Cellular Pathology Programme Co-ordinator

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust; Harrogate; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS organization in Harrogate seeks a Cellular Pathology Programme co-ordinator responsible for supporting a team of Histopathologists. The role involves supervising junior staff, transcribing complex reports, managing patient data entries, and ensuring compliance in a busy administrative environment. Applicants should have at least GCSE education level and a background in communication and teamwork. Join a supportive organization focused on continuous improvement and high-quality care.

Qualifications

• Experience in communicating at all levels.
• Ability to organize own workload and work on own initiative.
• Experience in a multi-disciplinary team environment.
• Knowledge of the National Cancer Plan and cancer waiting times.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and train junior staff members.
• Transcribe complex Histopathology reports.
• Support data entry and patient data transcription.
• Ensure accurate coding of reports for MDT meetings.
• Communicate effectively with departmental staff and external parties.

Skills

Communication at all levels

Organising own workload

Team collaboration

Basic IT literacy

Education

Educated to GCSE level or relevant working experience

Tools

MS Word

Excel

Teams

Outlook

Job description

Overview

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust

Cellular Pathology Programme co-ordinator

The closing date is 19 February 2026

To work in a busy cellular pathology administrative office, assisting with various programmes of work covering a variety of cell pathology task support to a department of 10 consultant Histopathologists, Specialist registrars and FY2 Doctors. Working in collaboration with Laboratory staff and the General manager as well as multiple teams within the acute trust including the cancer improvement team, The Doctors Laboratory (TDL/HSL) and multiple tumour site leads. To support junior staff and to deputise for the office manager when asked.

About us

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAHT) is proud to care for the communities of West Essex, delivering safe, compassionate, and high-quality services. We are part of the Neighbourhood Wave; a national programme thats changing how care is delivered by focusing on prevention, early support, and more joined-up services across health, social care, and the voluntary sector.This means were working more closely with local partners to bring care closer to home and support people to live healthier, more independent lives.Were a supportive and inclusive organisation that values its people. We offer development opportunities, flexible working, and a strong focus on wellbeing. As a Disability Confident and equal opportunities employer, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences.Join us and help shape the future of care in West Essex.

Job responsibilities

Duties and responsibilities

MAIN DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• To act independently and be responsible for own workload and scheduling of own workload, working to tight deadlines.
• Supervise junior staff members and help train new staff
• Audio typing of complex Histopathology reports and Postmortems.
• Audio/copy typing referral letters for second opinions.
• Collate reports, letters and notes for MDT meetings.
• Code reports correctly to ensure cancers meet MDT’s.
• Supervise new staff during training.
• Use a wide range of software tools for both office productivity and Trust systems.
• Booking specimens onto ICE
• Completion of ECRIC / COSD / Cancer registry on a monthly basis to support national dataset submissions
• Support to tissue compliance for Postmortem cases.
• Maintenance and acknowledgement of SOPs.
• Use of ALEX NET.
• Accessing outside hospital portals for the retrieval of reports/data.
• Use of Speechlive for typing of dictations.

POSTMORTEMS:

• Transcription of Legal documentation of Postmortems from dictations, import photographs into report, which can often be of a distressing nature and send to Pathologist’s for authorisation
• Extensive medical terminology required
• File incomplete reports for subsequent co-ordination of toxicology, histology, microbiology results for completion of cause of death.
• If appropriate correlate histology and ensure P.M. is re-authorised
• Ensure all P.M. reports are authorised, signed, emailed to Coroner’s officer
• Copy filed with sudden death form in office.
• Record inquest dates in departmental diary
• Prepare PM reports/photographs for inquest.
• Enquiries from Coroner’s officers on behalf of Pathologists

DATA ENTRY:

• Transcription of patient data from request form onto Synergy computer system
• Check data has transferred to TDHC successfully.
• Amend incorrect data

POSTMORTEMS

• Transcription of Legal documentation of Postmortems from dictations, import photographs into report, which can often be of a distressing nature and send to Pathologist’s for authorisation
• Extensive medical terminology required
• File incomplete reports for subsequent co-ordination of toxicology, histology, microbiology results for completion of cause of death.
• If appropriate correlate histology and ensure P.M. is re-authorised
• Ensure all P.M. reports are authorised, signed, emailed to Coroner’s officer
• Copy filed with sudden death form in office.
• Record inquest dates in departmental diary
• Prepare PM reports/photographs for inquest.
• Enquiries from Coroner’s officers on behalf of Pathologists

OTHER DUTIES:

• Typing and updating of laboratory documents for accreditation as and when required.
• Distributing work to junior members of staff
• Typing of letters, documents. Make telephone calls on behalf of Consultants as required.
• To keep Consultants informed of meetings, appointments etc. and telephone enquiries taken in their absence. Ensure inquests/meeting etc. are entered in Diary.
• Provide services for all Consultants in staff absence

SYSTEMS & EQUIPMENT

Use of Trust IT products:

• TD
• Histocyto,
• Synergy,
• SPINE
• Q-pulse
• Use of MS office products, word, excel, outlook.
• Maintenance of Office equipment and supplies.

DECISIONS & JUDGEMENTS

Escalate cases to the consultants to meet deadlines.

COMMUNICATIONS & RELATIONSHIPS

• Communicate with all of the departmental staff.
• Communicate will all Trust staff, GP’s, Coroner and her officers.
• Communicate with other Hospitals in UK and abroad.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB

Moving stationary and heavy items in line with health and safely. Maintaining Office archive.

MOST CHALLENGING/DIFFICULT PARTS OF THE JOB.

Dealing with postmortem paperwork and postmortem archive photos.

TRUST VALUES

The Princess Alexandra Hospital’s unique organisational identity is based on the following values Patient at heart – Everyday excellence – Creative collaboration. The Trust believes in investing in all our staff and rewarding high standards of care whilst building for excellence and in return we expect our staff to uphold the Trust values to the highest level.

This job description may be subject to change according to the varying needs of the service. Such changes will be made after discussion between the post holder and the manager. All duties must be carried out under supervision or within Trust policy and procedure.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Educated to GCSE level or relevant working experience Basic IT literacy.

Experience

• Communication at all levels
• Organising own workload
• Working within a team
• Using own initiative within guidelines
• Working with MS Word, Excel, Teams and Outlook
• Working within a multi-disciplinary team
• Knowledge of the National Cancer Plan and cancer waiting times

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.

Employer name

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust