Consultant in Medicine for the Elderly in Perth Royal Infirmary

Applications are invited for a new Consultant Physician to join the Medicine for the Elderly team in Perth and Kinross. This post gives the opportunity for the successful applicant to join an enthusiastic and growing unit providing high quality hospital and community services.

The appointee will join the department of MFE and General Medicine at a time of change and innovation.  The MFE service delivers care in Perth Royal Infirmary and surrounding community. Areas of responsibility in PRI include our Acute Frailty Service, a new dedicated ward for orthogeriatric and short stay MFE patients, an elderly rehabilitation ward and care of our patients in acute MFE. Community services include care for patients in our Community Hospitals and liaison with general practice-based teams, an evolving service. We recently employed MFE ANPs and developing collaborative pathways between PRI and community. There is an opportunity to take a lead role in developing the community service and shape the creation of a frailty unit at PRI.

We also have established outpatient services, including falls and Parkinson’s clinics, and Day Hospital services in Perth. We work closely with our colleagues in Old Age Psychiatry, based at Murray Royal Hospital in Perth, and have strong liaison links in PRI and MRH. The expansion of MFE services in recent years has been supported by the appointment of specialty doctors, who are forming a strong team and rotate through the different clinical areas, while the service continues to be consultant led.

MFE consultants are part of the medical receiving rota together with their GIM colleagues. There is a 2 week ‘hot block’ where we are working on the acute MFE ward and deliver our  on calls (frequency of 1:12). The acute take is split between the on call consultant and a GIM physician of the week, who also looks after any patients remaining in the acute medical unit. The frailty team do take over the frail elderly patients and a local cardiologist will take patients as appropriate. The weekend on call is at a frequency of 1:6 and provided by two consultants. This has much reduced the workload post on call and there are no ongoing in-patient responsibilities on AMU. Following a hot block there is a period of 4 to 6 weeks where we provide MFE speciality services.

The appointee for the post will work with the five existing MFE consultants to manage the patient caseload, with an opportunity to develop a sub-speciality interest. We are a flexible group of colleagues who have always managed our roles to allow this. We enjoy the blend of MFE and acute GIM receiving, but we would also welcome applicants who would prefer a pure MFE job plan.

The department also has strong links with the University of Dundee Medical School, and undergraduates are attached to PRI throughout their training. Several of the consultants have leadership roles with the medical school, and there are opportunities to play a significant role in delivering teaching on the site. PRI has also regularly received positive feedback from trainees at all levels of seniority, and from external reviews of training, which has contributed to a positive and productive working atmosphere

The successful candidate must hold MRCP and be on the Specialist Register in Geriatric and General Medicine or be within six months of the anticipated award of CCT or CESR (CP) in Geriatric and General Medicine at the time of interview for the post.

The post is offered on the basis of 10 programmed activities in the first instance.   However, applications are also welcomed from candidates who for personal reasons may be interested in working less than full time.

For informal enquiries or to arrange a visit please contact: Dr Dirk Habicht, Lead Clinician – Medicine for the Elderly, Perth Royal Infirmary on 01738 660111 (switchboard) or email  

Interview Date: 2nd June 2022

​​​​​​​NHS Tayside is committed to equality and diversity and welcomes applicants from all sections of the community.

Short-listed applicants will be contacted by email.   Please check your emails regularly, including your junk/spam folder.