Consultant Histopathologist

Job Summary

Portsmouth Hospitals NHS University Trust is seeking a Consultant Cellular Pathologist to join the existing team of 17 Consultants and 3 Specialist Doctors supporting a wider Histopathology team including two Consultant Biomedical Scientists (who are also Advanced Dissection Practitioners) a further 3 qualified Dissection Practitioners including 2 now undertaking further specialist training in breast and GI and 1 Dissection Practitioner in training.

We are a team proud of the service we provide to our patients and the surrounding areas performing specialist reporting of all major cancer resections renal and liver biopsies as well as a wide range of complex and routine specimens.

We take a collaborative approach to working with a pool that is pulled alongside specialist reporting. An interest in breast skin and GI is desirable but we are a flexible department.

We also understand the importance of development and we promise opportunities for candidates to develop specialist interests within the team including developing academic links with the University of Portsmouth. Due to the Southern Counties Pathology Network there are management opportunities within Pathology for those interested.

Over recent years we have seen significant investment in our infrastructure with all laboratory equipment being replaced in the last year as part of a network wide managed service contract. Voice recognition is in use and our LIMS is being updated as part of a major project to advance the Southern Counties Pathology Network.

The Histopathology team here at Portsmouth are excited to be implementing digital pathology as part of a network-wide initiative with state-of-the-art scanners installed and increased opportunities for homeworking on the horizon. We are searching for a Consultant ready to work with us in developing our vision.

There is no commitment to performing post-mortems in this post however we would happily support those interested in contributing to leading this service specifically by providing DCC time for supervising trainees.

Ideally you will have full GMC registration and be on the specialist register or within 6 months of being included. You will also be a fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists or have completed a period of training and education in Histopathology recognised by the GMC.

There is one position available to join our existing team of 17 Consultants and 3 Specialist Doctors.

The successful candidate will be responsible for the dissection and reporting of the cases of chosen specialist areas. There may also be a requirement to report non specialist general cases. An interest in breast and skin pathology is advantageous.

The PHU Histopathology service receives requests that cover a wide spectrum of pathology including:
General Surgery Colorectal (including Bowel Cancer Screening) Breast (also Breast Screening cases) Dermatology Respiratory Head and Neck Gynaecology Ophthalmology Endocrine Orthopaedics Diagnostic and Transplant Renal Biopsies Soft Tissue Tumours Urology and Endoscopic and CT guided biopsies. Approximately 22% of the requests are received from General Practitioners with approximately 78% of requests being generated from within the Trust.

The Cytology workload includes pleural ascitic and synovial fluids gastrointestinal bronchial and biliary tract brushings sputa EBUS and EUS aspirates fine needle aspirates of breast lymph node thyroid salivary gland ovarian cysts intra-abdominal masses and soft tissue tumours urine and CSF cytology. A rapid reporting service is provided by three Head and Neck Pathologists for the one-stop neck lump clinic.

The appointee will be expected to participate in multidisciplinary team meetings in their chosen areas of specialist interest.

There is a frozen section service for all specialities and the successful candidate may be asked to participate in a daily duty rota with other pathologists to cover frozen sections and unexpected clinical enquiries.

An essential requirement of this post is for the successful candidate to be able to interact and work successfully as part of a team in Cellular Pathology and as a member of a wider multidisciplinary team.

The appointee will have the opportunity to participate in the post-mortem rota at Queen Alexandra Hospital and there will be full and equal opportunity to perform post-mortems for HM Coroner subject to approval by the Coroner if they wish however there is no commitment to perform post-mortems.

Teaching and supervision of trainee pathologists is a requirement of this post and the appointees will be expected to contribute to regular combined Cellular Pathology teaching meetings. Currently the department has four trainees on rotation from Wessex Training School and additional trainees may come to Portsmouth to undertake short attachments. In addition there may be opportunities to teach on the Wessex Cellular Pathology Course held in Southampton or contribute to the Histopathology Training…