Locum Consultant - Cellular Pathology
At Milton Keynes University Hospital, you will be welcomed into a friendly and supportive environment where teamwork and respect are at the heart of everything we do. We are proud to live our Trust values and behaviours every day, creating a culture where everyone feels heard and valued.
MKUH staff's Motivation and Involvement scores are among the highest in our peer group, showing that our people feel inspired and included in decision-making (Staff Survey, 2024).
Our benefits
We believe in recognising and rewarding the amazing contribution of our staff and that is why we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your wellbeing, work-life balance, and professional growth, including:
- Free on-site parking including EV charging
- Complimentary refreshments
- Flexible working arrangements
- Discounted gym membership
- Salary sacrifice car scheme
- Generous annual leave, with the option to bank holiday entitlement
- Membership of the NHS Pension Scheme
- On-site nursery (charges apply)
- A wide-ranging staff health and wellbeing programme including EAP
- VIVUP products to support your mental, physical, and financial Wellbeing
Job overview
The cellular pathology department is increasing its capacity and therefore we have an opportunity for consultant posts to come onboard, we have digital reporting available and are currently in the process of looking to implement home reporting.
Applicants are invited to apply for a Locum Consultant position( Fixed term from 16th May 2026 until 15th June 2027) in Cellular Pathology at Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
This is a replacement post, offering 10 programmed activities.
This post completes a team of seven consultant histopathologists. The post is full time, and applicants who, for personal reasons, are unable to work full time are also eligible to apply. If such a person is appointed, modification of the job content will be discussed on a personal basis with the Trust, in consultation with consultant colleagues.
Doctors considering an application are encouraged to visit the hospital and to meet with potential clinical colleagues.
This post is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service Check.
We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community.
Milton Keynes is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment
Main duties of the job
This is a replacement post and completes a team of eight Consultant Cellular Pathologists. The post is full time, and applicants who, for personal reasons, are unable to work full time are also eligible to apply. If such a person is appointed, modification of the job content will be discussed on a personal basis with the Trust, in consultation with consultant colleagues.
Candidates must hold full and specialist registration with the General Medical Council with a licence to practise or be eligible for registration within six months of interview. The appointee must also hold Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists or show evidence of equivalent.
The post holder will be contracted to provide histopathology and non- gynaecological cytology services at Milton Keynes Hospital Foundation Trust, alongside colleagues in Cellular Pathology.
The post-holder will work within the team of Consultant Cellular Pathologists to provide a comprehensive Cellular Pathology service for the University Hospital Foundation Trust and the local GP services of north Buckinghamshire. The role involves reporting an equal (pro rata) share of the Cellular Pathology workload in histopathology and non-gynaecological cytology, and there is a requirement to provide a reliable and expeditious service.Participation in private histopathology is optional and is undertaken on a weekly rota basis by those participating.
Working for our organisation
You can expect a warm welcome at Milton Keynes University Hospital, our staff are friendly and welcoming. We listen to each other and work together to embed our Trusts values and behaviours. At MKUH we appreciate our staff and reward them with an outstanding benefits package including:
- Free on-site parking
- Free tea and coffee
- Great flexible working opportunities
- Discounted gym membership
- Lease car scheme
- Generous annual leave and pension scheme
- On site nursery (chargeable)
- Extensive staff health and well-being programme
Visit our website to catch up on our latest news.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The job plan (10 P.A. on appointment) will consist of a split of DCC and SPA (up to 2.5 SPA on appointment). The SPA component is made up of 1 P.A. of core activities (appraisal, revalidation, CME, routine departmental meetings etc.) and non-core activities. Non-core activities are discussed and agreed within the Trust (via an agreed tariff and, on occasion, through a personal agreement).Non-core SPA may reflect activities such as educational supervision, research, leadership and quality improvement. Following appointment, non-core SPA may be used to participate in our consultant development programme, or in acquiring or consolidating specific skills and expertise.
Non-core SPA is only available if specific activities and objectives are mutually agreed in job planning and these outputs are evaluated at annual job plan review.
