Job responsibilities
ORGANISATIONAL ARRANGEMENTSThe two Consultant level posts, each for 10 Programmed Activities (PAs) per week, are being advertised to cover Haematolymphoid (1.0WTE), Gastrointestinal (0.5WTE) and Gynaecology (0.5WTE) histopathology specialty areas.Consideration will be given towards flexible combination in the above three areas, such as the following potential combinations, viz., A standalone Haematolymphoid (1.0WTE) onco-pathology post and a separate combination post covering Gastrointestinal (0.5WTE) and Gynaecology (0.5WTE); or,Two combination posts, viz., post 1 - Haematolymphoid (0.5WTE) along with Gastrointestinal (0.5WTE) and post 2 - covering Haematolymphoid (0.5WTE) along with Gynaecology (0.5WTE) pathology.Any potential appointment to the above posts shall be primarily based on candidate experience, specialty interest and departmental needs (also see person specification). The appointed individuals will join an established, highly skilled multidisciplinary team and be responsible for providing an expert diagnostic histopathology service to support the management of patients with malignancies in these fields alongside taking part in the departmental non-specialist (plastic) skin pathology reporting (limited scope).
Role Purpose
These two permanent consultant posts shall be based at the Christie NHS Foundation Trust. You will join an existing team of 10 Consultant colleagues; and, together with the team be responsible for providing specialised histopathology services to both our in-house clinical teams and our wider referring centres.
The successful candidate/s will be expected to demonstrate clinical excellence, contribute to multidisciplinary team meetings, engage in service development, participate in the day to day running of the department and if necessary be prepared to take on other managerial responsibilities, and participate actively in training and supervision of junior medical staff working in the department and expected to participate from time to time in the training of the technical staff, while also contributing to research within the department and trust.
The appointee/s will hold the FRCPath or show evidence of equivalent training and experience. Applicants must have their CCT or be within 6 months of obtaining this (or its equivalent for applicants not trained in the UK) by the interview date.
The appointed candidate/s will be responsible for: To develop and implement best practice in Histopathology To support staff in the delivery of a high-quality specialist service To be core member/s of the appropriate Multidisciplinary Team (MDT). To maintain membership of relevant EQA scheme/s
FACILITIES
The existing consultant offices (x10 individual reporting rooms), trainee reporting space and multi-header microscope are situated in the new purpose-built Paterson institute, which sits alongside and is integrated with the Christie Hospital.The appointed consultant/s will have an office, a modern microscope with facilities for photomicrography and a computer for their individual use. The computer will have internet access, and a Trust e-mail address will be provided along with a telephone. The Department of Histopathology has a commercial IT system (Technidata TDHC), which links with the hospital IT system (Medway). The haematopathology reporting is undertaken on TDHC and is linked to the integrated reporting platform (HODS). Teleconferencing links are in place. With the new CPP contract in place (since Jun 2025), digital pathology roll-out plans are being actively developed along with considerations towards linking through relevant projects with the Christie Futures initiative, trust digitisation and AI implementation plans.
Laboratory accommodation and equipment:Pathology is primarily located on the 1st and 2nd floors of the Northeast corner of the main site, adjacent to the Main Outpatients department at the Wilmslow Road entrance.Histopathology (250 m2) primarily comprises of an immunohistochemistry room with integral managers office; an adjacent x2 workbench cut up room; and a histology laboratory room.
TEACHING
Undergraduate Teaching: The consultant pathologists occasionally give tutorials to the fourth- and fifth-year medical students. Postgraduate Teaching: The appointee will be expected to participate in the FRCR [oncology] and ACP courses.
The teaching programmes in the hospital are presently under the jurisdiction of the Education committee; the Chairman is Professor. R. Goddard-Fuller. A member of pathology serves on this committee.
Dr Patrick Shenjere - Histopathology is the departmental PG Education Lead. The consultants are also expected to participate in local, regional, national and international scientific and educational meetings. Participation in CPD activities will be obligatory and the Trust has a commitment to providing funding and time for CPD.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIESThe appointed candidate/s shall join an existing team of 10 Consultant histopathologists who cover one/ more (majority) sub-specialised areas as per expertise. All Consultants participate in the limited non-specialist skin pathology work. In addition, there are currently two locum pathologists and three regional PG trainees (at most times as per regional training rota) in the department; with the department frequently also hosting international fellowships. Clinical DutiesThe post holder/s will act as a Consultant Histopathologist/s and are expected to have training and expertise in both malignant and non-malignant aspects of Histopathology. The consultant/s will participate in EQAs within their relevant areas of reporting. The Consultant Histopathologist/s will undertake both reporting, laboratory work and participate in MDT rota sessions across the week. They will provide continuing responsibility for patient samples in their care, both by working with other consultant colleagues in a professional, collaborative manner and by supervising the work of junior Doctors on rotation in the department. The post holder/s may also be required to undertake duties above and beyond this as the department and service grows and changes over time. Changes to the agreed job plan will be discussed in advance.Non-clinical DutiesIt is expected that the postholder/s will participate and take on leadership responsibilities within the department and more widely within the Trust. The nature of such responsibilities will be agreed with the Histopathology Lead and Service Manager following appointment.Laboratory dutiesThe post holder/s will be expected to be trained and proficient in laboratory dissection skills and provide support to the Biomedical Scientist laboratory staff when required to share learning and good practice.Clinical and Translational ResearchThe appointee/s will have opportunities to be involved in research and an enthusiastic approach to this is expected in line with the core Christie principles.InnovationClinicians are expected to look at new and innovative ways of working throughout the year and be able to present these during the team and individual job plan discussions. Job plans should focus on outcomes and patient experience to improve the quality and safety of patient care and to ensure services are cost effective.
Clinical coverThe post holder/s would be expected to collaborate with colleagues to help maintain the continuity of the service as per trust policy. To this end, they would be expected to closely liaise with their colleagues in planning leave.TeachingIt is expected that the post holder/s will have an interest and active role in teaching. The Department is involved in teaching medical and laboratory staff of all grades as well as medical students.
Job Plan TimetableA typical week under each job plan would initially consist of 10 Programmed Activities, typically 7.5 Direct Clinical Care (DCC) and 2.5 Supporting Professional Activities (SPA). The Programmed Activities will be flexibly timetabled to meet the demands of the service, covering diagnostic reporting, MDT, laboratory work and SPAs.
Job Plan PA Summary
Total PAs Direct Clinical Care (DCC)
7.5
Reporting
6
MDTs
1
Lab work
0.5
Supporting Professional Activities (SPA) (including 1.5 core SPA)
2.5
Supervision role (minimum 0.25 must be allocated)
0.25
Education, research, audit, meetings, governance, appraisal, job planning
2.25
Total Programmed Activities (PAs)
10
On call CommitmentsThis role does not require participation in the on-call rota.
