Specialty Doctor in Histopathology Milton Keynes

The Histopathology Department at MKUH has recently had a business case approved to expand our workforce due to our popular and growing services. As the demand for pathology services increases, we are investing in our workforce, welcoming Histology Specialty grade professionals to join our growing team and bring fresh expertise and innovation to the department. Applicants are invited to apply for the specialty position in Cellular Pathology at Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. These posts will complete a team of nine consultant histopathologists. The post is full-time, and applicants who, for personal reasons, are unable to work full time are also eligible to apply. If such a person is appointed, modification of the job content will be discussed on a personal basis with the Trust, in consultation with consultant colleagues.

The post holder will be contracted to provide histopathology and non-gynaecological cytology services at Milton Keynes Hospital Foundation Trust, alongside colleagues in Cellular Pathology. Doctors considering an application are encouraged to visit the hospital and to meet with potential clinical colleagues.

Main duties of the job

• The post holder must be competent in cutting-up all benign cases and most of the complex cancers without consultant supervision.
• Independent cut up as well as training and supervising training grade doctors and Biomedical Scientists in cut up are the main responsibilities of the job.
• Independent reporting of benign cases (and other cases commensurate with competence and experience) is part of the main responsibilities; there will be appropriate Consultant oversight.
• The post holder will be involved in the organisation of the rota of the department and opportunities will be available to learn about general laboratory management and administration.
• A digital pathology is available, and we are currently working on a home reporting project to be able to provide a hybrid approach to meet service needs.
• There is a departmental multi-headed microscope, which is used for Cellular Pathology Internal Quality Assurance and teaching/educational meetings.
• The successful applicant may be expected to participate in teaching both undergraduate and postgraduate students (in association with the University of Buckingham) and to support colleagues undertaking these activities as part of his or her agreed job plan.

About us

Milton Keynes University Hospital, in proud partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital committed to advancing patient care through cutting-edge research and education. With a "Good" rating from the CQC and significant investment underway, this is an exciting time to join our team and grow your career. As a medium sized general hospital, we provide a full range of general medical and surgical services, including a busy Emergency Department, Maternity, and Paediatrics. As the population of our city and surrounding areas continues to grow rapidly, we are expanding and enhancing our facilities to meet rising demand and improve access to care for all our communities. We are also proud to offer a growing portfolio of specialist services.

In January 2025 we opened our state-of-the-art Radiotherapy Centre, bringing advanced cancer treatment closer to home. Our services also include neonatology, specialist surgical care, and a wide range of diagnostics, supported by the new Community Diagnostic Centre at Whitehouse Health Centre. We have just opened the Oak Wards - a new ward block featuring two 24-bed wards. Further investment is underway, including the recently approved Women and Children's Centre, set to open by 2030.

Job responsibilities

The job plan (10 P.A. on appointment) will consist of a split of DCC and SPA. This will be 9 PA DCC and 1 core SPA on appointment. Core SPA comprises appraisal, revalidation, CME, routine departmental meetings etc. Additional non-core SPA is only available if specific activities and objectives are mutually agreed by the clinical lead and in job planning and these outputs are evaluated at annual job plan review.

Through its inclusive and comprehensive job planning process, the trust commits to providing equitable working conditions to medical colleagues across specialties and their sub-specialties. Delivery of job plans, whilst owned by consultants and their Clinical Service Unit Leads, is overseen by the Divisional Director with operational input and is subject to peer challenge at divisional level, thus enabling a further layer of objectivity to our commitment in this regard.

Person Specification

Qualifications / Registration

• Essential: Full and a licence to practise with the General Medical Council (GMC). Shall have completed four years full-time postgraduate training (or its equivalent gained on a part-time or flexible basis), at least two of which will be in a specialty training programme in histopathology or as a fixed term specialty trainee in a histopathology. Shall have FRCPath part 2 or international equivalent and should have at least 6 months experience in Cellular Pathology in the UK.
• Desirable: Experience of Audit Management, Experience of teaching, Formal training in Clinical Supervision/train the trainers, Experience of coronial post mortem work and willingness to participate in an autopsy rota.

Training

• Essential: Expertise in one or more subspecialty. Sufficient broad experience in histopathology and cytopathology. Experience in reporting fine needle aspirates.
• Desirable: Special experience in surgical pathology and cytopathology excluding cervical cytology. Some experience in autopsy. Experience of teaching to undergraduates. Experience of supervising training grade doctors in Pathology. Teaching of non-medical health professionals.

Knowledge/Experience

• Essential: Appropriate level of clinical knowledge. Knowledge and application of up-to-date evidence-based practice. High standard of clinical skill and expertise in histopathology.
• Desirable: IT skills. Breadth of experience within and outside speciality.

NHS Experience

• Essential: Experience in contributing to the multidisciplinary management of patients. Understanding of clinical risk management. Experience of, and commitment to, teaching undergraduate and postgraduate medical staff. Ability to teach clinical and personal skills required for specialty.

Communication Skills and Teaching

• Essential: Good written and verbal communication skills. Evidence of ability to communicate with patients, colleagues and staff at all levels. A proven background in organising and delivering undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and research with evidence of training for the role is highly desirable. Demonstrable evidence of lifelong learning. Reflective approach to personal development with an ability to acknowledge and effectively manage poor performance. Participation in appropriate peer review processes.
• Desirable: Teaching experience, teaching medical students and supervising specialty trainees. Ability to be able to appraise both trainees and other staff. A qualification in medical education, such as a Diploma.

Leadership/Management skills

• Essential: Ability to motivate and develop training of medical and non-medical staff. Ability to advise on efficient and smooth running of specialty service. Ability to organise and manage workload. Ability to cover on call as required.
• Desirable: Experience of audit management.

Other requirements

• Essential: Ability to work independently as well as part of the Pathology Division. To balance individual requirements against those of the Directorate and the Trust as a whole. Ability to gain the trust and confidence of colleagues and patients.
• Desirable: Ability and desire to take part in clinical directorate management. IT and computer skills.

Health

• Essential: Be in good health. Demonstration of immunisation against Hepatitis B, plus proof of Hepatitis B antigen negative status.

Research and Audit

• Essential: Experience of, and commitment to, medical audit.
• Desirable: Ability to supervise postgraduate research. Publications in referred journals.

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. Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.