Consultant Microbiologist/infectious Diseases

Applications are invited for the post of Consultant Microbiologist/Infectious Diseases for Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust (MTW). This is a new post and the appointee will join an existing team of 4 other Consultant Microbiologists to support the Microbiology laboratory and the infection Prevention and Control services in the Trust.

The post holder will be expected to contribute to the antimicrobial strategy of the Trust and will be a member of the Antimicrobial Stewardship group.

The post will rotate between Maidstone Hospital and Tunbridge Wells hospitals which will enable the post holder to have a clinical input into a wide range of specialist clinical services including the Kent Oncology Centre, clinical haematology, ophthalmology and specialist oncology surgery on the Maidstone site and major trauma, paediatrics and neonatal intensive care on the Tunbridge Wells site as well as general medicine and intensive care units on both sites. There are currently weekly MDTs with haematooncology, daily MDTs in both Intensive Care Units and pharmacy-microbiology handover meetings to support Antimicrobial Stewardship.

All Consultant Microbiologist are expected to attend the laboratory management meeting, departmental quality and clinical governance meeting and the Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee.

The post holder will contribute fully to these activities. A special interest to complement those of the existing consultants is desirable.

The Trust was formed in April 2000 by the merger of the Mid Kent Healthcare Trust and the Kent & Sussex Weald NHS Trust. It provides general hospital services to a population of approximately 460,000 in West Kent and North East Sussex, and some specialist services to a considerably larger population. It consists of two hospitals including the newly constructed Tunbridge Wells Hospital and Maidstone Hospital. The Trust’s Headquarters is at Maidstone Hospital. The Trust’s Chairman is Mr David Highton, the Chief Executive is Mr Miles Scott and the Medical Director is Dr Peter Maskell. The clinical services are organised into five clinical divisions each made up of a number of clinical directorates. The Chief of Service for Diagnostics and Clinical Support Services is Dr Paul Sigston and the Divisional Director of Operations is Mr Neil Bedford. Pathology is part of the Diagnostics and Clinical Support Services Division. The Clinical Director for the Pathology Directorate is Dr Supriya Joshi and the Lead Clinician for Microbiology is Dr Grace Sluga.

To provide comprehensive clinical medical microbiology services including advice regarding appropriate specimen collection, involvement in specimen analysis, validation and interpretation of results for transmission to wards, and involvement in the management of individual patients through full clinical liaison. The post holder will be involved in policy, S.O.P.s etc. preparation, relevant to consultant medical microbiologist duties.

To participate in Trust Infection Prevention functions and services including deputising for the Infection Control Doctor where appropriate.

Involvement in the development of clinical management protocols shared with the community and other consultant colleagues.

Participation in the management and future development of the microbiology service.

Provision, with consultant and other colleagues, and when necessary with the support of local Public Health England, of microbiological and epidemiological support, including surveillance, for Consultants in Communicable Disease Control, environmental Health Officers, DoH and others, and for clinical staff in hospitals and the community, within the catchment area of the Laboratory.

Collaboration with central reference and epidemiological facilities in the reporting and investigation of infections, control of outbreaks, assessment of vaccines, development of laboratory methods, involvement in surveys, including sharing responsibility with colleagues for supporting Public Health England functions on the laboratory.

Participation in quality control within the laboratory.

Support the process of maintaining full UKAS ISO 15189 accreditation.

Participation in the Royal College of Pathologists scheme of Continuing Professional Development.

To provide a high standard of care to any patient for whom you have clinical responsibility. This will include any patients referred to you and cared for by you personally or by members of your team and, in addition, any patients of consultant colleagues when you are covering on-call or for annual leave.

To participate in clinical and other service activities and developments with the aim of ensuring a high standard of patient care across the Trust.

To work in close co-operation with other medical, professional and managerial colleagues, both within and outside the specialty, to provide high quality health care to the Trust’s patients, and to make a contribution to future thinking about the Trust’s strategic