Consultant Cellular Pathologist

Northern Health And Social Care Trust; Antrim; On-site; GBP 111,000 - 146,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible Working

Study Leave

Professional development

Job summary

Northern Health and Social Care Trust seeks a Consultant Cellular Pathologist to join the Cellular Pathology team at Antrim Area Hospital. The post involves reporting histology and cytology, with opportunities in molecular diagnostics and ROSE EBUS, supported by digital pathology with home working options.

The role requires GMC registration, FRCPath, and at least 6 years' postgraduate experience (4 in cellular pathology). Leadership, teaching, and MDT participation are expected within NHSCT.

Qualifications

• Full GMC registration or eligibility for registration (must be registered at time of appointment).
• FRCPath or equivalent qualification (or must be obtained within 6 months from date of interview).
• Entry on the GMC Specialist Register for Cellular Pathology via: CCT (proposed CCT date within 6 months of interview) or Portfolio Pathway/CESR.
• Have trained in clinical and laboratory Cellular Pathology.
• Must have at least 6 years satisfactory experience in the practice of medicine since graduation, with 4 years in cellular pathology.

Responsibilities

• Join with consultant colleagues in the Cellular and Molecular Pathology department to provide services to the NHSCT.
• Develop subspecialist expertise appropriate to service needs and participate in MDT activities.
• Participate in clinical governance, audits, teaching, and CPD, with research where appropriate.

Skills

Communication skills

Team working

Decision making

Education

FRCPath or equivalent

GMC registration / Licence to Practice

Job description

Advertised role location: Antrim Hospital Site: Laboratory
Official document: Con Cell Path November 2025 JD FINAL (docx)
Consultant Cellular Pathologist
Antrim Area Hospital
Job Description
Consultant Cellular Pathologist
Antrim Area Hospital
Job Description

The Northern Health and Social Care Trust (NHSCT) is responsible for the delivery of safe and effective health and social care (HSC) services to the population of the Northern Trust area in Northern Ireland.
We provide compassionate care with our community in our community. In order to do this we require the commitment of a highly skilled and professional workforce that meets the need of the service.
The diagram below outlines our values and our objectives which support the delivery of compassionate care within our community.
The below diagram details the values and associated behaviours that we expect staff working within Health and Social Care (HSC) to display at all times;
HSC Value
What does this mean?
What does this look like in practice? - Behaviours

Working Together
We work together for the best outcome for people we care for and support. We work across Health and Social Care and with other external organisations and agencies, recognising that leadership is the responsibility of all.
I work with others and value everyone’s contribution
I treat people with respect and dignity
I work as part of a team looking for opportunities to support and help people in both my own and other teams
I actively engage people on issues that affect them
I look for feedback and examples of good practice, aiming to improve where possible

Compassion
We are sensitive, caring, respectful and understanding towards those we care for and support and our colleagues. We listen carefully to others to better understand and take action to help them and ourselves.
I am sensitive to the different needs and feelings of others and treat people with kindness
I learn from others by listening carefully to them
I look after my own health and well‑being so that I can care for and support others

Excellence
We commit to being the best we can be in our work, aiming to improve and develop services to achieve positive changes. We deliver safe, high‑quality, compassionate care and support.
I put the people I care for and support at the centre of all I do to make a difference
I take responsibility for my decisions and actions
I commit to best practice and sharing learning, while continually learning and developing
I try to improve by asking ‘could we do this better?’

Openness & Honesty
We are open and honest with each other and act with integrity and candour.
I am open and honest in order to develop trusting relationships
I ask someone for help when needed
I speak up if I have concerns
I challenge inappropriate or unacceptable behaviour and practice

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: Consultant Cellular Pathologist
DIRECTORATE/DIVISION: Surgical, Women’s Health and Diagnostic Services
LOCATION: Cellular & Molecular Pathology, Antrim Hospital
REPORTS TO: Clinical Director of Laboratory Services
Medical Director in respect of professional medical issues
ACCOUNTABLE TO: Chief Executive Northern Health and Social Care Trust
All employees have the opportunity to request Flexible Working from the first day of their employment, regardless of their role, band or service they work in.
Successful applicants are encouraged to discuss with their manager what Flexible Working provisions may be available in the role they are taking up, prior to commencing employment, to help them achieve a positive Work/Life Balance

JOB SUMMARY:
To join and work with the existing consultants within the Cellular Pathology services in the NHSCT. Support clinical and laboratory cellular pathology, reporting a range of histology and diagnostic cytology specimens including gynaecology, gastrointestinal, head and neck, breast, respiratory, skin, and thyroid. There will be an opportunity for the candidate to become involved in reporting for the molecular diagnostic service and support the ROSE EBUS clinic.
Digital pathology is fully utilised in the Cellular Pathology department for histology. Home working is also well established with a daily rotation in place to cover all on‑site pathologist duties. The post holder will be required to support this.
The NHSCT Cellular Pathology department provides services to the Trust area and is also part of the Pathology Network in Northern Ireland. Management of the department is through the NHSCT senior management structure.