Through its inclusive and comprehensive job planning process, the trust commits to providing equitable working conditions to medical colleagues across specialties and their sub-specialties. Delivery of job plans, whilst owned by consultants and their Clinical Service Unit Leads, is overseen by the Divisional Director and subject to peer challenge at divisional level, thus enabling a further layer objectivity to our commitment in this regard.
Allocation of time in programmed activities (PAs)
The allocation of time between various duties of the post (including SPA) will be open to adjustment in consultation with the Head of Department, CSU Lead and the Trust, but initially will be as follows. A further allocation of up to 2.5 SPA is available for specific roles with defined objectives, these can be taken on in agreement with other colleagues and clinical director.The job plans will be reviewed, initially at three months and then on an annual basis
DCC 7.5 PAs
SPA 2.5 PAs
This includes cut-up (gross examination and block selection of Consultant cut up cases), diagnostic reporting, MDT meetings (preparation and attendance), internal peer case reviews, external referrals, administration (relating to case reports), and NHS autopsies.These duties will be undertaken on a shared rota basis with colleagues.
This includes core SPA of 1 for job planning, appraisal, departmental meetings, statutory and mandatory training. Other agreed SPA roles may be undertaken in agreement with the CSU lead, dependent on departmental and Trust needs
Person specification
Qualifications / Registration
Essential criteria- Medical degree
- FRCPath or equivalent
- Full and specialist registration (and a licence to practise) with the General Medical Council (GMC
- Applicants that are UK trained, must also be a holder of a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT), or be within six months of award of CCT by date of interview
- Applicants that are nonUK trained, will be required to show evidence of equivalence to the UK CCT
Experience/Training
Essential criteria- Broad experience in all aspects of the speciality of Cellular Pathology to provide effective and safe management of outpatients, elective and emergency patients
- Significant postgraduate experience required, including relevant higher medical training as a Specialist Trainee or Senior Registrar. This period may be in a post of equivalent responsibility and training potential.
- Sufficient experience in histopathology, and cytopathology
- Experience in reporting fine needle aspirates.
- Special experience in surgical pathology and cytopathology excluding cervical cytology
- Sufficient experience in autopsy
Knowledge
Essential criteria- Appropriate level of clinical knowledge
- Knowledge and application of up to date evidence-based practice.
- IT skills
- Breadth of experience within and outside speciality
Clinical Skills
Essential criteria- Experience in contributing to the multidisciplinary management of patients.
- Understanding of clinical risk management.
Communication Skills and Teaching
Essential criteria- Good written and verbal communication skills.
- Evidence of ability to communicate with patients, colleagues and staff at all levels
- A proven background in organising and delivering undergraduate and post-graduate teaching and research with evidence of training for the role is highly desirable
- Teaching experience, teaching medical students and supervising speciality trainees
- Ability to be able to appraise both trainees and other staff
- A qualification in Medical education, such as a Diploma
Leadership/ Management skills
Essential criteria- Ability to motivate and develop training of medical and non-medical staff.
- Interest in medical management
Other requirements
Essential criteria- Ability to work independently as well as part of the Pathology Division.
- To balance individual requirements against those of the Directorate and the Trust as a whole.
- Ability to gain the trust and confidence of colleagues and patients.
- Ability and desire to take part in clinical directorate management
- IT and computer skills.
Health
Essential criteria- Be in good health. Demonstration of immunisation against Hepatitis B, plus proof of Hepatitis B antigen negative status
Personality
Essential criteria- Enthusiastic and able to inspire enthusiasm in others
- Innovative
Research and Audit
Essential criteria- Able to appraise research
- Thorough understanding of the principles of audit
- Publications in peer reviewed journals in the field of cellular pathology.
We believe success lies in the diversity of our employees and are committed to promoting equality, encouraging diversity and embracing inclusion. We welcome applications from everyone interested in working for us.
We reserve the right to expire vacancies prior to the advertised closing date once a sufficient number of applications have been received.
MKUH uses identification scanning technology to confirm the authenticity of documents; all prospective employees of MKUH will have their original documents verified using this technology.
By applying for this role, you accept if successful, that information from your application will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR) system. Your personal data may be transferred from the Trust to another NHS organisation where your employment transfers within the NHS.This is in accordance with the streamlining programme which aims at saving you time and improving efficiencies within the NHS when your employment transfers.