Job summary
- Main area
- Histopathologist
- Grade
- NHS Medical & Dental: Consultant
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 10 sessions per week
- Job ref
- 318-26-CONSHISTO
- Employer
- Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Cheltenham General Hospital
- Town
- Cheltenham
- Salary
- £109,725 - £145,478 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 22/03/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Consultant Histopathologist
NHS Medical & Dental: Consultant
At Gloucestershire Hospitals, our people are at the heart of everything we do. As the county’s largest employer, we are proud to provide high-quality acute, elective, and specialist services to more than 650,000 people across our county. Our care is delivered across Gloucestershire Royal, Cheltenham General and Stroud Maternity Hospital.
With over 9,000 employees representing more than 95 nationalities, bringing together a mix of cultures and experiences to the care that we deliver. Whether you’re beginning your NHS journey or looking to take the next step in your career, this is an exciting time to join us. We’re investing heavily in innovation, research, and transformation, with more than 100 active clinical studies and major developments underway across our hospitals.
We take pride in working as one team, driven by a shared ambition to grow, develop, and continually improve. Every contribution is valued and by combining our collective strengths, we support not only our diverse communities but one another. You can expect a warm, supportive culture and colleagues who are passionate about teamwork, professional development and delivering exceptional care. We offer structured development programmes, mentoring and leadership opportunities to help you progress in your career.
We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels they belong. By joining our Trust, you will benefit from a comprehensive package that includes flexible working opportunities, generous annual leave, the NHS pension scheme, competitive bank rates, local discounts, access to on-site nurseries, reduced public transport costs, reward and recognition schemes and a wide range of health and wellbeing initiatives.
Be part of Gloucestershire Hospitals, explore your future with us today.
Job overview
The gynaecological pathology service at Cheltenham General Hospital supports secondary and tertiary cancer services for a population of 1.4 million across Herefordshire, Powys and Worcestershire, and 652,000 locally. The department contributes to cervical screening histology and provides an ovarian frozen section service, offering real‑time intraoperative diagnostic support and strong MDT engagement.
The successful applicant will join a supportive, UKAS‑accredited Cellular Pathology Department with full digital pathology (implemented 2025) and home‑reporting capability. On‑site presence is required for key clinical services, including cut‑up and ovarian frozen sections. Cheltenham offers excellent quality of life, strong schools and good transport links.
contact Medical Staffing on 0300 422 2935. *Terms and Conditions apply*
Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will:
- Provide high quality diagnostic reporting, with a core contribution to gynaecological pathology and/or breast pathology, supporting both local and regional cancer services.
- Participate in cervical screening histology reporting.
- Contribute to the ovarian frozen section service.
- Contribute to non-gynaecological cytology if possible, with opportunities for further development where required.
- Support additional subspecialty areas aligned with experience and departmental need, including dermatopathology, urological, lung, GI or head & neck pathology.
- Participate in cut up, supported by experienced dissection practitioners.
- Attend and contribute to MDT meetings, including regional and tertiary gynaecological cancer MDTs as appropriate.
- Take part in the departmental longstanding second signing process for quality assurance.
- Use the digital pathology service.
- Contribute to service development, audit and clinical governance in line with Trust policies.
- Less than full time and flexible working arrangements will be considered.
The appointees will be managerially responsible to the Clinical Head(s) of Department of the Gloucestershire Histopathology Department and to the Specialty Director, the Director of Service, the Medical Director and the Trust Board.
Working for our organisation
We provide acute services from Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and Cheltenham General Hospital to a population of 652,475 in Gloucestershire, as well as patients from surrounding counties.
Our workforce of almost 8,000 delivers high‑quality, patient‑centred emergency, elective and specialist care. We are committed to recruiting talented people who share our vision of delivering Best Care for Everyone, supported by staff who are leaders in healthcare, teaching and research.
Cheltenham, the gateway to the Cotswolds, is regularly rated among the best places to live in the UK, offering excellent state and independent schools, green spaces and strong transport links.
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is the largest provider within the SWAG Cancer Alliance, delivering specialist care across a wide range of services. The Cellular Pathology Department, based at Cheltenham General Hospital, supports local and regional specialties including tertiary gynaecological oncology.
The department has a strong subspecialist culture, fully implemented digital pathology, and an expanding Molecular Pathology Service, supporting modern diagnostics and flexible working.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Clinical duties:
- Subspecialty reporting with emphasis on gynaecological pathology and/or breast pathology, including work supporting regional cancer services.
- Cervical screening histology reporting.
- Participation in the ovarian frozen section service, which provides essential intraoperative diagnostic guidance during gynaecological cancer surgery.
- Contribution to non-gynaecological cytology, with training and development available.
- MDT preparation and attendance.
- Participation in second signing and intra departmental consultation.
Training, teaching and departmental culture:
The department has an active and supportive training culture:
- Consultants are expected to support postgraduate histopathology trainees.
- Regular undergraduate teaching is delivered, with medical students attending structured half day sessions.
- The department offers taster sessions for resident doctors considering a career in histopathology.
- To participate in EQA schemes and proficiency testing relevant to your areas of practice
- Formal Educational Supervisor roles are allocated separately, but all consultants are expected to contribute to the educational environment.
Laboratory and departmental responsibilities:
- Participation in the cut-up rota with expert dissection practitioner support.
- Full engagement with digital pathology workflows, including remote reporting.
- Contribution to audit, service improvement, clinical governance and teaching.
Qualifications:
- Full GMC registration with licence to practise.
- CCT (or within 6 months of award at interview) or CESR equivalence.
- Commitment to delivering a high quality cellular pathology service.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Full registration (and with a licence to practise) with the General Medical Council (GMC), or be eligible for registration within six months of interview.
- On Specialist Register for Pathology via: CCT (proposed CCT date must be within 6 months of interview) CESR or European Community Rights, FRCPath or equivalent qualification Higher degree
Desirable criteria
- Teaching qualification
- Higher degree
- FRCPath or equivalent qualification
Knowledge and Skills
Essential criteria
- Experience in devising, conducting and applying audit results
Desirable criteria
- Training in evidence-based practice
- Ability to apply research outcomes to clinical problems
Clinical/Experience
Essential criteria
- Proven clinical skills in cellular pathology
- Willing and able to work with colleagues in management and other specialities to ensure the delivery of a high quality, safe and reliable service
- Familiar with clinical governance
- A willingness to accept responsibility
- Awareness of current relevant developments within the NHS
- Determination to play a full part in the future development of the service
- Interest in teaching
Desirable criteria
- Experience of teaching of hospital and professional staff at all levels
- Experience of clinical governance
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Dr Mike Thomas
- Job title
- Head of Department
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0300 422 3302
- Additional information
Dr Louisa Udensi
List jobs with Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Medical and Dental or all sectors