The content of this Job Description represents an outline of the post only and is not a precise indication of duties and responsibilities. The Job Description is therefore intended to be flexible and will be subject to review and amendment in the light of changing circumstances, following consultation with the post holder.

Antrim and Causeway Hospitals are both teaching hospitals aligned to Queens University Belfast (QUB) and Ulster University (UU). The teaching and training of undergraduate and postgraduate learners across a wide range of health professions takes place on all Northern Trust sites. The successful candidate may be expected to undertake teaching within their specialty field as per the requirements of both their own teams/services and of external linked organisations (QUB/UU, etc).
The majority of NHSCT Consultants have roles as recognised postgraduate trainers for NIMDTA, and the successful candidate would be expected, where appropriate, to possess or achieve the necessary competencies to carry out this role within the post.

Profile of NHSCT and Antrim Area Hospital
The NHSCT is a combined acute and community Trust providing a comprehensive health and social care service. It serves a population of approximately 480,000. The Trust encompasses both urban and rural environments, including an inhabited island to the north (Rathlin Island).
The NHSCT comprises of Antrim Area and Causeway hospitals, as the two main acute sites, as well as Mid‑Ulster, Whiteabbey, Braid Valley, Moyle, Holywell, Robinson Memorial and Dalriada Hospitals as community hospitals and subacute sites.
The following specialties are provided via these sites:
Medical specialties: acute medicine; cardiology (excluding interventional); rheumatology; care of the elderly; haematology; medical oncology; palliative care; gastroenterology; respiratory medicine; renal medicine (excluding transplant surgery); rehabilitation; endocrinology; dermatology; neurology; genitourinary medicine (outpatient only).
Surgical specialties: general surgery (including colorectal), urology (outpatient); gynaecology.
Others: emergency medicine; intensive care; maternity/obstetric services; neonatology (including neonatal intensive care); paediatric medicine, child/adolescent/adult mental health.
There is also a regional Sexual Assault Referral Centre on the Antrim site providing Genitourinary medicine services with a preserved chain of evidence. The appointee will be expected to provide service to all Trust areas.

Antrim Area Hospital: This post is based at Antrim Area Hospital which is a 367‑bed hospital providing acute services for the southern part of the Northern Health & Social Care Trust catchment area. Antrim Area Hospital is a modern General Hospital, commissioned in 1994, to provide a wide range of inpatient and outpatient services. There are plans to build three additional medical inpatient wards and a new women and children’s centre. It is situated on a pleasant green field site, approached by the M2 motorway and within easy reach of Belfast, Ballymena, Coleraine, Magherafelt and Whiteabbey. There is easy access to Belfast International Airport and to Belfast City Airport.

Pathology Departments: The Cellular Pathology department is housed in a purpose‑built laboratories block on the Antrim hospital site. The building is shared with Chemical Pathology, Microbiology, Haematology and Blood Bank.
Medical staffing is as follows:
Consultant Cellular Pathologists: Drs James Sampson, Graeme O’Hara, Guillermo Porrero, Fionnuala Hinds, and locum covers.
Consultant Chemical Pathologists: Drs Elinor Hanna, Sumana Gidwani. Note: Dr Gidwani is also the Clinical Director for Laboratory Services.
Consultant Haematologists: Drs Joanne Murdock, Scott McCloskey, Philip Windrum, Aaron Niblock, Suzanne McPherson, Bridgin Merron.
Consultant Microbiologists: Drs David Farren, Peter Yew, and Eileen Dorgan. Additional consultant locum posts currently employed to cover vacancies.

The appointee will be working with the current substantive team of 3.71 WTE Consultant Cellular Pathologists including 1.0 WTE Speciality Doctor. Currently StRs in pathology are based at Belfast HSC Trust, and spend six months in the department on rotation. Currently no StRs are based in the department but up to one may be present in the department at any one time.
The department is staffed by a total of 26 Biomedical Scientist staff, 15 support staff including a mortuary lead and 3 administrative staff.
The Clinical Lead of Department/Lead Consultant is responsible to the Clinical Director of Laboratory Specialties, who reports to the Divisional Director and Divisional Medical Director for Surgical and Clinical Services and ultimately to the Medical Director on clinical and professional issues. Consultant Pathologists report via their Clinical Head of Department/Lead Consultant to the Laboratory Clinical Services General Manager on operational issues.
There is a Laboratory Clinical Services General Manager and a departmental Head of Service Biomedical Scientist, departmental Quality personnel and a Health and Safety Manager in accordance with UKAS requirements. Cellular Pathology is part of the Surgery and Clinical Services Division of the Medical Directorate along with other pathology specialties. Every permanent doctor has an annual Appraisal and review of Job Plan. Annual and study leave will be co‑ordinated with the Head of Department/Clinical Director.

Annual leave should be notified to the Head of Department/Clinical Director at least 6 weeks before leave is taken, except in extenuating circumstances. Cross‑cover arrangements will be put in place for leave as appropriate between the existing Pathologists and the successful candidate.
The successful candidate may wish to develop special areas of interest which could be facilitated by agreement with the appropriate Clinical Head of Department, Clinical Director and Divisional Medical Director. All medical employees are eligible to apply for management positions within the team and Trust, for example Clinical Lead, Clinical Director, Divisional Medical Director, etc. if they meet the required conditions for application.

Health care services are commissioned by the Strategic Planning and Performance Group for the Department of Health (NI). There is also a managed clinical network in Northern Ireland (The Pathology Network) which aids in commissioning new services and is currently involved in developing a blueprint single management structure for Pathology services across Northern Ireland.
The Public Health Agency of Northern Ireland provides all local health protection services.

Workload
The NHSCT Cellular Pathology service is based at the Antrim Area Hospital site and the department reports in excess of 25,000 samples a year; the majority of which are histology. The main specialisms include gynaecology, gastrointestinal, skin, breast and respiratory. The workload of surgical and biopsy material comes mostly from the Trust hospitals.
The laboratory participates in multiple EQA schemes including general histopathology EQA, breast EQA, UK NEQAS to name a few. The pathology department has well equipped laboratories including a digital photographic system.
Advanced BMS dissection is well established in the department. Although consultant specimen dissection is welcomed, biomedical scientists in the department have capacity to perform 95% of dissection of benign and malignant resection specimens.
The cytopathology laboratory contains a specialised, fully equipped category 3 room with class 1 safety cabinets in which all diagnostic cytology specimens are processed.
The molecular pathology department is well equipped and staffed; it is UKAS accredited. The current testing repertoire includes HPV genotyping, utilised for head and neck pathology.
All the departmental microscopes meet current ergonomic standards. Digital pathology for histology specimens is fully utilised. All substantive pathologists have on‑site and home digital work stations installed to support modern working practices. Consultants participate in a rota to ensure on‑site cover.

Medical and non‑coroner’s post mortem service:
To maintain quality the autopsy service has been regionalised due to decreasing numbers of requests for this service. Forensic autopsies are carried out by the pathologists based at the Forensic Medicine Department, Royal Group of Hospitals (RGH), Belfast.
Paediatric and stillbirth post mortems are organised by RGH, Belfast.
All laboratories are extensively computerised with network links between all sites. There are regional software platforms, LIMS (WinPath) and EPIC.
The department has seen recent expansion, in particular the increasing demands of rapid turnaround of reporting for the cancer unit and increased specimen numbers. There are cancer multidisciplinary teams for breast, lung, upper gastro‑oesophageal, skin and colorectal. MDT meetings take place weekly. Gynaecological cancers dealt with and reported locally are discussed at the Belfast MDT meeting. There is a monthly clinicopathological meeting with the gynaecologists which includes cases discussed at the Belfast MDT meeting. There is a biweekly clinicopathological meeting with the ENT surgeons to review head and neck cancers, as well as a separate thyroid and parathyroid CPC. The appointee will be expected to participate in MDT working when required.

Office accommodation and administrative support will be provided. Each consultant is provided with an office for their sole use containing a digital pathology workstation and consultant grade microscope. Reports are dictated using digital technology. Administrative support for routine reporting is done on a pool basis. The appointee will have a nominated secretary for personal secretarial work. Digital pathology home workstations are in place across the NHSCT to allow for enhanced work life balance and support diagnostic services.

KEY RESULT AREAS / MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

Join with consultant colleagues in the Cellular and Molecular Pathology department in providing services to the Northern Health & Social Care Trust. The appointee will be expected to work flexibly with other staff to ensure a reliable and efficient service.
The appointee will be expected to develop a degree of subspecialist expertise appropriate to the needs of the service. In practice this means that not all pathologists will report all specimen types where cover permits.
Can participate in the on‑call rota (which currently includes all pathologists, high frequency and low intensity) for weekends and statutory holidays. On‑call duties include giving advice, urgent reporting of paraffin processed histology (usually arranged the previous working day) and cytology. In support of this the BMSs work with a stand‑by arrangement.
Share in undertaking the administrative duties associated with the department and be willing to provide professional and educational supervision to BMS and HCA staff.
Participate in directorate and governance meetings, including those timetabled for audit and review of adverse incidents, and lend support to the Clinical Director of Laboratory Services.
Provide cover for consultant colleagues during periods of approved study/annual/sick leave where appropriate.
As well as providing written reports on surgical biopsy and cytology specimens and molecular pathology investigations, be available for direct consultation on cases with clinical colleagues. Along with laboratory colleagues the appointee will also be expected to participate in an existing, active programme of clinico‑pathological meetings and clinical audits.
Contribute to the selection of equipment and selection of technical methods in accordance with Trust procedures.
Make effective and efficient use of facilities which they access.
Support and contribute postgraduate teaching in the main hospitals in the Trust and participate as a recognised clinical teacher in teaching laboratory science on site to 3rd year undergraduate medical students as part of a formal arrangement with Queen’s University, Belfast.
Review of training portfolios of students, biomedical scientists, training grades etc. as required meeting the standards of Royal College of Pathologists, Post Graduate Medical Education and Training Board (PMETB) and School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences (QUB).
Participate in departmental CPD meetings, including those involving the BMS staff.
Participate in current and any relevant future quality assessment schemes and proficiency schemes.
Participate in multi‑disciplinary audit. Update clinical, managerial knowledge and skills. Participate in continuing medical education and in research programmes as appropriate and enrol in a recognised programme of continued professional development. Financial support for continued professional development / study leave is available. The Trust will support study leave as contained in the terms and conditions of service. All research must be managed in accordance with the requirements of the DHSSPS Research Governance Framework. Consultants must comply with reporting requirements, systems and duties of action plan put in place by the employing organisation to deliver research. Consultants must also comply with the GMC guidance ‘Good Practice in Research’, as amended or substituted from time to time.

PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION

Title of Post: Consultant Cellular Pathologist (full time, 10 PAs)

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

Factor Criteria Method of Assessment Qualifications/ Registration

Experience Full registration or eligibility for registration (must be registered at time of appointment) with the General Medical Council (GMC), London and a Licence to Practice.
FRCPath or equivalent qualification (or must be obtained within 6 months from date of interview)
Entry on the GMC Specialist Register for Cellular Pathology via: CCT (proposed CCT date must be within 6 months of interview date) or Portfolio Pathway/CESR
Have trained in clinical and laboratory Cellular Pathology.
Must have at least 6 years satisfactory experience in the practice of medicine since graduation of which no less than 4 years must be in cellular pathology in posts with clinical responsibility.
Wide general experience in all aspects of Cellular Pathology.
Able to liaise effectively with colleagues both locally and in other centres.
Shortlisting by Application Form

Other Hold a current full driving licence which is valid for use in the UK and have access to a car on appointment.

Eligibility to live and work in the UK by intended start date
Pre‑employment checks

SKILLS / ABILITIES

Has self‑awareness
Acts with integrity
Good communication and presentation skills, (oral, written and listening).
Good team working skills
Ability to manage stressful situations and good time management skills
Organisational awareness
Ability to make decisions and to improve services through change
Ability to use email and IT systems
Interview / Test

KNOWLEDGE

Evidence of CPD (Continuous Professional Development)
Hold PLAB or equivalent (if appropriate)
Demonstrable understanding & acceptance of the principles of Clinical Governance
Awareness of new developments in the specialty with ability to critically assess the impact of these on the service.
Clinical Audit and Quality Improvement
Interview / Test

APPOINTMENT DETAILS

Salary £110,681- £145,517 per annum (pro‑rata for part‑time)

HOURS 10 PAs per week. Opportunities for flexible working are available for all staff in line with the flexible working policy.

MEDICAL Appointment will be subject to a successful pre‑employment health assessment.

HOLIDAYS

Consultant – 6 weeks & 2 days on entry to the grade
6 weeks & 4 days after 7 years’ service

PENSION The post-holder can participate in the Health Social Care Pension Scheme.

CONTACT

Dr James Sampson, Clinical Lead for Cellular Pathology, NHSCT
Tel: [phone]

NON‑EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF RESPONSIBILITIES

All other responsibilities and professional relationships as listed in the original job description are retained verbatim but not summarised in this abbreviated format.

IMPORTANT NOTE

The job description reflects the current responsibilities and may change in the future in line with the needs of the Trust.