Job summary
Applications are invited for 4 x Consultant Cellular Pathologist positions, these are new whole-time (10 PA) posts offering exciting opportunities for highly motivated medical staff to join a dynamic, rapidly expanding team delivering multidisciplinary acute care at Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals.
The new appointees will join the Mersey and West Lancashire (MWL) Pathology Service, an established pathology service based at Whiston Hospital and serving the MWL Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust which was developed following the recent merger of St. Helens & Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and Southport and Ormskirk Hospitals NHS Trust. The appointments will be based at Whiston Hospital in Prescot although some commitment to St Helens Hospital, Southport and Ormskirk Hospital or other sites may also be required.
Applicants are required to hold Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists (UK or equivalent qualifications), to hold full and specialist registration with a current licence to practise with the General Medical Council.
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. CESR candidates must have written GMC confirmation of successful application.
Interviews will take place on Monday 22nd April, 2024
Main duties of the job
The appointees will be responsible with the existing consultants for providing comprehensive, reliable and timely Histopathology, Cytopathology and Morbid Anatomy services to the Trust hospitals, local General Practitioners and other service users.
The appointees will be expected to take a share of the workload in cellular pathology. Participation in cytology reporting can be discussed with interested applicants, if appropriate. special interests will be encouraged to accommodate those of the appointee and existing staff members, as well as the needs of the department.
An interest in urological pathology, dermato-pathology, breast, gastro-intestinal or gynaecological pathology would be particularly welcome; however, the department is flexible and is willing to consider applicants with any other areas of interest. Medicolegal post mortems are not part of the NHS contract and are performed at the request of the Coroner; participation is not essential; however, the new appointees would be welcome to help provide this service if desired (subject to agreement by the Coroner).
There is no formal on-call rota for out of hours. Development of seven-day working is under consideration for the future however it is not currently required for medical staff.
The post is based at Whiston Hospital although flexibility with regards to duties at the Southport site will be expected.
About us
The Secretary of State has approved the partnership between St Helens & Knowsley and Southport & Ormskirk Hospitals.
From 1st July we have come together as a single organisation under the name Mersey & West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
The Trust delivers acute hospital care, intermediate care, community, and primary care services to a population of over 600,000 people with a combined workforce of around 9000 dedicated and skilled staff from 17 locations including Whiston, Southport & Formby, St Helens, Ormskirk and Newton hospitals.
The Trust provides regional services for burns, plastic surgery and spinal injuries to more than 4 million people across Mersey and West Lancashire, Cheshire, the Isle of Man and North Wales.
Our Vision is to deliver 5 Star Patient Care:
- CAREthat is evidence based, high quality and compassionate
- SAFETY that is of the highest standards
- COMMUNICATION that is open, inclusive and respectful
- SYSTEMS that are efficient, patient centred and reliable
- PATHWAYS that are best practice and embedded, but also respect the individual needs of patients
Our achievements include:
- Trust rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
- Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
- Awarded National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for our Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme
Please see our Wellbeing & Benefits booklet for more information on our staff benefits. Accessible version available upon request.
Job description
Job responsibilities
For more information regarding the main responsibilities and requirements essential for this role please refer to the supporting documents heading and review the job description and person specification which will outline the duties of the role including a proposed job plan.
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
£338 million (PFI) investment has re-built and modernised both Whiston and St Helens Hospitals, resulting in modern state of the art health care facilities for the treatment and care of patients. St Helens Hospital was completed in 2008 and Whiston Hospital in 2010. The hospitals include 887 inpatient beds with state-of-the-art CT and MRI facilities existing on both hospital sites. CT and MRI scanners at St Helens have also recently been upgraded including installation of a high field 3 Tesla MRI scanner. The DEXA scanner is also located at St Helens Hospital.
The Trust delivers acute hospital care, intermediate care, community, and primary care services to a population of over 600,000 people with a combined workforce of around 9000 dedicated and skilled staff from 17 locations including Whiston, Southport & Formby, St Helens, Ormskirk, and Newton hospitals.
The Trust provides regional services for burns, plastic surgery, and spinal injuries to more than 4 million people across Mersey and West Lancashire, Cheshire, the Isle of Man and North Wales.
As a Trust, our aim is to provide a high-quality service to all patients. We strive to meet the best standards for professional care whilst being sensitive and responsive to the needs of individual patients. Our valued workforce is recognised for their unique skills and talents with our teams of experts winning national awards on a regular basis.
Whiston Hospital
Whiston Hospital a busy teaching hospital which provides a comprehensive range of acute Medical and Surgical Services, Emergency Services, Maternity Services, Paediatrics and Medicine for Older People. The Regional Burns and Plastic Surgery Units are also based on this site. There is a Critical Care Unit consisting of ICU, HDU, CCU and an onsite Cardiac Catheter Laboratory. The stroke consultants deliver 24/7 thrombolysis to eligible patients presenting with acute stroke. There is a 30-bed Stroke Unit which accommodates both acute stroke patients and those with rehabilitation needs.
