Consultant Histopathologist in Oral & Maxillofacial - Head & Neck

NHS; City Of London; On-site; GBP 109,000 - 146,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS Trust in the UK is seeking a Consultant Cellular Pathologist to provide Histopathology reporting in the Head and Neck Pathology Department. The role involves collaboration with oncologists, teaching responsibilities, and a major focus on cancer work. Candidates are required to hold GMC registration and have significant experience in histopathology. This position offers a competitive salary and opportunities for professional development.

Qualifications

• Full and Specialist registration with GMC or GDC.
• Comprehensive clinical experience in Oral and Head and Neck Histopathology.
• Proven record of experience as a trainee in histopathology.

Responsibilities

• Provide Histopathology reporting within Head and Neck Pathology.
• Contribute to teaching of undergraduate dental students.
• Participate in multi-disciplinary team meetings.

Skills

Communication

Teamwork

Clinical risk management

Molecular diagnostic techniques

Empathy

Education

Full GMC or GDC registration

Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT)

MRCP or equivalent

FRCPath or equivalent

Job description

Job summary

Applications are invited for a Consultant Cellular Pathologist / Histopathologist in the Department of Head and Neck Pathology at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Trust, based on the Guy's site. The appointment is to provide Histopathology reporting within Head and Neck Pathology for hospitals across SE London, including Guy's and St Thomas' Kings College Hospital London and Princess Royal University Hospital in Bromley.

The role includes a major component of Head and Neck Cancer work, and the applicant will join a team of 3 FTE Oral and Maxillofacial / Head and Neck Pathologists working in a major tertiary referral centre for Head and Neck oncology patients supporting 9 Head and Neck Cancer surgeons performing ultra complex resections. There is a large volume of thyroid diagnostic work in addition.

We work alongside a team of academic Head and Neck Oncologists and opportunities exist for collaboration in clinical trials, tissue banking and research projects.

The successful applicant will also contribute to teaching of mainly undergraduate dental students at Kings College Hospital London, the largest dental faculty in Europe and consistently rated in the top 10 in the world for dentistry.

Main duties of the job

The Head and Neck Pathology Department currently retains status as a Specialist Laboratory but as part of consolidation of laboratories across SE London, it is possible that part of the laboratory work will be transferred to the Synnovis Hub which is a new and state of the art laboratory located equidistant between Guy's and St Thomas' Trust sites. The responsibilities of specimen cut up, frozen section provision and reporting duties will remain on / are currently based on the Guy's site, collocated with the clinical teams. Provision is made for delivery of SPA and some DCC activity off site / at home if desired. Working pattern will likely demand specified days on site to allow 5 day cover of frozen sections and tissue banking. There are 2 weekly MDTs, one for thyroid and one for Head and Neck, which can be attended in person or via video link.

Applicants are required to hold full GMC or GDC registration with a licence to practice and to be on the GMC or GDC's Specialist Register. This post is full time but those interested in part time work are also encouraged to apply.

About us

Our Department is unique in that we are currently one of few surviving standalone Oral and Maxillofacial / Head and Neck Pathology Departments, and as such we are a small Clinical and Laboratory team. We benefit from sitting managerially alongside the larger Cellular Pathology Department based at the St Thomas' site and there are cross working arrangements in particular in thyroid pathology. Close links to histopathology colleagues in particular in haematopathology, carcinoma of unknown primary, dermatopathology and cytopathology exist, with frequent interaction / case discussion.

The imminent arrival of digital pathology will serve to enhance the Department's commitment to flexible working, both geographic and temporal, enabling us to deliver an efficient service and allowing us to maintain a healthy work-life balance, whilst continuing to provide an excellent service for our users.

The Trust has recently rolled out the EPIC patient record system, which has already delivered benefits and efficiencies in creation of pathology reports, by easy access to all relevant patient information.

Our reputation for safe, high quality care is among the best in the UK and we strive to put patients at the heart of everything we do.

We are part of King's Health Partners, one of six accredited UK Academic Health Sciences Centres. We also have a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre in partnership with King's College London.

Details - Date posted: 07 November 2025

Pay scheme - Hospital medical and dental staff

Grade - Consultant

Salary - £109,725 to £145,478 a year p.a excl. London Zone

Contract - Permanent

Working pattern - Full-time

Reference number - 196-CON1093

Job locations - Guys Hospital, London, SE1 9RT

Person Specification

Professional Qualifications – Essential

• Full and Specialist registration (and with a licence to practise) with the General Medical Council (GMC) or General Dental Council (GDC), or be eligible for registration within six months of interview.
• Applicants that are UK trained, must ALSO be a holder of a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT), or be within six months of award of CCT by date of interview.
• Applicants that are non-UK trained, will be required to show evidence of equivalence to the UK CCT.
• MRCP or show evidence of equivalent qualification.
• FRCPath or show evidence of equivalent qualification.
• Evidence of continuous professional development.

Desirable – Professional Qualifications

• PhD or other Higher Postgraduate degree in Medicine or Science.
• Any additional medical or sub-speciality qualifications either national or international.

Clinical Experience – Essential

• Comprehensive clinical experience in Oral and Head and Neck Histopathology.
• Proven record of experience as a trainee in histopathology.
• Continuing and recent diagnostic practice experience in oral / head and neck histopathology, as a major specialist interest.

Clinical Skills – Essential

• Ability to work as an effective member of a multidisciplinary team.
• Familiarity with modern morphological and molecular diagnostic techniques.

Desirable – Clinical Skills

• Experience in clinical guideline development.

Audit Management & IT – Essential

• Evidence of contribution to effective clinical governance, audit, clinical risk management, and IT skills.
• Understanding of principles of audit.
• Evidence of understanding of the role of clinical management.

Desirable – Audit Management & IT

• Management training or qualification.
• Evidence of leadership in the development of clinical services.

Research, Teaching skill & experience – Essential

• Understanding of the principles and applications of clinical research.
• Evidence of original research.
• Ability to supervise junior staff in diagnostic work.
• Experience of teaching and training undergraduates, postgraduates and junior medical staff.

Desirable – Research, Teaching skill & experience

• Evidence of original research and publication in oral and head and neck histopathology.
• Appraisal Training.
• Teaching qualification.

Leadership/Management skills – Essential

• Communication; ability to communicate with clarity and intelligently in written and spoken English; ability to build rapport, listen, persuade/ negotiate.
• Accountability; ability to take responsibility, lead, make decisions and exert appropriate authority.
• Interpersonal skills; empathy, understanding, listening skills, patience and ability to work co-operatively with others.
• Able to change and adapt, respond to changing circumstances and to cope with setbacks or pressure.
• Ability to work as part of a team.
• Staff management; experience of performance management, developing and motivating staff.
• Finance; knowledge of finance and budgets.

Desirable – Leadership/Management skills

• Previous experience in management positions, e.g. speciality lead, clinical lead, clinical director.

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name – Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Address – Guys Hospital, London, SE1 9RT

Employer's website – https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/careers/careers.aspx (Opens in a new tab)