Stroke Unit although the clinical needs of some patients will mean they require care elsewhere in the hospital or will develop stroke symptoms during hospital admission. The Stroke service has a commitment to consult on such patients usually within the cardiology and general medical wards, surgical wards and the intensive care unit.
The 23-bedded Acute Stroke Unit comprises a Hyper-acute area where those receiving thrombolysis therapy are directly admitted from ED. There is an additional 8-bedded Rehabilitation Stroke Unit in the Bellfield Centre, Stirling Care Village. Since 2010, approximately 750-800 patients with stroke and 60-100 patients with TIA are discharged annually. There are an additional 375-450 patients seen each year in the Rapid Access TIA Clinic. There is also scope to provide ambulatory care through our Rapid Access Care Unit.
Hyperacute assessment and thrombolytic therapy is provided by the stroke consultants on-site during office hours Monday to Friday. Out with these times and at weekends, this service is provided by a telemedicine service via service level agreement in conjunction with NHS Lothian. There would be scope to be part of this service if the candidate wishes. We are part of the national planning structure to improve access to thrombectomy and the systems necessary to assess and deliver this highly effective treatment. This is a service currently offered in conjunction with Lothian and is to undergo expansion.
We have a keen ethos of Quality Improvement to enhance the service and take responsibility for Stroke education within the hospital including core and advanced competency teaching and STAT (Stroke & TIA Assessment Training) run at the Scottish Centre for Simulation and Clinical Human Factors within the hospital. We work closely with our Allied Health Professional colleagues and have developed national learning tools for doctors, nurses and allied health professionals.
There is active participation in Clinical Research, with support from our R&D Department. We are involved in multicentre clinical trials including CTIMPs and qualitative studies in stroke care. We have a dedicated stroke research nurse to support these trials.
There are links to the newly established Specialist Rehab team. This team provides rehabilitation to those with complex trauma, specific neurological conditions, acquired brain injuries and those from the surgical specialties. There are plans to further develop a local spasticity service which will have links to the Stroke Service.
You can look forward to a warm welcome and strong support from colleagues. Our hospital is situated in the heart of Scotland, nestled against the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, and close to vibrant towns that are richly endowed with excellent cultural and sporting facilities, offering good transport links to Edinburgh and Glasgow.
To apply for this post, please visit the job posting on the NHS Scotland Job Train website.. Applicants should have full GMC registration and a licence to practise. Applicants will be in possession of the CCT in Geriatric/General Medicine or equivalent, registered with the General Medical Council and on the Specialist Register or be within 6 months of the anticipated award of a CCT at the time of interview. Applicants applying under the Portfolio pathway must be entered on the specialist register at time of application. Applications will also be considered from those who have dual accreditation CCTs in Neurology, or Acute Internal Medicine. The expectation would be that any role agreed would be largely based within the stroke services. Applicants are required to have evidence of recent continued academic and professional development. Excellent, communication, listening and organisational skills are essential.
Informal enquiries are warmly invited by: Dr Anthony Byrne, Stroke Consultant, [email protected] or Dr Gareth Blayney, Stroke Consultant [email protected]
Closing date: Sunday 6th September 2026
Interview date: TBC
Please quote reference number 255231 on all correspondence.