St Helens Hospital
St Helens Hospital is an Ambulatory Care Centre providing Intermediate Care and Day Surgery. Rheumatology, Dermatology and Diabetes services are based on this site and within easy reach of other acute specialties at Whiston Hospital.
Southport Hospital
Southport Hospital is a General Hospital that includes adults accident and emergency services, intensive care, and a range of medical and surgical specialities. There is also an outpatients service. The North West Regional Spinal Injuries Centre at Southport hospital provides specialist care for spinal patients from across the North West, North Wales, and the Isle of Man.
The hospital, which replaced the Southport General Infirmary and the Southport Promenade Hospital, opened in September 1988.
Ormskirk Hospital
Ormskirk Hospital is a General Hospital and provides womens and childrens services, including accident and emergency services, surgery, and maternity care.
The hospital provides these services for patients living across West Lancashire, Southport, and Formby.
Life in Merseyside and West Lancashire
Merseyside, which includes the great city of Liverpool, is within easy reach of North Wales, the Lake District and the Peak District and provides an interesting mix of rural and urban life.
Liverpool is a vibrant, music city which has undergone a renaissance in recent years and has recently been named European City of Culture.
High quality schools are available in and around Merseyside and West Lancashire. The area has many sports facilities including championship golf courses, several sailing clubs and one of the finest windsurfing venues in Britain.
People from Merseyside and West Lancashire are renowned for their friendliness and quick-witted humour and the region sports two of the finest football teams in the Premier League.
The town of St Helens is renowned for its glassworks and rugby. The district has a population of around 340,000 and is of mixed residential, industrial, and rural character. It is situated on the edge of Merseyside, between the open countryside of Cheshire to the south and Lancashire to the north.
Southport is a seaside town and has a population of around 90,000. Southport lies on the Irish Sea Coast and is fringed to the north by the Ribble estuary. Town attractions include Southport Pier, the second longest seaside pleasure pier in the British Isles and Lord Street, an elegant tree-lined shopping street. Southport today is still one of the most popular seaside resorts in the UK and hosts various events including an annual air show on and over the beach, the largest independent flower show in the UK and the British Musical Fireworks Championship.
Ormskirk is an historic Market town surrounded by beautiful countryside, reserves, and wildlife. Ormskirk has quaint village streets, winning restaurants and farm shops and is also home to the award-winning Edgehill University.
Distance to Liverpool City Centre:
From Whiston Hospital 13.3 miles
From St Helens Hospital 15 miles
From Southport Hospital 19.9 miles
From Ormskirk Hospital 18.1 miles
Distance to Manchester City Centre:
From Whiston Hospital - 26.6 miles
From St Helens Hospital 27.7 miles
From Southport Hospital 42.4 miles
From Ormskirk Hospital 35.4 miles
Job description
Job responsibilities
For more information regarding the main responsibilities and requirements essential for this role please refer to the supporting documents heading and review the job description and person specification which will outline the duties of the role including a proposed job plan.
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
£338 million (PFI) investment has re-built and modernised both Whiston and St Helens Hospitals, resulting in modern state of the art health care facilities for the treatment and care of patients. St Helens Hospital was completed in 2008 and Whiston Hospital in 2010. The hospitals include 887 inpatient beds with state-of-the-art CT and MRI facilities existing on both hospital sites. CT and MRI scanners at St Helens have also recently been upgraded including installation of a high field 3 Tesla MRI scanner. The DEXA scanner is also located at St Helens Hospital.
The Trust delivers acute hospital care, intermediate care, community, and primary care services to a population of over 600,000 people with a combined workforce of around 9000 dedicated and skilled staff from 17 locations including Whiston, Southport & Formby, St Helens, Ormskirk, and Newton hospitals.
The Trust provides regional services for burns, plastic surgery, and spinal injuries to more than 4 million people across Mersey and West Lancashire, Cheshire, the Isle of Man and North Wales.
As a Trust, our aim is to provide a high-quality service to all patients. We strive to meet the best standards for professional care whilst being sensitive and responsive to the needs of individual patients. Our valued workforce is recognised for their unique skills and talents with our teams of experts winning national awards on a regular basis.
Whiston Hospital
Whiston Hospital a busy teaching hospital which provides a comprehensive range of acute Medical and Surgical Services, Emergency Services, Maternity Services, Paediatrics and Medicine for Older People. The Regional Burns and Plastic Surgery Units are also based on this site. There is a Critical Care Unit consisting of ICU, HDU, CCU and an onsite Cardiac Catheter Laboratory. The stroke consultants deliver 24/7 thrombolysis to eligible patients presenting with acute stroke. There is a 30-bed Stroke Unit which accommodates both acute stroke patients and those with rehabilitation needs.
