Locum Histopathology

This vacancy is for an existing post for a Consultant Histopathologist to work in an integrated health care organisation within a busy district general hospital. We are looking for an enthusiastic colleague to work with 6 Consultant Histopathology colleagues.

It is anticipated that the appointee will develop a lead role/special interest following discussions with the existing consultants, in accordance with the departments requirements.

Whilst job descriptions are identical, the apportionment of roles, for example as Head of Department, will be carried out on appointment by mutual agreement between the consultants, Clinical Lead of Laboratory Medicine and Head of Division. Role rotation has been the norm, typically every 3 years.

The Royal College of Pathologists advises that the applicants who are Specialist Registrars not yet on the GMS Specialist register must have obtained the FRCPath by examination in order to be short-listable for a consultant grade post. It also advises that suitable signed documentary evidence must be provided by such applicants to confirm they are within six months (i.e. six months beforehand) of being included on the GMS Specialist register at the date of interview.

The appointee will, together with consultant colleagues, be responsible for the provision of a comprehensive, efficient and high quality cellular pathology (Histopathology, Non-gynae cytology & Andrology) diagnostic laboratory service. Supporting a provision of mortuary and post-mortem services.

Royal Bolton Hospital currently has approximately 780 in-patient beds, serving the population of Bolton and others from neighbouring areas. It is one of the busiest Hospitals in the North West for emergency admissions. The Hospital has been developed as the District General Hospital for the area and offers clinical specialties on site for medicine, surgery, maxillofacial surgery, ENT, ophthalmology, clinical haematology, orthopaedics, obstetrics and gynaecology, mental health and child health. There are visiting consultant sessions in plastic surgery, neurosurgery, cardiothoracic surgery, oncology, rheumatology and nephrology. There is an intensive care unit and high dependency unit and a satellite renal dialysis unit.

The Trust is a regional centre for Women’s and Children’s services and has a separate Paediatric A&E department. The Accident and Emergency department is the second busiest in Greater Manchester serving an estimated population of 320,000.

The Trust is one of three specialist “Making It Better” sites for Women and Children’s service and one of three centres of excellence for Neonatal Intensive Care in Greater Manchester.

It has been a Bowel Cancer Screening Programme Centre since February 2007 The Trust also hosts the second largest breast cancer screening unit in Greater Manchester, covering the populations of Bolton, Bury and Rochdale. The Trust has a growing reputation as a national leader in quality improvement.

Managerial duties

You will be expected to work with local managers and professional colleagues in the efficient running of services, providing both histological and cytopatholgy reporting services and the undertaking of post mortems.

The appointee will also work closely with other service providers such as the Biomedical Scientists and Associated practitioners in the day to day provision of an efficient and effective Cellular Pathology service in Bolton NHS Foundation Trust. The employee will assist with the responsibility for use and security of, the Trust’s assets, including their own use, and ensuring correct use by others.

There are a number of regular departmental meetings that oversee the various aspects of laboratory which the consultants attend, including the Senior Staff Meeting. The appointee will take an active role in matters of Clinical Governance including audit and training that relate to the laboratory and clinical activities of the Cellular Pathology department.

There is an active audit department in the Hospital with regular intra-departmental meetings at which there is frequently an input from Laboratory Medicine.

The appointee will be expected to participate in clinical audit and in relevant national and regional external quality assurance schemes. At present, these include the regional histopathology EQA scheme, regional non-gynaecological EQA scheme, national breast screening EQA and the national bowel cancer screening EQA.

Currently each Consultant Histopathologist takes a lead role for one or more of the cancer specialist areas. They will attend MDTs for their specialist but be expected to provide cover for other areas as required.The specialist areas covered are:
- Lower GI
- Lung
- Skin
- Urology
- Gynaecology
- Breast
- Upper GI

Clinical duties

The consultant Histopathologists provide advice to many disciplines of health care workers regarding the diagnosis and management of patients and are required to participate in weekly MDTs.

The consultant