Consultant Cellular Pathologist

Job Title: Consultant Cellular Pathologist

Directorate / Division: Surgical Womens Health and Diagnostic Services

Location: County Antrim Northern Ireland

Accountable to: Chief Executive

Reports to: Clinical Director of Laboratory Services (and Medical Director in respect of professional medical issues)

Tenure / Working Pattern: Full-time (10 Programmed Activities per week); flexible working requests considered from Day 1

Salary:per annum (pro-rata for part-time) plus applicable on-call supplement

Role Summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a high-calibre Consultant Cellular Pathologist to join an established forward-thinking Cellular and Molecular Pathology team based in County Antrim.

The department provides comprehensive diagnostic services across acute and community healthcare settings reporting in excess of 25000 specimens per year. The team benefits from:

• Fully integrated Digital Pathology: High-throughput digital scanning and reporting for histology with dedicated digital workstations provided both on-site and for home-based reporting to support an optimal work-life balance.

• Advanced Biomedical Scientist (BMS) Support: BMS specimen dissection is mature and well-established covering approximately 95% of benign and malignant resection specimens.

• Specialist Services: A UKAS-accredited molecular pathology department (including HPV genotyping) a specialised Category 3 cytopathology suite and opportunities to support rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) for EBUS clinics.

• Collaborative Network: Close regional integration within the Northern Ireland Pathology Network and academic teaching links with Queens University Belfast and Ulster University.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Clinical & Diagnostic Services

• Report a broad range of surgical histology and diagnostic cytology specimens including (but not limited to) gynaecological gastrointestinal breast dermatological respiratory and head/neck/thyroid pathology.

• Support and develop molecular pathology diagnostic reporting in line with service expansion.

• Participate in weekly site-specific Cancer Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) meetings and clinicopathological conferences (e.g. breast colorectal upper GI lung skin and head & neck).

• Participate in the consultant on-call rota (high-frequency low-intensity for weekends and statutory holidays) for urgent reporting and clinical advice supported by on-call BMS staff.

• Work on a rotational basis covering on-site Pathologist of the Day duties (laboratory supervision specimen triage and urgent clinical queries) alongside scheduled remote/home reporting days.

Quality Governance & Service Improvement

• Maintain high diagnostic standards through active participation in recognised National External Quality Assessment Schemes (NEQAS) and departmental clinical audits.

• Comply with UKAS accreditation requirements clinical governance frameworks and General Medical Council (GMC) Good Medical Practice standards.

• Contribute to protocol reviews technical assay evaluation and service development within the regional pathology network.

Teaching Training & Research

• Undertake undergraduate clinical teaching and laboratory medicine training for medical students.

• Support postgraduate training and competency reviews for pathology trainees and biomedical scientists as a recognised trainer.

• Participate in continuous professional development (CPD) with dedicated SPA time and study leave funding provided.

Indicative Job Plan (10 PAs)

The standard working week comprises 8.5 Direct Clinical Care (DCC) PAs and 1.5 Supporting Professional Activities (SPA). The initial job plan will be reviewed and agreed within the first three months of appointment to support personal subspecialist interests:

Day

Morning

Afternoon

DCC

SPA

Monday

Histology / Cytology Reporting

MDM Attendance & Preparation

2.0

Tuesday

Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

Histology / Cytology Reporting

1.0

1.0

Wednesday

Histology / Cytology Reporting

Histology / Cytology Reporting

2.0

Thursday

Histology / Cytology Reporting

MDM Attendance & Preparation / Reporting

2.0

Friday

Histology / Cytology Reporting

Reporting (0.5 DCC) & Governance / Audit (0.5 SPA)

1.5

0.5

Total

8.5 PAs

1.5 PAs

• On-Call Availability: Frequency approximately 1 in 4 (Category A on-call allowance applies).

Person Specification

1. Qualifications & Professional Registration

• Essential:

• Full registration and a current Licence to Practice with the General Medical Council (GMC London) (or eligible at the time of appointment).

• FRCPath (or equivalent qualification) or expected within 6 months of the interview date.

• Inclusion on the GMC Specialist Register for Cellular Pathology (or eligible via CCT within 6 months of interview date or CESR/Portfolio Pathway).

2. Experience & Clinical Skills

• Essential:

• Minimum of 6 years satisfactory medical practice since primary medical graduation including at least 4 years in cellular pathology in posts carrying clinical responsibility.

• Comprehensive diagnostic experience across general cellular pathology and non-cervical cytopathology.

• Demonstrable competence in multidisciplinary team communication and cross-specialty clinical liaison.

• Desirable:

• Subspecialist interest or formal experience in molecular diagnostics or ROSE / EBUS cytology.

3. Governance Audit & IT

• Essential:

• In-depth understanding of clinical governance quality assurance schemes (EQA) and clinical audit.

• Competence in digital pathology platforms Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS) and remote diagnostic workstations.

4. General & Pre-Employment Requirements

• Essential:

• Full valid UK driving licence with access to a car for business use (or equivalent approved mobility arrangement for candidates with disabilities).

• Eligibility to live and work in the United Kingdom.

• Satisfactory pre-employment health screening and AccessNI enhanced criminal record clearance.

Benefits Package

• Leave Entitlement: 6 weeks and 2 days annual leave on entry (rising to 6 weeks and 4 days after 7 years service) plus 10 statutory/public holidays.

• Pension Scheme: Health and Social Care (HSC) Superannuation / Pension Scheme.

• Relocation Package: Attractive relocation and removal financial support package available for eligible candidates.

• Work-Life Balance: Hybrid working arrangements enabled by digital pathology home workstations.

Employment Type : Full Time
Experience: years
Vacancy: 1