St Helens Hospital
St Helens Hospital is an Ambulatory Care Centre providing Intermediate Care and Day Surgery. Rheumatology, Dermatology and Diabetes services are based on this site and within easy reach of other acute specialties at Whiston Hospital.
Southport Hospital
Southport Hospital is a General Hospital that includes adults accident and emergency services, intensive care, and a range of medical and surgical specialities. There is also an outpatients service. The North West Regional Spinal Injuries Centre at Southport hospital provides specialist care for spinal patients from across the North West, North Wales, and the Isle of Man.
The hospital, which replaced the Southport General Infirmary and the Southport Promenade Hospital, opened in September 1988.
Ormskirk Hospital
Ormskirk Hospital is a General Hospital and provides womens and childrens services, including accident and emergency services, surgery, and maternity care.
The hospital provides these services for patients living across West Lancashire, Southport, and Formby.
Life in Merseyside and West Lancashire
Merseyside, which includes the great city of Liverpool, is within easy reach of North Wales, the Lake District and the Peak District and provides an interesting mix of rural and urban life.
Liverpool is a vibrant, music city which has undergone a renaissance in recent years and has recently been named European City of Culture.
High quality schools are available in and around Merseyside and West Lancashire. The area has many sports facilities including championship golf courses, several sailing clubs and one of the finest windsurfing venues in Britain.
People from Merseyside and West Lancashire are renowned for their friendliness and quick-witted humour and the region sports two of the finest football teams in the Premier League.
The town of St Helens is renowned for its glassworks and rugby. The district has a population of around 340,000 and is of mixed residential, industrial, and rural character. It is situated on the edge of Merseyside, between the open countryside of Cheshire to the south and Lancashire to the north.
Southport is a seaside town and has a population of around 90,000. Southport lies on the Irish Sea Coast and is fringed to the north by the Ribble estuary. Town attractions include Southport Pier, the second longest seaside pleasure pier in the British Isles and Lord Street, an elegant tree-lined shopping street. Southport today is still one of the most popular seaside resorts in the UK and hosts various events including an annual air show on and over the beach, the largest independent flower show in the UK and the British Musical Fireworks Championship.
Ormskirk is an historic Market town surrounded by beautiful countryside, reserves, and wildlife. Ormskirk has quaint village streets, winning restaurants and farm shops and is also home to the award-winning Edgehill University.
Distance to Liverpool City Centre:
From Whiston Hospital 13.3 miles
From St Helens Hospital 15 miles
From Southport Hospital 19.9 miles
From Ormskirk Hospital 18.1 miles
Distance to Manchester City Centre:
From Whiston Hospital - 26.6 miles
From St Helens Hospital 27.7 miles
From Southport Hospital 42.4 miles
From Ormskirk Hospital 35.4 miles
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Full and Specialist registration (and with a licence to practise) with the General Medical Council (GMC), or be eligible for registration within six months of interview 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 CESR candidates must have written GMC confirmation of successful application
- MBBS or equivalent medical qualification
- FRCPath or equivalent
Desirable
- MD/PHD or equivalent medical qualification
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Appropriate knowledge base and ability to apply sound clinical judgement to problems
- Demonstrates the necessary range, depth and breadth of competencies specified in histopathology, cytology, and morbid anatomy
Skills
Essential
- Demonstrates ability to undertake robust audit / research within team structure within the last 3 years
- Able to supervise junior medical staff
Desirable
- Evidence of relevant research e.g., presentations, publications in peer reviewed journals within the last 3 years
- Evidence of relevant academic achievements, e.g., degrees, awards, in the last 3 years
Other
Essential
- Able to build rapport, listen, persuade & negotiate
- Capacity to use logical/lateral thinking to solve problems/make decisions
- Able to work in multi-professional teams
- Demonstrates initiative & resilience to cope with changing circumstances
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Full and Specialist registration (and with a licence to practise) with the General Medical Council (GMC), or be eligible for registration within six months of interview 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 CESR candidates must have written GMC confirmation of successful application
- MBBS or equivalent medical qualification
- FRCPath or equivalent
Desirable
- MD/PHD or equivalent medical qualification
Knowledge and Experience
Essential
- Appropriate knowledge base and ability to apply sound clinical judgement to problems
- Demonstrates the necessary range, depth and breadth of competencies specified in histopathology, cytology, and morbid anatomy
Skills
Essential
- Demonstrates ability to undertake robust audit / research within team structure within the last 3 years
- Able to supervise junior medical staff
Desirable
- Evidence of relevant research e.g., presentations, publications in peer reviewed journals within the last 3 years
- Evidence of relevant academic achievements, e.g., degrees, awards, in the last 3 years
Other
Essential
- Able to build rapport, listen, persuade & negotiate
- Capacity to use logical/lateral thinking to solve problems/make decisions
- Able to work in multi-professional teams
- Demonstrates initiative & resilience to cope with changing circumstances
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.
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
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.
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).
