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Job summary

Main area
Microbiology
Grade
NHS Medical & Dental: Consultant
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 10 sessions per week (Supporting programmed activities (SPAs) - additional responsibilities and external duties additional 1.5 PAs plus Participation in the out of hours service is expected on a 1 in 3 basis additional 1 PAs)
Job ref
292-7429976-CSS-A
Employer
The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
The Princess Alexandra Hospital Trust
Town
Harlow
Salary
£93,666 - £126,281 per Annum
Closing
10/09/2025 08:00
Interview date
17/09/2025

Employer heading

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust logo

Consultant Microbiologist

NHS Medical & Dental: Consultant

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAHT) provides a full range of general acute, outpatient and diagnostic services at The Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, the Herts and Essex Hospital in Bishop’s Stortford, and St Margaret’s Hospital in Epping. 

Our values

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAHT) promise to our patients, as identified by our three values which will contribute to improving our patients’ experiences, is:

Patient at heart – Always holding the patient and their wellbeing at the centre of our thoughts and efforts. 

Everyday excellence – Sharing and celebrating our successes, being honest when we get it wrong, giving us the ability to learn from both.

Creative collaboration – Knowing strength comes from diversity, we combine our experiences, skills and talents, working together to find new and better ways to care.


 

Job overview

Job overview

We are looking to recruit an outstanding, forward thinking and motivated consultant microbiologist to join our microbiology team delivering our clinical microbiology and virology services.  The post presents an excellent opportunity for an experienced clinician with comprehensive understanding of microbiology to join our dynamic team committed to the delivery of the highest standard of care.

 

We are a cohesive, collegiate department that has monthly consultant meetings. The Trust also has excellent Learning and Development department resulting in opportunities for personal development. Study leave for CPD is supported and assistance with funding is provided up to an agreed limit.

As a trust we support flexible working, this post is a full-time permanent post, but we will consider accommodating flexibility including part-time working for the right candidate.

Key interdependencies for the microbiology service includes: -

  • Clinical liaison service, including strong links with critical care
  • Laboratory support
  • Infection Prevention & Control team
  • Antimicrobial stewardship

Main duties of the job

  • Leading by example, you will demonstrate the trust values and help us to deliver outstanding care.
  • To provide high quality inpatient and outpatient services
  • To lead and motivate the multi-disciplinary team in order to deliver effective patient-focused care and interventions.
  • This includes effective communication in line with the Trust values.
  • To support consultant colleagues in the department in the delivery of their services where necessary
  • Clinical Governance and Audit

The main duties and responsibilities of the post include:

  • Providing a comprehensive microbiology & virology service
  • Sharing responsibility with colleagues at The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust for providing a 24-hour, 7-day (including on-call) service
  • Contributing towards antimicrobial stewardship
  • Complying with RCPath recommendations on appraisal and CPD
  • Contributing to undergraduate and postgraduate medical education where applicable
  • Adhering to The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust’s policies on Clinical Governance.

The successful applicant will be expected to provide clinical advice by phone and e-mail, manage positive blood cultures and other urgent clinical samples, attend ward rounds, multi-disciplinary team meetings and relevant management and governance meetings, and to provide occasional support to laboratory scientific staff and members of the infection prevention and control team.  The successful applicant will be encouraged to develop a relevant subspecialty interest.

Working for our organisation

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust is conveniently located in Harlow, Essex, 25 minutes’ drive to London Stansted Airport and 30 minutes train ride to London Liverpool Street. Harlow also has excellent road connections across England which includes M11, M25, A10, M1 and A1. They are all in close proximity to the PAH site which is within walking distance to the town Centre. The hospital is within easy walking distance of Harlow Town Centre with good approach roads, and within easy reach of the M11. It has a busy A&E department and provides a wide range of elective and acute services.

 

 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see attached detailed job description and job specification for further information

Person specification

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

  • Full GMC Registration with a current Licence to Practice
  • Inclusion on the GMC Specialist Register/CCT or evidence of Higher Speciality Training leading to CCT or be within 6 months of confirmed entry to the Specialist Register from the date of interview.
  • FRCPath or equivalent

Experience

Essential criteria

  • Ability to work at consultant level in Clinical Microbiology
  • Ability to offer an expert opinion in Infection Control
  • Ability to offer an expert opinion in public health microbiology
  • Experience of working in a multidisciplinary team

Skills

Essential criteria

  • Ability to use a computer and the internet
  • Ability to follow laboratory protocols
  • Proven organisational skills

Knowledge

Essential criteria

  • Evidence of participation in CPD over the past 12 months where relevant

Additional

Essential criteria

  • A willingness to accept flexibility to meet the changing needs of the NHS
  • Effective communicator and negotiator
  • Demonstrate effective leadership

What we can offer you:

 

  • Full induction and onboarding process in our organisation 
  • Car parking for our staff (subject to availability)
  • Structured pay scheme, including additional living supplement to your basic salary
  • Minimum 27 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata for part time staff)
  • Access to our Alex Lounge, our staff only rest area with free tea and coffee
  • Access to NHS Pension scheme
  • Flexible working options available, in line with our flexible working policy
  • Onsite creche facilities
  • Annual appraisals with career pathways
  • In-house training courses
  • Discounted hospital restaurant
  • Staff health and wellbeing health services and complimentary health provision

 

Important information

  • Our Trust is committed to promoting equality of opportunity for all its employees. We welcome applications from anyone who meets the specific criteria of the post regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender reassignment, marital status, pregnancy, religion or belief or sexual orientation. Reasonable adjustments to the interview process can also be made for any candidates with a disability
  • All new colleagues joining PAHT will be subject to a probationary period of six months
  • The closing date given is a guide only. There may be some occasions where we have to close a vacancy once sufficient applications have been received. It is therefore advisable that you submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment
  • Our Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and vulnerable adults. Offers of employment are subject to pre-employment NHS screening checks
  • Providing false or misleading information or unsatisfactory pre-employment checks may result in the offer of a post being withdrawn

 

Person specification

Education

Essential criteria
  • MB BS or equivalent
  • FRCPath or show evidence of equivalent qualification
  • Demonstration of professional development as appropriate to individual experience
  • Applicants that are non-UK trained; they will be required to show evidence of equivalence to the UK CCT.
Desirable criteria
  • MRCP
  • Record of research publications

Registration

Essential criteria
  • Full and Specialist registration with the General Medical Council or be eligible for registration within six months of interview.

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Wide experience in clinical and laboratory Microbiology
Desirable criteria
  • To have attained status as a AMS (antimicrobial stewardship) expert or advisor
  • Record of achievement in audit activities, to have developed a network with colleagues at a local / regional level
  • Some IPC experience
  • Good knowledge of Virology and infection prevention and control

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardApprenticeships logoMenopause Friendly EmployerDisability confident employerEssex Family Friendly EmployersNHS Rainbow badgeStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Step into healthHappy to Talk Flexible WorkingArmed Forces Covenant

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Dr Shico Visuvanathan
Job title
Consultant Lead for Microbiology & Director of IPC
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01279827138
Additional information

Microbiology Laboratory Manager

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust

Hamstel Road,

Harlow,

CM20 1QX

If you have problems applying, contact

Address
Princess Alexandra Hospital
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