Job summary
Successful applicants will join an established team of 5 consultants (3 WTE) and a registrar (2nd SpR due Sept) in a friendly, dynamic & forward-thinking department with on-site laboratory.
The interview will be held on Friday, 14th June 2024
The department seeks 2 up to full-time Consultants in Medical Microbiology or Medical Microbiology/ID or Consultant Clinical Scientists in Medical Microbiology. On-call duties are anticipated to be approx. 1:5-1:6 weekdays and weekends with prospective cover & category A availability supplement.
Bury St Edmunds is a lovely, historic market town in the heart of East Anglia, with several leisure and cultural offerings. There are easy transport links to Cambridge, Norwich, the coast, and London as well as Stansted and Norwich airports and Harwich port for international travel.
Prospective applicants requiring further information or who would like to visit the department are invited to contact Dr Rebecca Tilley, Consultant Microbiologist, on 01284 712635 or [email protected]
Please refer to the supporting job description and person specification which will outline the duties of the role.
Main duties of the job
The successful candidates will share the responsibility for providing a comprehensive clinical microbiology service to the Trust, local GPs and other organisations who hold a contract with the Trust.All consultants are expected to contribute to departmental activities including, but not limited to:
- Interpretation & authorisation of results
- Ward rounds & MDTs
- Infection prevention & control advice
- Maintaining a quality laboratory & clinical microbiology service and contributing to the activities required for UKAS accreditation.
- Fulfilling a lead role on a rotational basis (by mutual agreement): Microbiology Clinical Lead/Laboratory Director, Infection Prevention Doctor, Antimicrobial Stewardship Lead and Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy Lead
- Teaching and leadership development of all grades of staff and training to be a Clinical/Educational Supervisor
- On-call commitment (expected to be 1:5-1:6 weekdays and weekends with prospective cover). This is usually telephone cover only, including weekends. A Trust laptop will be provided to enable remote access to the IT systems. The on-call availability supplement is Category A (5% for a 1:5-1:6 frequency) and an additional 1 PA is paid (for medical colleagues, and the equivalent for consultant clinical scientists) in respect of the unpredictable out of hours commitment; this is reviewed during the annual job planning process.
See the job description & person specification for further details.
About us
#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community
We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.
The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.
Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.
We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.
With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.
We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.
Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the Job Description and Person Specification attached for full details of the post.
The Microbiology Department
The Microbiology Laboratory provides a comprehensive service covering all aspects of general microbiology to the West Suffolk Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (circa 500 beds plus Virtual Ward), Newmarket Community Hospital (33 beds) and GPs in Bury St Edmunds and the surrounding catchment area. The laboratory is located in the main West Suffolk Hospital building.
The microbiology department was assessed by UKAS in December 2023 and recommended for accreditation subject to clearing the non-conformances. The evidence to demonstrate this was submitted in March 2024 and the outcome is awaited.
The microbiology Laboratory Manager is Mr Marcus Milner. There are four Band 7 Biomedical Scientists who lead on Health & Safety, Quality and Training.
Administrative support for the Microbiology Department, Consultants and Infection Prevention Team is provided by named members of the Pathology Administrative & Clerical team. Team-based administrative support across Pathology helps ensure demand is met regardless of holidays, sickness and any other absence. This team approach also helps with appropriate support when most needed, for example during outbreaks.
Pathology uses the CliniSys WinPath Enterprise laboratory information management system and the Q-pulse quality management system.
Office space containing a personal computer (with access to email, the internet and the relevant IT systems) will be provided within the West Suffolk Hospital Microbiology Department. A laptop will also be provided to facilitate remote on-call working.
The Laboratory undertakes routine bacteriology, parasitology, serology and antibiotic susceptibility testing. It participates in the UKNEQAS schemes for general bacteriology, antimicrobial susceptibility, faecal parasitology, mycology and appropriate viral serology. There is also an internal quality assurance scheme.
There is an automated blood culture system (BioMerieux BacT/ALERT), automated urinalysis (Beckman Coulter DxU), a Bruker MALDI-TOF, Serosep EntericBio and BioMerieux BioFire FilmArray. C. difficile toxin gene testing is performed on a Cepheid GeneXpert. Rapid antigen testing is available for Norovirus.
The bulk of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza testing is performed on SAMBA IIs in a designated laboratory area within the Emergency Department. Paediatrics have Roche LIAT and Lumira DX analysers for point-of-care Influenza, RSV and SARS-CoV-2 testing.
Antimicrobial susceptibility testing uses both the BioMerieux Vitek 2 automated system and EUCAST standardised disc methods.
