4302 Consultant Medical Microbiologist/Consultant in Infection

4302 Consultant Medical Microbiologist/Consultant in Infection We are delighted to welcome your application for Consultant Microbiologist (with or without Infectious Diseases or Virology) to join our existing team of 7 consultants and specialists, along with our wider team of microbiology laboratory staff, antimicrobial stewardship practitioners and infection control colleagues.

You will work mainly in Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, and you will be expected to participate in the provision of clinical cover for Yeovil District Hospital site location. In addition you will participate in the clinical and advisory service offered to General Practitioners, Somerset Foundation Trust Community Hospitals and independent sector treatment centre Practice Plus Group Hospital at Shepton Mallet.

At Somerset Foundation Trust we recognise care is not just for the patient, within the Directorate there is access to Clinical Supervision, mentorship, coaching and counselling as well as a Trust wellbeing team. We work with consultants to ensure flexible and realistic job planning to optimise work-life balance to ensure individuals flourish.

The Department of Microbiology is accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS), under the new standard ISO 15189:2012 (UKAS registration no 9679).

The Department is an IBMS-approved laboratory for registration training of Biomedical Scientists. The Department participates in all relevant NEQAS schemes, with an excellent record of results.

AAC interview date: 12th May 2026

Main duties of the job The appointee, together with consultant colleagues, will be responsible for the provision of a comprehensive, efficient and cost-effective clinical medical microbiology service that includes;

• Advice regarding appropriate specimens.
• Involvement in specimen analysis.
• Validation and interpretation of results for transmission to wards.
• Regular ward visits (incl. ITU/HDU each day).
• Attendance at various multidisciplinary team meetings (cardiology, haematology, orthopaedic, spinal, vascular).
• Advice on antimicrobial prescribing including regular antimicrobial ward rounds.
• Regular review of patients with C. difficile infection and involvement in the management of individual patients through full clinical liaison.
• Participation in the out-of-hours service: The on-call rota is currently 1 week in 6 with prospective cover.
• Appropriate involvement in antimicrobial stewardship as required.
• Hospital Infection Prevention and Control functions, as required.

About us At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:

• Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
• NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
• Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
• A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential

Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.

We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.

Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.

The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.

Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.

To arrange a visit please contact our Service manager , or via our microbiology admin team lead Tracy Croom, or .

Job responsibilities Applicants will be expected to be members of the Royal College of Pathologists or show equivalent experience and training.

Applicants must hold 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.

Consideration will be given to appoint suitable applicants at Specialty Doctor/Specialist Doctor level if the applicant is not on the GMC Specialist Register. Consideration will be given to appoint suitable applicants to a CESR post to achieve GMC Specialist Registration in order to work at consultant level.

Please see below some further details regarding the duties of this role:

• Provision of virology/serology services as appropriate.
• Appropriate involvement in preparation of policies, SOPs, assessment and introduction of new methods, business planning, etc.
• Managerial and administrative duties as agreed with the Clinical Lead for Microbiology and the Clinical Director.
• Such additional duties as may be required from time to time either by the Clinical Lead for Microbiology or Clinical Director, after appropriate consultation.
• With consultant and other colleagues (and when necessary, with the support of the local HPU), provision of microbiological and epidemiological support, including surveillance for Consultants in Communicable Disease Control, Environmental Health Officers and others, and for clinical staff in hospitals and the community, within the catchment area of the Department of Microbiology.
• Collaboration with UK Health Security Agency's central reference & epidemiological facilities in the reporting and investigation of infections, control of outbreaks, development of laboratory methods, involvement in surveys, etc.
• Public Health microbiology as required, in collaboration with the local Health Protection Unit, in the catchment area of the laboratory (e.g. testing of outbreak specimens).

Teaching & training:

• Teaching, examination and accreditation duties as required - including teaching of 3rd year medical students (from Bristol University) attached to Somerset Academy and contribution to postgraduate and continuing medical education activities.
• Audit, clinical governance & research:
• Participation in audit & quality control within the laboratory, and clinical audit within the
• Participation in a recognised scheme of Continuing Professional Development.
• Research activities consistent with the priorities of the Department of Microbiology and the Trust; subject to the availability of funding and resources.

Laboratory Advice to Occupational Health Service:

• Provide interpretation of laboratory results for the Trust's Occupational Health service, whether this may be an in house provision or outsourced.

Each Consultant will have designated responsibility for a specific area/service(s), these include:

• Clinical Service Lead of Microbiology Department.
• Infection Control Doctor for Somerset NHS Foundation Trust.
• Infection Control Doctor for Yeovil District Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
• Lead Consultant for Antimicrobial Stewardship for Somerset.
• Lead Consultant for Laboratory Technical Liaison.
• Lead Consultant for OPAT (prospective).
• Other roles dependant on need and expertise.

Please see attached the full job description and persons specification for this position. We would love for you to come and visit us. We're confident you'll be pleasantly surprised by the scope of our department. Candidates are encouraged to visit the hospitals and visits may be arranged through the microbiology admin team telephone: or e-mail to Tracy.Croom@

Qualifications

• Full and specialist registration (and a licence to practise) with the General Medical Council (GMC) (or 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.
• FRCPath or show evidence of equivalent qualification
• Evidence of continuing medical education
• Completed a period of education and training in medical microbiology recognised by the Royal College of Pathologists

Experience

• Experience of all aspects of the work of an Infection Control Doctor
• Extensive experience of ward based clinical liaison
• Understanding of clinical risk management
• Competent of work without direct supervision
• Clear and logical thinking showing analytical/scientific approach
• Ability to mentor staff both medical and nursing
• Experience of developing & implementing antimicrobial guidelines
• Experience of clinical risk management
• Interest and experience in OPAT

Additional Criteria

• Appropriate level of clinical knowledge
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