Consultant in Microbiology

This is a new 10 PA post for a consultant in Infection / Microbiology to join the existing Infection Team of four consultants (3.4 WTE). The appointee will be be vital to the continuing improvement and development of a 7 day a week infection service at Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust.

The team are currently exploring the possibility of forming an integrated infection service with colleagues at a neighboring Trust, South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS FT, so candidates would be expected to be willing to work on these sites as well.

Any applicant not wishing to work full-time will be eligible for consideration and if appointed, modification of the job content will be discussed in consultation with the team.

The successful candidate will support all elements of the laboratory and will work with clinical and laboratory colleagues both within the Trust and outside and contribute to the inpatient service.

This is an exciting opportunity to join us as we develop our Infection Service. The job description is a generic job plan and is negotiable depending on the clinical interests of the candidate. We are keen to work with potential applicants to support their personal goals as a consultant, whether that is through infection service development, research, medical education or clinical leadership.

Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust providesacutehospital services for people who live in Gateshead, a population of just over 200,000.Anumber,of people fromthe surrounding area alsochoose to use the Trust’s facilities and a range of specialist services are provided for people from the wider geographical areaenhanced by some key specialist areas includinggynae oncology, maternity, pathology,and old age psychiatry.

Pathology services in the South of Tyne and Wear area have consolidated into a single pathology laboratory located at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital,Gateshead, providing pathology services to Gateshead Health NHSFT and South Tynesideand SunderlandNHSFT and the population of the SOTW area.

The vision of the SOTW PathologyService is to provide the best possible service to the population of the SOTW area in terms of quality of service, state of the art facilities and value for money.

The laboratory service operates from apurpose-builtstate of the art Pathology Centre in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead,with blood sciences “hot lab” facilities in Sunderland Royal Hospital and South Tyneside General Hospital. All microbiology specimens are processed on the Queen Elizabeth Hospital site.

Gateshead Health NHSFT is the lead employer and holds the contracts for thefourInfection Consultantsbased at the QE Hospital.

The department works in close collaboration with the 6 other organisations within the NENC ICS Pathology Network (North 1) .

The enthusiastic infection team at the QEH provide a comprehensive 7 day a week open access infection service to the hospital, community and local primary care services. We strive to provide high quality laboratory, clinical infection and infection prevention and control services. We have a bold vision for the future and are keen to improve and expand the services we offer.

Applicants should possess FRCPath or equivalent and either have, or be within six months of receiving, a CCT in Microbiology or dual CCT in Microbiology/Infectious Diseases at the date of the advisory appointments committee. This must be evidenced on their application form. Full GMC registration with a licence to practice is required. This appointment will be on the basis of the new consultant contract and is advertised as a 10 programmed activities post. Any applicant wishing to work less than full-time will be eligible to be considered for the post. If such a person is appointed, modification of the job content will be discussed on a personal basis with the Trust in consultation with consultant colleagues.

Prospective candidates are encouraged to visit Gateshead Health NHSFT and meet members of the infection and management teams. Appointments can be made for a visit at any point prior to the date of interview.