Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Consultant Microbiologist

The closing date is 13 April 2026

Job summary

Applications are invited for the post of Consultant Microbiologist to join the Microbiology department at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

The successful candidate will become part of a team providing diagnostic services to a wide range of specialties to some of the largest specialist departments in the region (including the largest trauma and orthopaedics service, one of the largest cardiology departments and one of the largest units in the region for colorectal surgery services), General Practitioners and primary care across Northumberland and North Tyneside.

The Microbiology laboratory has benefited from the Trust's substantial capital investment and is well equipped with state of the art technology including mass spectrometry and automated identification and antibiotic susceptibility platforms.

Main duties of the job

You would join a team of 4 Consultant Microbiologists (3.6WTE) providing a 1 in 5 (including this post) on-call for Infection Prevention and Control (Band A) and a joint second on-call for Microbiology with Newcastle-upon-Tyne NHS Foundation Trust (1 in 13) with a registrar providing first on-call (subject to ongoing review). Our team also consists of two Trust Grade Microbiology Doctors.

The post holder will participate in the varied clinical microbiology workload shared between the consultants, including provision of advice on test interpretation, authorisation of results, review of patients with clinical teams, clinical ward rounds and advice on appropriate antimicrobial therapy and infection control.

It is essential that you have completed higher specialist training in Microbiology or Microbiology and Infectious Diseases and be on the Specialist Register or within 6 months of award of CCT or equivalent by the date of interview.

About us

We manage three major locality hospitals at North Tyneside, Wansbeck and Hexham, plus a number of smaller community hospitals and clinics from Tynemouth to Berwick on Tweed, covering one of the largest geographical areas of any NHS trust in the country. Leading in innovation and quality - opening a state of the art Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital, the first of its kind in England. Do you want to work in one of the best performing NHS organisations in England? Work in an organisation that supports its staff and focuses on staff experience as much as it does the experience of its patients? You can live and breathe in an area that has the cleanest air, cost effective living, great nightlife, some of the best schools with a wealth of history available on your doorstep. Sound too good to be true? Well it isn't, this is what you get when you work for Northumbria Healthcare, this is the Northumbria Way! Please read 'applicant guidance notes' before submitting your application.

Date posted

30 March 2026

Pay scheme

Hospital medical and dental staff

Grade

Consultant

Salary

£109,725 to £145,478 a year per annum

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

319-7889409HD

Job locations

North Tyneside General Hospital

Rake Lane

North Shields

NE29 8NH

Job description

Job responsibilities

We can offer the flexibility of full time or part time hours and are keen to explore flexible working to provide a good work life balance.

The successful candidate will be encouraged to develop a specialist interest. For full details of the post please see the job description.

The department has full UKAS ISO 15189 accreditation.

Job description

Job responsibilities

We can offer the flexibility of full time or part time hours and are keen to explore flexible working to provide a good work life balance.

The successful candidate will be encouraged to develop a specialist interest. For full details of the post please see the job description.

The department has full UKAS ISO 15189 accreditation.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Fully registered on the UK General Medical Council's Specialist Register (either Microbiology or Microbiology and Infectious Diseases) or Specialist Registrars may apply if within 6 months of CCT at date of the Advisory Appointment Committee
Member/Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists or equivalent
Full GMC Registration

Experience

Essential

Clinical training and experience in the relevant specialty, equivalent to that required to gain entry to the UK Certificate of Completed Training (CCT)

Desirable

Experience in infection prevention and control
Experience of antibiotic stewardship

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Fully registered on the UK General Medical Council's Specialist Register (either Microbiology or Microbiology and Infectious Diseases) or Specialist Registrars may apply if within 6 months of CCT at date of the Advisory Appointment Committee
Member/Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists or equivalent
Full GMC Registration

Experience

Essential

Clinical training and experience in the relevant specialty, equivalent to that required to gain entry to the UK Certificate of Completed Training (CCT)

Desirable

Experience in infection prevention and control
Experience of antibiotic stewardship

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

Certificate of Sponsorship

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Address

North Tyneside General Hospital

Rake Lane

North Shields

NE29 8NH

Employer's website

https://www.northumbria.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Address

North Tyneside General Hospital

Rake Lane

North Shields

NE29 8NH

Employer's website

https://www.northumbria.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)