Consultant in Medical Microbiology / Infection

NHS; Bidston Hill; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare institution in the UK seeks a Consultant in Medical Microbiology. The successful candidate will collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to deliver Microbiology and IPC services, participate in hospital rounds, and engage in infection control activities. Applicants must hold a GMC registration, FRCPath, and possess extensive knowledge in the fields of microbiology and virology. This role offers an opportunity to work in a dynamic environment with comprehensive support for professional development.

Qualifications

• Candidates must be fully registered with the GMC.
• Strong background in Medical Microbiology and Virology.
• Experience managing outbreaks in Infection Control.

Responsibilities

• Provide Microbiology and IPC advisory services.
• Participate in daily antimicrobial stewardship rounds.
• Contribute to infection prevention and outbreak management.

Skills

Broad knowledge in Medical Microbiology

Ability to report and advise independently

Experience in general microbiology on-call rota

Infection Prevention and Control activities

Laboratory diagnostics including automation

Education

Full GMC registration with licence to practice

FRCPath or evidence of equivalent

Medical Degree: MBBS or equivalent

CCT or equivalent

Tools

EPR software

LIMS software

Job description

Consultant in Medical Microbiology / Infection

Closing date: 19 November 2025.

We are looking to appoint an enthusiastic and driven candidate to the post of Consultant in Infection to be part of our Microbiology service. This is a new post and the successful candidate will work with a team of two other consultants, two speciality doctors and two clinical scientists to provide a routine Clinical Microbiology service for Wirral University Teaching Hospital (WUTH) and Wirral primary care.

The post holder will be based at Arrowe Park Hospital where most of the inpatient wards are located. They will be supported to develop sub‑specialty interests to complement those of the existing consultants. Routine infection control activities will be part of the role, working alongside the named Infection Control doctor/practitioner. Out‑of‑hours on‑call will be at a frequency of 1:8 providing cross‑cover for Countess of Chester NHS Foundation Trust and Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Trust.

Candidates for the post must be fully registered with the GMC and hold a Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists by examination.

Main duties of the job

• Work with a multidisciplinary team to provide Microbiology and IPC advisory services for in‑patients and out‑patients on Arrowe Park Hospital and Clatterbridge Hospital, and to Wirral primary care.
• Pro‑active results management and advice to clinical teams, including specialist serology and virology input.
• Receive and triage electronic referrals for microbiology advice.
• Take part in daily critical care ward rounds, daily antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) rounds across the hospital (including bloodstream infections rounds), and other multidisciplinary team meetings such as prosthetic joint infections, haemato‑oncology, C. difficile, endocarditis, renal, neonatal unit and the award‑winning OPAT service.
• Contribute to infection prevention and control (IPC) activities and outbreak management.

About us

Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest and busiest acute Trusts in the North West of England, employing over 6,000 staff and serving a population of approximately 400,000 people across Wirral, Ellesmere Port, Neston, North Wales and the wider North West footprint. We provide a high quality range of acute care services and are situated on the Wirral peninsula with excellent transport links.

Job responsibilities

Please see attached Job Description for further information about the Consultant position available at WUTH.

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

• Full GMC registration with licence to practice.
• FRCPath or evidence of equivalent.
• Medical Degree: MBBS or equivalent.
• CCT or equivalent.

Experience and Knowledge

• Broad knowledge in Medical Microbiology, Virology, and laboratory diagnostics.
• Ability to report and advise independently.
• Experience in general microbiology on‑call rota.
• Experience and ability to advise in Infection Prevention and Control activities including outbreak management.
• Experience of laboratory diagnostics including automation and molecular techniques.

Clinical Governance and Quality

• Commitment to CPD and audit.
• Demonstrates awareness of good decision making.
• Membership of appropriate professional societies and ongoing clinical research.

Personal Skills

• Ability to work as part of a team.
• Leadership, decisive decision‑making, responsibility, authority, and integrity.
• Effective time management, prioritisation and ability to meet deadlines under pressure.
• Ability to challenge professional and organisational barriers.
• Ability to challenge individuals about behaviours that do not promote best clinical care.

Computer Literacy

• Good basic skills, including use of EPR and LIMS software.
• Basic computer literacy and familiarity with email, word processing and presentation software.
• Familiarity with spreadsheets and database software.

Training

• Be included on, or be within 6 months of being eligible for entry to, the Specialist Register of the General Medical Council (e.g. through award of a Certificate of Completion of Training or a Certificate confirming Eligibility for Specialist Registration).

Teaching

• Ability to train junior medical and scientific staff, as well as laboratory staff.
• Postgraduate teaching qualifications.

Health

• Satisfactory medical clearance by Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
• Meets professional health requirements in line with GMC standards in Good Medical Practice.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and a Disclosure and Barring Service check will be required to confirm there are no previous criminal convictions.

Wirral University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.