Gentamicin and Vancomycin assays are performed in the Biochemistry department; other antimicrobial assays are referred to the Bristol antimicrobial reference laboratory.
Serological testing, including antenatal serology, is performed on a DiaSorin Liaison XL.
Chlamydia & Neisseria gonorrhoeae NAATs testing is currently performed at Micropathology. Other molecular testing is performed at UKHSA Cambridge, and specialist virology advice is obtained from regional virologists.
Mycobacterial culture is undertaken at a reference laboratory at present. AAFB staining is performed on site.
Urgent overnight microbiology samples are transported to UKHSA Cambridge for testing at present, with a plan to repatriate this service. Abnormal results are communicated to the West Suffolk Hospital Consultant Microbiologist on call.
WSFT has also been confirmed as one of 40 Trusts across the country to receive funding for a new build hospital from the Governments Health Infrastructure Programme. Planning is well underway, and the Pathology Department has a wonderful opportunity to create a purpose-built department to enable further development of a modernised service for our patients and users.
The post-holder will be provided with a Trust laptop to enable remote access into the hospital and pathology computer systems.Out-of-hours infection prevention advice is provided by the on-call Consultant Microbiologist.
Person Specification
QUALIFICATIONS FOR MEDICALLY QUALIFIED CANDIDATES:
Essential
- Full and specialist registration (and with a license to practice) with the General Medical Council (GMC) in Medical Microbiology and Virology or Microbiology and Infectious Diseases or be eligible for registration (within six months of interview).
- Applicants that have completed UK training must be a holder of a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) or be within six months of award of CCT by date of interview. oApplicants that have not been through UK training will be required to show evidence of equivalence to UK CCT in Medical Microbiology & Virology or Medical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases.
- Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists (UK) in medical microbiology & virology or evidence of equivalent qualification.
- M/FRCP if a Microbiology & Infectious Diseases candidate
- MBBS, MB ChB or evidence of equivalent qualification.
Desirable
- Other relevant higher qualification, such as: o M/FRCP o MSc o Diploma in Hospital Infection Control
QALIFICATIONS FOR CONSULTANT CLINICAL SCIENTIST CANDIDATES:
Essential
- Registration as a Clinical Scientist in Clinical Microbiology with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
- Completion of Higher Specialist Scientific Training (HSST) in Medical Microbiology or equivalent
- Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists (UK) in medical microbiology & virology by examination or evidence of equivalent qualification.
- Honours degree in relevant science
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- Evidence of thorough and broad training and experience in medical microbiology and infection prevention & control, including outbreak and incident management
- Ability to take responsibility for and appropriately prioritise safe, high quality service delivery without direct supervision.
- Clinical Governance & Clinical Audit experience
- Experience of dealing with matters relating to antimicrobial stewardship
- Teaching experience
Desirable
Knowledge, skills, and Aptitudes
Essential
- Up to date knowledge and experience in medical microbiology and infection prevention and control
- Existing consultants must demonstrate ongoing participation in a relevant Continuing Professional Development (CPD) scheme.
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Capable of working in a multidisciplinary team, including providing leadership, and of balancing clinical, management and other duties
- Ability to work under pressure.
Desirable
- Awareness of relevant strategy and policy developments within the NHS.
Communication and Language Skills
Essential
- Ability to communicate effectively and appropriately with all colleagues and patients.
- All applicants to have demonstrable skills in written and spoken English that are adequate to enable effective communication about medical topics with patients and colleagues which could be demonstrated by one of the following: oPLAB 1 oPLAB 2 If applicants believe that they have adequate communication skills, but do not fit into one of the examples they will need to provide evidence.
- Ability to present effectively to an audience, using a variety of methods, and to respond to questions and queries.
- Must have an interest in teaching across all relevant grades of healthcare staff.
Desirable
- Attendance at a course on presentation and teaching skills
Technical Skills
Essential
- Ability to use standard computer programmes (Word, Excel, PowerPoint); to learn and use new systems including the Laboratory Information Management System, WinPath Enterprise and Electronic Patient Record system, Cerner Millenium.
Research
Desirable
- Ability to apply research outcomes to clinical problems.
- Publications in peer-reviewed journals
Health
Essential
- Ability to undertake daytime and out of hours on-call duties as defined below.
- Ability to meet the travel requirements of the post
Probity
Essential
- Acceptance of the professional obligations placed on doctors in the GMC's Good Medical Practice in relation to probity
Other
Essential
- Commitment to providing a high-quality clinical microbiology service.
- Prepared to work in a shared office space.
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 .
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 .
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website .
Employer details
Employer name
West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
Address
West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
Hardwick Lane,
Bury St. Edmunds
IP33 2QZ