Overview

An outstanding opportunity has emerged for a qualified, conscientious, enthusiastic, and highly motivated candidate to join the Gastroenterology Service at West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospital. This pivotal role encompasses cross-site coverage across St. Albans Hospital, Hemel Hempstead Hospital, and Watford General Hospital, providing a comprehensive and engaging professional environment. This represents a significant opportunity for a senior nurse or a Band 6 nurse willing to learn and progress, to play a lead role in the advancement of care for patients with fatty liver disease and alcohol-related liver disease. This will be achieved through a newly established diagnostic centre for liver disease, sponsored by the local CDC. The multifaceted nature of this position offers considerable scope for the development of entirely novel provisions of patient care. The successful post-holder will collaborate closely with the Hepatology Team, Gastroenterology consultants, the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT), immediate colleagues, and other administrative and clinical members of the Gastroenterology service. This is a fixed-term position with the strong possibility of extension, offering stability and growth.If you''re ready to embrace cross-site working and elevate your nursing career, we want to hear from you!This post is 37.5 hours per week (5 days per week Monday- Friday). This position is primarily based at St. Albans Hospital, focusing on outpatient care; however, there is an expectation of delivering clinics cross-site. The core objective is to streamline the diagnostic pathway and deliver holistic care for patients at risk of fatty liver disease who are referred directly from their GPs.Responsibilities

Conduct outpatient clinics for patients with abnormal liver function and other liver conditions, including liver cirrhosis.Manage MASLD (Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease) through telephone and virtual clinics.Perform Fibroscans and support the Fibroscan Technician in performing Fibroscans (training will be provided).Actively participate in multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings.Ensure effective liaison with primary care and direct communication with patients.Demonstrate excellent communication, organisational, and IT skills.Engage with the evolving hospital environment, including planned developments at Watford and theatre updates at St Albans City Hospital.Support the Trust’s aims to build on a virtual hospital and innovate care models, working with partners and digital health advances.Prioritise staff wellbeing and development and contribute to innovative improvements in clinical care, outcomes, and patient experience.Adhere to the Trust’s vision of Excellent patient care and values of being empowered, compassionate, professional and inclusive.Offer flexible working options to support work-life balance and provide information at www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk/flexibleworking.Contact support for disabilities or long-term health conditions via westherts.recruitment@nhs.net.Consider Armed Forces Community status as applicable on the application form.Note: The advert may close early if a high volume of applications is received.If you do not hear back within 3 weeks of applying, assume you have been unsuccessful.Additional Information

Practice autonomously and be self-directed, managing your own workload.Undertake assessment of individuals using various methods, including physical examination, interpreting diagnostic tests, or advanced health needs assessment.Collaborate with the Lead Clinician and Lead Nurse to develop new specialist clinical services as required.Ensure abnormal imaging is acted upon promptly to progress patient care.Run independent clinics for MASLD, ALD, and liver cirrhosis, managing cross-site caseloads.Provide telephone nurse-led clinics for new and follow-up patients.Perform Fibroscan examinations to assess/monitor severity of liver disease for outpatients.Design, develop and implement evidence-based policies, guidelines and patient care pathways with key stakeholders.Perform advanced specialist clinical skills in assessment, diagnosis and treatment of patients.Attend local hepatology MDT meetings weekly and present patients as required.Coordinate with hepatology, oncology, gastroenterology, and primary care teams as necessary.Maintain accurate patient records and contribute to data collection and reporting.Provide specialist expert clinical knowledge to colleagues, patients and carers/relatives.Involve patients and carers/relatives in planning and delivering care where appropriate.Establish and maintain effective communication with colleagues, MDTs, patients, carers/relatives and external agencies.Promote collaboration with other health professionals to support quality patient care.Act as a role model for nurses in the designated area, upholding standards of care and professional behavior.Use a diverse knowledge base to determine evidence-based therapeutic interventions.Engage in peer review of practice and acknowledge personal limitations per the NMC Code of Professional Conduct (2002).Support the development of a dynamic, interactive learning environment and ensure mandatory training is completed on time.Contribute to the Hepatocellular Carcinoma surveillance database and patient screening attendance.Develop and provide training for medical and nursing students.Foster a culture where staff feel valued, supported, developed and empowered to take responsibility.Collaborate with local and regional MDTs and participate in policy development and ongoing compliance.Lead in developing, implementing and evaluating patient information and local monitoring databases.Participate in clinical research and, if required, clinical trials.Engage with CCG groups as required.Monitor team dynamics and escalate concerns about collaboration to the Lead Consultant, Head of Nursing and Service Manager.Coordinate annual leave and sickness with the line manager per Trust policy.Plan and organise clinics, meetings, and diary management; attend meetings as requested by management.Contribute to changes in working practices and implement agreed management decisions.Contribute to service and budget development with team leads.Qualifications and Requirements

We are seeking a senior nurse or Band 6 nurse capable of leading and developing new services in hepatology care. The post requires cross-site working and engagement with MDTs and primary care; experience or willingness to develop expertise in liver disease management is preferred.Contract and Contact Details

This is a fixed-term position with a strong possibility of extension. The role is 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday. The post is primarily based at St. Albans Hospital with cross-site clinic delivery expectations. The advert closes on Wednesday 3 Sep 2025. For support or guidance on disability or health conditions, contact westherts.recruitment@nhs.net. For flexible working information, visit www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk/flexibleworking.

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