Consultant in Medical Microbiology/ Infectious Diseases

Consultant in Medical Microbiology/ Infectious Diseases

The closing date is 29 April 2026.

We are looking for Medical Microbiologists to join our existing team of 3 consultants in the department of Microbiology at Great Western Hospitals. Over the next year, we are aiming to broaden the scope of microbiology services offered at Great Western and are therefore particularly interested to hear from infectious diseases/medical microbiology jointly trained candidates who would be interested in helping us to drive transformation and service improvements for our patients.

GWH is part of the South 4 Pathology Partnership and works in close collaboration with Oxford University Hospitals, Buckinghamshire Healthcare, and Milton Keynes in the delivery and development of microbiology services.

Main duties of the job

The appointees together with their consultant colleagues will be responsible for the provision of a comprehensive, efficient and cost-effective clinical microbiology, virology and infection prevention and control (IPC) service to the Trust and other users of the service. Job plans can be negotiated to fit the number of PAs with specialist interests accommodated by the department where possible.

The appointees will be encouraged to develop strong working relationships with the medical microbiology team at OUH, and to take advantage of academic research and ongoing CPD opportunities offered. More formal support or mentoring could also be explored if desired for early career consultants.

The main duties of the post include: Clinical practice and liaison

• Taking a leadership role within the Trust/ hospital / Health Board in matters relating to infection management.
• Provision of a comprehensive infection service. This includes direct clinical care and proactive liaison in a timely manner with consultant colleagues, other hospital staff, medical microbiology colleagues, Genito-Urinary Medicine (GUM) physicians and lead respiratory physicians for tuberculosis management, general practitioners, antibiotic pharmacists, IPC nurses, health protection consultants and CCDCs concerning the diagnosis and management of patients, and control and prevention of infection.
• Regular departmental visits and commitments to specific units including Intensive Care, Haematology/Oncology, Medical/Surgical admission units, regular and ad hoc visits to wards, and departmental commitment to IPC.
• Regular departmental commitments to committees such as IPC meetings, Medicines Management Committee, Antibiotic Working Group, Sepsis Working group, Pathology Directorate meetings, Microbiology Management Committee
• Regular commitments to Orthopaedic multidisciplinary team (MDT), Diabetic/ High Risk Foot MDT, Cardiology and antibiotic pharmacy rounds.
• Development of sub-specialty interests that fit in with Division needs and the strategic direction of the Trust.
• Responsibilities for teaching, examination and accreditation duties are required, and for contributing to undergraduate and post-graduate and continuing medical education activity.
• Provision of cover for consultant colleagues periods of leave in accordance with arrangements agreed within Trust policy.
• Participation in clinical audit and in continuing medical education.
• Conducting suitable duties in cases of emergencies and unforeseen circumstances.
• The post holder will participate in an out of hours consultant rota, detailed within the job plan section

Please find attached a full job description and person specification

Person Specification 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 (UK) by examination or evidence of equivalent qualification
• MRCP (UK) or evidence of equivalent qualification
• A relevant higher qualification would be desirable
• IPC Qualification

Experience

• Evidence of thorough and broad training and experience in Medical Microbiology
• Knowledge and expertise in Medical Microbiology
• Knowledge of evidence based practice in Medical Microbiology
• Knowledge and experience of infection prevention and control
• Evidence of a specialist interest that complements those of other Consultants in the department
• Experience in the rationalisation and control of antimicrobial prescribing
• Interest and experience of OPAT

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.

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust