Consultant histopathologist - London
Job overview
ST GEORGE’S UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST
CONSULTANT HISTOPATHOLOGIST
Gastrointestinal and Skin pathology
APPOINTMENT
Applications are invited for a full-time substantive Consultant Histopathologist to join our Cellular Pathology department. This is for a whole time Consultant with 10 programmed activities (PAs) and the post holder will be based at St. George’s Hospital.
This is a new post reflecting an increase in demand for pathology related to service expansion in both Gastrointestinal (with age extension in the bowel cancer screening program) and Dermatology clinical activity.
The proportion of the two specialties covered in the individual Consultant job plan will depend on Departmental service needs.
Candidates wishing to work fewer than 10 programmed activities will also be considered for the role. 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.
The department also has a requirement for autopsy pathology for a small number of hospital-consented post-mortem’s and a larger and established educational commitment related to adult Coronial autopsy work. A willingness to participate in autopsy work at some stage would be welcomed although it is not a critical component of this job.
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will be expected to work with colleagues and local managers in the efficient running of the Service and will share with Consultant colleagues in the medical contribution to management. The successful candidate will be expected to participate in the Trust’s system of governance, and audit and maintain their CME/CPD.They will also have a commitment to participate in the Trust’s professional development and to ensure their suitability for revalidation with the GMC. The appointee will be expected to observe the Trust’s agreed policies and procedure, drawn up in consultation with the profession on clinical matters, and to follow the standing orders and financial instructions of the Trust.
The consultant appointed will have a continuing responsibility for the care of specimens from patients in their charge and for the proper functioning of the department. They will undertake administrative duties associated with the care of their patients and specimens and the running of the clinical department.
The configuration of responsibilities will be reviewed from time to time and the appointee will be expected to work with consultant colleagues to provide a reliable and expeditious service. Compliance with the requirements of good clinical governance and any new national arrangements for medical recertification will be expected.
Working for our organisation
St George’s, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group cares for a population of four million people in South West London and North East Surrey. Our sites include St George’s Hospital, one of 11 major trauma centres in the UK and the largest healthcare provider and major teaching hospital in the area; St Helier Hospital, home to the South West Thames Renal and Transplantation Unit and Queen Mary's Hospital for Children; and Epsom Hospital, home to the South West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre (SWLEOC).
After years of collaboration, our two Trusts became a hospitals group in 2021. While remaining as two separate Trusts, being a hospitals group will help us to collaborate more closely on research, and the development, education, and training of our 17,000-strong workforce.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
GASTROINTESTINAL PATHOLOGY
GI pathology is supported by a team of 9 substantive consultants who staff a rota of approximately 4.5 WTE. GI pathology comprises upper and lower GI tract biopsies, ultrasound-guided endoscopic fine needle biopsies, resections form the lower GI tract and specimens derived from the national Bowel Cancer Screening Programme (BCSP).Targeted liver biopsy and medical liver biopsy workload is also undertaken, the latter is reported by 3 of the substantive consultants.
The year 2024 saw 18,104 GI specimens in the department, comprising a mix of endoscopic biopsies (including BCSP specimens) and excisions/resections.
There will be an expectation to report liver pathology including both targeted and medical liver biopsies and interested candidates will be required to demonstrate their experience in the above specimen types in the application.
The consultant medical workforce is supported by specialist BMS staff who provide macroscopic dissection support for both simple and complex GI resections. Currently the GI Consultant team support the training of two BMS colleagues as part of the RCPath/IBMS specialist BMS reporting role in GI pathology, one whom commenced stage D training in April 2024.
The GI team uses RCPath workload score allocation system based on the 2015 RCPath guidelines for scoring, whilst we await the publication of updated guidelines. Cases are prospectively scored and allocated depending on Consultant availability according to individual job plan availability of the Consultants based on the weekly rota.
SKIN PATHOLOGY
Skin cases form the second largest specialty area in terms of specimen requests (16,893 requests/cases in 2024). The current team include 13 Consultant Pathologists equating to approximately 6.5 WTEs. The service receives a wide range of skin specimens from Dermatologists and Plastic Surgeons based at St George’s Hospital, Queen Mary Hospital, and Croydon University Hospital, as well as serving Cobham Day Surgery and Epsom Day Surgery.Skin specimens are also received from GPs. The Melanoma Unit at St George’s is a regional referral centre and is one of the busiest melanoma units in the UK. The service supports a weekly dermatopathology clinicopathological conference (CPC), the Specialist Skin Cancer MDT at St George’s, and the local Skin Cancer MDT at Croydon.
The successful applicant is expected to support all skin meetings in rotation with the team. The cut up of all small and large skin specimens is performed by biomedical scientists.
The skin team uses a workload score allocation system for all specimens. This is based on the 2015 RCPath guidelines for scoring, whilst we await the publication of updated guidelines. Cases are prospectively scored and allocated according to job plan availability.This has facilitated a fair distribution of cases amongst pathologists, maintaining a streamlined reporting service and achieving the RCPath recommended turnaround time KPIs.
AUTOPSY PATHOLOGY
The mortuary at St George’s Hospital is busy, offering a comprehensive service of paediatric and perinatal pathology to local hospitals and a Coronial adult autopsy service to Her Majesty’s Coroner for Inner London West (Wandsworth & Merton).Approximately between 620 - 650 Coronial adult autopsies are undertaken each year; 80% are administered by pathologists attached to SWLP. This provides the substrate for the autopsy education of junior pathologists attached to the department.
At present it is only the educational and training component of the autopsy service which is accounted for as SPA time in the NHS Consultant Job Plan. The post holder will however be permitted to undertake commensurate Coronial autopsy work outside the NHS Consultant Job Plan subject to clinical lead approval, Coronial agreement, time shifting and service constraints.
SGH has a minor historical requirement for adult hospital autopsy, most often fewer than 10 cases per annum. The post holder would be welcome to take part in such activity subject to appropriate accreditation.
Person specification
Education
Essential criteria- Full and specialist registration (and a licence to practise) with the General Medical Council (GMC) (or eligible for registration within six months of interview) Medical degree FRCPath or show evidence of equivalent qualification 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 non-UK trained, will be required to show evidence of equivalence to the UK CCT Revalidation as appropriate
- Higher degree in preparation or awarded
Experience
Essential criteria- Ability to take full and independent clinical responsibility. Thorough general training within all aspects of general histopathology/cytopathology Active participation in clinical audit Active participation in teaching
- Management experience. Relevant publication(s) in peer reviewed medical journal(s) Recent experience in independent reporting
Skills
Essential criteria- Ability to advise on the efficient and smooth running of a specialist service. Ability to organise and manage A good understanding of audit Teaching and presentation skills IT skills
- Leadership skills Research skills
Personal
Essential criteria- Interest in and commitment to research and teaching. Ability to work in a team. Good interpersonal skills. Caring attitude to patients. Commitment to continuing medical education.
- Reside within 10 miles of St George’s Hospital during working week