Consultant in Histopathology
Job overview
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.
Please see below for detailed job description of the role.
Main duties of the job
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust wishes to appoint a substantive Consultant in histopathology with an interest in pulmonary pathology and at least one other adult pathology subspecialty, with opportunities in gynaecological, GI/HPB, skin, and breast pathology.The service covers the Southampton population and regional referrals from around Wessex.
You will contribute to the established and experienced pulmonary pathology subspecialist team, plus at least one other, including reporting of histology and cytology specimens, dissection and MDT's. Other areas of interest, including autopsy work, can also be discussed.
As the regional training centre, you will be involved in post graduate teaching and training. Strong links with University of Southampton provide opportunities to be involved in undergraduate teaching.
For more information about the vacancy and our department, please read our brochure: https://uhs-nhs.pagetiger.com/cellular-pathology/histopathology
Working for our organisation
As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to. UHS is rated ‘Good’ by the CQC and in the latest national NHS Staff Survey, we were in the top 10 acute trusts for staff engagement and for staff recommending the hospital as a place to work or receive care.
We support flexible working and will consider requests taking into account the needs of the service. UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme.
Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London. The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on our doorstep. The city offers living costs 20% lower than London and 14 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Provision of subspecialist pathology service:The details of the job plan will be subject to discussion with the clinical leads. An expected 10 PAs will typically be split 8DCC to 2SPA with no on call commitment. The direct clinical care activities principally include microscopic reporting, macroscopic specimen dissection (increasingly, supervision of scientist led dissection), multidisciplinary team meetings, frozen section cover, reporting with trainees and rapid on-site assessment in cytology clinics.
Slides are allocated using a web based workload management system (SAINTS), developed in-house and based on the RCPath points system to an annualised job plan. The other DCC duties are carried out by rota agreed with the reporting pathologists within each subspecialist team.
As a replacement post, you will be joining an established team of two consultant pulmonary pathologists. You will also be contributing to at least one other subspecialty, with some flexibility. There are opportunities to be involved in one or more of gynaecology pathology, breast pathology, skin pathology, GI and HPB pathology.You will be working within a wider cellular pathology team comprising 23 adult histopathologist covering all subspecialities aside from medical renal biopsies and cardiovascular pathology, four paediatric pathologists and two neuropathology colleagues.
The established consultant body, wealth of resident doctors plus strong links to clinical teams, molecular pathology and University of Southampton provide a dynamic environment. Our UKAS ISO15189 2022 accredited laboratory includes digital reporting, which is now embedded within the department.The strong digital pathology platform provides opportunities for further development, including establishing AI. As the regional cellular pathology genomics centre with links to UHS molecular pathology, there is excellent opportunity for further development of molecular pathology interests.
Microscopic reporting is performed via light microscopy, digital pathology (UKAS ISO15189 2022 accredited) or a combination. Once digitally validated, some proportion of work can be delivered remotely. Networked high-end digital reporting equipment, including voice recognition software, will be provided in an individual office space within the department and, if required, at home.Consultant level microscope will be provided along with access to shared departmental resources including multiheader microscopes and digital power walls for teaching and training purposes. Secretarial support will be available with a named, shared, secretary allocated.
It is anticipated that you will contribute to all aspects of this service. A job plan will be agreed with you prior to taking up the post. The work rota will be determined by discussion between you, existing consultants, and the departmental Clinical Leads.The final Job Plan is submitted for sign-off by the Clinical Lead and the Divisional Clinical Director. This will include a share in the cover arrangements for colleagues during absence or annual leave. Except in an emergency, the post holder must fulfil these commitments unless the Department Clinical Lead and/or Divisional Clinical Director have agreed otherwise.
There will be opportunity to contribute to the postmortem service. The trust boasts a state-of-the-art mortuary with general adult, paediatric and neuropathology postmortem expertise delivering both coroner’s and hospital postmortem work.
Teaching and training:You will contribute to the training of resident doctors of various grades within the Wessex deanery. This includes supervision during DCC activities on a rotational basis and provision of dedicated teaching/training sessions.
There is also the opportunity for undergraduate teaching in conjunction with the University of Southampton and involvement with teaching/training of specialist reporting/scientific dissection biomedical scientists.
EQA and CPD:Within the expected 2 PA’s of SPA provision for specialist EQA is will be provided. The trust supports CPD activity with s study leave entitlement and agreed expenses. SPA activities including CPD and audit will be incorporated. A consultant appraiser from within the care group will be assigned for annual appraisal.
Individuals wishing to apply must be registered with the General Medical Council (GMC).
The successful candidate will be employed under the terms and conditions of service for Consultants (England) 2003.
Interviews will be held on 2/4/25
Job Reference; 188-MB60225
This vacancy closes on or before; 12/3/25
Should you have any queries, please use the contact details below to get in touch.
Person specification
Qualifications, Training & Experience
Essential criteria- MBBS or equivalent medical qualification
- GMC registration with a licence to practise
- Appropriate knowledge base, and ability to apply sound clinical judgement to problems
- FRCPath (or equivalent) qualification
- Experience working within the NHS
- Experience in pulmonary pathology
- Experience within molecular pathology networks
- Within 6 months of CCT for UK based trainees
Aptitudes and Skills
Essential criteria- Evidence and ability to work effectively in multi-professional teams
- Understanding of equality and diversity and how this affects patients, visitors and staff
- Evidence and ability to communicate and liaise effectively with colleagues (verbal and written communication skills in English)
- Demonstrate good organisational skills including ability to prioritise effectively and meet deadlines
- Demonstrate the ability to be calm, compassionate, and able to respond efficiently to various circumstances, which may change rapidly
- Evidence of participation in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching
Living the Trust Values
Essential criteria- Each post holder is expected to ensure they live the values of: Patients First
- Each post holder is expected to ensure they live the values of: Working Together
- Each post holder is expected to ensure they live the values of: Always Improving
Please be advised that this vacancy may close earlier than stated if we receive a large number of applications. We will not accept any applications or queries via agencies, under any circumstances.
For more information about our Trust
https://careers.uhs.nhs.uk
Getting to work - our travel promise
Getting to work should be as easy as possible and that’s why we have introduced the UHS travel promise – a commitment from the Trust that we will provide reasonable travel options for every member of staff. Every member of staff can apply for a permit to use our park & ride facility.Eligibility for on-site parking is dependent on the nature and requirement of the role. All staff can also access a range of discounted benefits relating to travel including reduced price bus tickets, purchase of salary sacrifice bikes and ultra-low emission cars.
Our commitment to equality
Equality remains at the centre of our policymaking, service delivery, and employment practice, giving all employees equal opportunity to develop, apply for promotions, and have working arrangements that enable them to achieve a manageable work-life balance.
UHS actively promotes a work environment free from harassment and discrimination and provides training for managers and staff to ensure this happens. We also closely monitor recruitment activity, training, development, and employment practices to ensure equality of practice with regard to race, colour, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, disability, marital status and age.
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