Speciality Doctor in Microbiology

The remit of the Clinical Microbiology / Infection team at Gateshead Health NHSFT is:

1 To provide oversight and day to day input into the microbiology laboratory ensuring that the laboratory is clinically lead and a high level of clinical input is targeted at salient samples and results to maximise clinical value and improve patient outcomes.

2 To provide a high quality clinical advisory service to supplement the work the laboratory undertakes. This includes providing advice on testing/diagnostics, result interpretation and antibiotic choice.

To provide antibiotic stewardship and infection prevention and control input to the trust.

This post is aimed at doctors with two years of clinical microbiology experience seeking to further develop their expertise and contribute independently to the infection service. Candidates wishing to work less than full time are welcome to apply.

This post includes an out-of-hours commitment, in line with our established specialty registrar level rotas, which are fully compliant with the resident doctor contract and the European Working Time Directive.

Main duties of the job

The main roles and responsibilities are, after appropriate training and competency assessments have been achieved, to:

Follow up and communicate, either by phone, electronically or in person, salient laboratory results (e.g. positive blood cultures, critical and urgent results, C.difficile toxin positive results)

Lead the clinical consultation service and provide expert guidance on infection management. Independently lead clinical consultations, interpret complex diagnostic results, and provide expert infection specialty advice. Collaborate with consultants on highly complex cases as needed.

Attend MDT ward rounds including the EAU daily huddles, C.difficile MDT and develop your antimicrobial stewardship skills.

Attend and contribute to the weekly virtual complex infection round and to assist in following up, investigating and managing (with consultant support) complex cases

Lead education and training initiatives for laboratory biomedical staff, junior doctors, and medical students.

Lead audits, point prevalence surveys, and quality improvement projects to enhance infection services.

Develop your understanding of how the microbiology laboratory and infection prevention and control teams contribute to patient care.

About us

Based in the North East of England we provide a range of hospital and community health services from our leading facilities, including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Blaydon urgent care centre and Bensham Hospital, all within Gateshead.

Established in 2005, we were one of the first foundation trusts in the country and since then have consistently achieved the highest levels of care for patients.

We now employ around 4,800 staff and currently provide 444 hospital beds across the Gateshead region.

Our values should be the 'golden thread' which runs through everything we do - they are the core of who we are. Our five values can easily be remembered by the simple acronymICORE; Innovation, Care, Openness, Respect, Engagement.

We have a number of staff networks including the Global Ethnic Majority (GEM) network, D-Ability network, LGBTQ+ Network and the Women's Network, to challenge us and help us to constantly improve. Our Armed Forces network is one of our emerging networks.

The health and wellbeing of our staff is one of our highest priorities, and we offer a range of support and initiatives as part of our 'Balance' programme to cater for our diverse workforce, so that your individual needs can be supported, allowing you a happy and healthy working experience with us.

Job responsibilities

See attached Job Description.

The main roles and responsibilities are, after appropriate training and competency assessments have been achieved, to:

Follow up and communicate, either by phone, electronically or in person, salient laboratory results (e.g. positive blood cultures, critical and urgent results, C.difficile toxin positive results)

Lead the clinical consultation service and provide expert guidance on infection management. Independently lead clinical consultations, interpret complex diagnostic results, and provide expert infection specialty advice. Collaborate with consultants on highly complex cases as needed.

Attend MDT ward rounds including the EAU daily huddles, C.difficile MDT and develop your antimicrobial stewardship skills.

Attend and contribute to the weekly virtual complex infection round and to assist in following up, investigating and managing (with consultant support) complex cases

Lead education and training initiatives for laboratory biomedical staff, junior doctors, and medical students.

Lead audits, point prevalence surveys, and quality improvement projects to enhance infection services.

Develop your understanding of how the microbiology laboratory and infection prevention and control teams contribute to patient care.

Person Specification Speciality Experience

• At least 2 years medical microbiology experience
• Willingness to train in medical microbilogy and obtain FRCPath

Registration

• Full GMC registration as a doctor

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.

Consultant Medical Microbiologist/Joint Clin Lead