Upper Gastrointestinal Nurse Specialist | Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Mersey & West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (MWL) provides clinical support to patients with cancers of the Upper GI tract, and an exciting opportunity has arisen for a dynamic and motivated nurse to join a well‑established Upper GI team. We are looking for an innovative, forward‑thinking nurse who is highly motivated to improve practice and committed to developing clinical skills. The Upper Gastrointestinal Nurse Specialist acts as a keyworker and provides a continuous point of contact throughout the patient’s pathway from diagnosis and onwards.

Applications are invited from registered nurses who have experience in gastrointestinal, oncology or palliative care nursing, a degree, excellent communication skills and a commitment to continuing education. The successful post holder will work across both Whiston & St Helens hospital sites. We offer a friendly, supportive working environment and, as the post is Macmillan‑badged, you may have access to financial support for commitment to personal and professional development.

Applications are invited from Registered Nurses with the following:

• NMC registered.
• Recognised mentorship course.
• Relevant and recent experience in Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer Care.
• Master’s degree or working towards.
• Disability Confident employer scheme.

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 10,500 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites. We strongly believe that the communities we serve should all have access to Five Star Patient Care.

Key Duties

• Assess, plan, implement and evaluate programmes of evidence‑based nursing care.
• Provide expert advice and clinical practice.
• Provide specialist education and training to others.
• Work collaboratively and co‑operatively with clinical colleagues to develop services and high quality of care delivered.
• Lead the development of clinical services within the specialist field.
• Provide leadership to specialise nursing team in the provision of first contact assessments, diagnosis and comprehensive assessments.
• Triage more complex/advanced conditions where more specialist treatment is required to appropriate nursing staff.
• Manage an agreed patient caseload, when the diagnosis may be uncertain, according to own advanced clinical judgement and skills.
• Order/undertake, interpret and act upon diagnostic tests and investigations.
• Act as an independent endoscopist or undertake training with the view to making a preliminary diagnosis.
• Identify, assess and triage patients ensuring a smooth transition to other services as appropriate.
• As required, undertake highly specialist procedures and lead on clinical pathways which may include making clinical judgement on the prioritisation of cases for treatment.
• Support the team to develop comprehensive care plans, with measurable outcomes, including advice or education to other clinical staff and care givers.
• Ensure the team involves patients, carers and relatives in the planning and delivery of care.
• Act as a highly autonomous practitioner, with minimal supervision, exercising judgement, discretion and decision making in clinical care.
• Ensure own and team compliance with any specific regulations for example: Quality Surveillance Programme, drug administration, record keeping and data collection within own area of work.
• Develop protocols for nurse‑led clinics, ensuring that outcomes are evaluated and activity monitored.
• Initiate medication/treatment reviews independently within area of work.
• Manage complex cases and those for specialist investigations referring to MDT as appropriate.
• Lead on the development of integrated care with primary and secondary care clinicians as required and other agencies involved with care delivery.
• Ensure appropriate services are put in place to support management of condition at home, supported by the multidisciplinary team as required.
• Abide by legal requirements and statutory rules relating to practice, and promote and maintain standards of professional practice in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Council Code and Professional Conduct and Scope of Professional Practice.
• Develop and maintain required specialist clinical skills in the assessment and treatment of patients within the area of responsibility.
• Develop and deliver ‘Living with and beyond cancer’ patient support service.
• Develop and deliver the Recovery package as per NHS England requirements.
• Provide specialist telephone advice.
• Key worker role.

CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Perform comprehensive assessment of patient nursing needs, plan, implement and evaluate care delivery according to changing health care needs.
• Perform advanced clinical skills in assessment and/or diagnosis and/or treatment.
• Collect, collate, evaluate and report information, maintaining accurate patient records.
• Involve patients and carers/relatives in the planning and delivery of care and the development of services.
• Monitor investigation results, initiating further assessment/review and coordinating treatment pathway as required.
• Work collaboratively with other professionals and agencies to ensure discharge arrangements.
• Establish and maintain effective communication with patients and carers/relatives and professionals across health and social services.
• Contribute to the health and promotion agenda with the local health economy.
• Undertake / work towards non‑medical prescribing as per NMC and trust guidance.
• Maintain up to date best prescribing practice in relation to the management of conditions within the specialist area.
• Attend clinical supervision sessions.

ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Administration supporting direct patient care/MDT preparation/follow‑up.
• Dictating and signing letters.
• Requesting appointments for patients.
• Processing clinical outcome sheets.
• Updating Somerset Cancer Registry.
• Report writing.
• Presentations.
• Address issues raised by remote follow‑up clinic service.

TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSIBILITIES

• Identify learning needs, plan, implement and evaluate programmes of education to meet identified needs.
• Participate in the education of pre‑ and post‑registered nurses, medical staff, AHPs, patients and carers and participate in curriculum development where appropriate.
• Address specific health targets such as CHI, NICE guidance, NSF related to own practice through education.
• Ensure own compliance and compliance of others with regard to mandatory training and PREP requirements.

LINE MANAGEMENT/SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide specialist, expert clinical knowledge to clinical colleagues, patients and carers/relatives.
• Evaluate service delivery against key performance targets, national quality measures, identify areas for improvement and initiate change.
• Ensure the effective and efficient use of physical and financial resources; make suggestions regarding supplies and equipment.
• Collect, collate and report activity data to key stakeholders, producing regular formal reports.

RESEARCH & AUDIT

• Identify need for, participate in and undertake research, clinical audit, benchmarking and equipment trials, in order to improve effectiveness of patient care.
• Disseminate research and audit findings through presentation to professional groups and publication.
• Responsible for the development and implementation of policies, procedures and guidelines relevant to own area of work.
• Promote patient and public involvement activities in the specialist area, leading to service improvement.
• Promote people’s equality, diversity and rights.

This advert closes on Monday 1 Jun 2026. Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme.