Consultant Chemical Pathologist

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board; Wrexham; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board in Wales is seeking a Consultant Chemical Pathologist based at Wrexham Maelor Hospital to lead lipid and metabolic stone clinics and participate in the parenteral nutrition service. The role involves working within Clinical Biochemistry with strong links to clinical specialties and GPs across the catchment area.

The appointee will support FH genotyping referrals, manage injectable therapies, and provide clinical care while contributing to teaching, audits,

Qualifications

• Fully registered on the UK GMC Specialist Register or Specialist Registrars may apply if within 6 months of CCT at date of interview.
• FRCPATH (Fellow Royal College of Pathologists) or equivalent.
• Clinical training and experience to gain entry to UK CCT in Chemical Pathology.
• Awareness of Clinical Governance framework.
• Ability to take full and independent responsibility for clinical care of patients.
• Experience in lipidology clinics.
• Experience in metabolic stone management and parenteral nutrition patients (Desirable).
• Organisation of workload and willingness to cover on call (2nd tier).
• Commitment to teaching and lifelong learning.
• Audit experience and potential for research publications.

Responsibilities

• Cover weekly Lipid and Metabolic Stone Clinics on-site at Wrexham Maelor Hospital.
• Work with FH genetic screening and identify candidates for FH genotyping.
• Manage injectable therapies and advise primary care lipid referrals.
• Collaborate with MDTs to review complex FH and stone patients across the region.

Skills

Clinical Biochemistry

Lipidology

Parenteral Nutrition

Clinical Governance

Education

FRCPATH

GMC Specialist Registration

Job description

This is a full-time replacement post for a Consultant Chemical Pathologist based at Wrexham Maelor Hospital. The Clinical Biochemistry department has strong links with all clinical specialties throughout the hospital and GPs within its catchment area.

We wish to identify someone with broad experience in Clinical Biochemistry, who has a strong clinical background to provide direct clinical care in the specialist Lipid Clinic, Metabolic Stone service and involved with the multidisciplinary Parenteral Nutrition Service, which provides parenteral nutrition to inpatients and a small number of patients on long-term home parenteral nutrition. The department has close links with all clinical services, so there is scope for development of relevant collaborative clinical service or research interests.

As part of the recruitment process, candidates shortlisted for the role will be invited to attend both a Stakeholder Interview and an Advisory Appointments Committee (AAC) Interview. AAC is scheduled for 29 January 2027. The Stakeholder Interview date will be confirmed once shortlisting is complete. This is expected to be held week commencing 25 January 2027.

Main duties of the job

Clinical Workload

Clinical duties will be based at Wrexham Maelor Hospital, where the consultant will be expected to cover the weekly Lipid and Metabolic Stone Clinics on-site.

The Lipid Clinic service operates in conjunction with the Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH) Genetic Screening Programme for patients across Wrexham and Flintshire. The appointee will work closely with the North Wales FH Nurse Specialist to actively identify candidates for FH genotyping and manage complex, difficult-to-treat FH cases throughout the region. The clinic also oversees the review and management of patients requiring injectable therapies. Additionally, a significant volume of primary care lipid referrals are managed via clinical advice and office-based decision letters, bypassing the need for in-person clinic visits. Direct electronic access across primary and secondary care systems streamlines this process, handling a steady influx of weekly advisory requests.

The Metabolic Stone Clinic receives referrals from across all three BCUHB hospitals, managing a broad case mix of cystinuria, calcium phosphate, calcium oxalate, and uric acid stone formers. Clear referral guidelines has been established with the urological team to maintain an efficient caseload across the region.

About us

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) is Wales's largest health organisation, with a budget of over £2.4 billion and a workforce of over 20,000 staff.

BCUHB provides a full range of primary, community, mental health, acute and specialist hospital services for the population of North Wales, across 3 acute hospitals and a network of community hospitals, health centres, clinics, and mental health units. It also co-ordinates or provides the work of GP practices and NHS services provided by dentists, opticians, and pharmacists across the region.

The Health Board is an integrated health system that strives for excellent, compassionate care delivered in partnership with the public sector and other statutory and third sector organisations.

Job responsibilities

Candidates are encouraged to refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for further information.

Qualifications & Education

Essential

• Fully registered on the UK General Medical Council's Specialist Register or Specialist Registrars may apply if within 6 months of CCT at date of interview. CESR portfolio pathway applicants must have GMC Specialist Registration at the point of application
• FRCPATH (Fellow Royal College of Pathologists) or equivalent

Experience & Knowledge

Essential

• Clinical training and experience in the relevant specialty, equivalent to that required to gain entry to the UK Certificate of Completed Training (CCT) in Chemical Pathology
• Awareness and understanding of Clinical Governance framework
• Ability to take full and independent responsibility for clinical care of patients
• Experience in undertaking clinics involving lipidology

Desirable

• Experience in the metabolic management of renal stones
• Experience in managing patients with parenteral nutrition requirements

Management & Administrative

Essential

• Ability to organise and manage workload
• Ability to cover on call (2nd tier).

Desirable

• Experience of audit management

Teaching

Essential

• Commitment to, teaching undergraduate and postgraduate medical and scientific staff

Desirable

• Experience of teaching to undergraduates
• Teaching of non-medical health professionals including STP trainees
• Formal training in clinical Supervision / train the trainers
• Educational Qualification

Research, Audit and Clinical Governance

Essential

• Experience of, and commitment to, medical audit

Desirable

• Ability to supervise postgraduate research
• Publications in referred journals

Communication skills and abilities

Essential

• Empathetic and sensitive approach to patients' needs
• Approachable and effective Multi-disciplinary team member with excellent interpersonal skills
• Positive approach to lessons learnt
• Confident approach

Desirable

• IT Skills
• Presentation skills

Continued Professional / Personal Development

Essential

• 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

Additional Requirements

Essential

• Aligns own values with those of the Health Board
• Ability to travel to meet the needs of the service

Desirable

• Ability to speak Welsh or willingness to learn the Welsh language