Locum Consultant Histopathologist

Gloshospitals; Cheltenham; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Part time

Job summary

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust seeks a Locum Consultant Histopathologist for a 12-month, 10PA fixed-term maternity cover. The post focuses on diagnostic expertise in gastrointestinal pathology with opportunities to support other subspecialties and non-gynaecological cytology.

Cheltenham General Hospital hosts the gynaecological pathology service and MDT engagement is strong. The successful candidate will join a UKAS-accredited Cellular Pathology Department with established

Qualifications

• Full GMC registration with licence to practise.
• Commitment to delivering a high-quality cellular pathology service.
• Teaching qualification(s) to support training and education.

Responsibilities

• Histopathology reporting across a range of specimen types, with emphasis on gastrointestinal pathology.
• Subspecialty reporting as required (dermatopathology, urological, lung, GI or head & neck pathology) and non-gynaecological cytology.
• Participation in MDT meetings and secondsigning for quality assurance.
• Engagement with digital pathology workflows including remote reporting and audit.

Skills

Gastrointestinal pathology

Digital pathology

Education

GMC registration

Teaching qualification

Tools

Digital pathology systems

Job description

Locum Consultant Histopathologist

The closing date is 16 November 2026

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking to appoint a 12-month 10PA fixed term Consultant Histopathologist for maternity cover. The core service requirement for this post is diagnostic expertise in gastrointestinal pathology, and we particularly welcome applicants able to support these high-volume and clinically critical services. Experience in other subspecialties and non-gynaecological cytology is welcome.

The gynaecological pathology service is based at Cheltenham General Hospital and supports a large and well-established clinical service. This includes secondary and tertiary gynaecological cancer services to a population of approximately 1.4 million, covering Herefordshire, Powys and Worcestershire, as well as diagnostic, unit-level and tertiary management for the local Gloucestershire population of 652,000. The post therefore offers an opportunity to work within a busy, regionally significant service with strong MDT engagement.

The successful applicant will join a supportive, UKAS-accredited Cellular Pathology Department with established digital pathology since 2025.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will:

• Provide high-quality diagnostic reporting, with a core contribution to gastrointestinal pathology, supporting both local and regional cancer services.
• Support additional subspecialty areas aligned with experience and departmental need, including dermatopathology, urological, lung, GI or head & neck pathology and non-gynaecological cytology.
• Participate in cut-up, supported by experienced dissection practitioners.
• Attend and contribute to MDT meetings, including regional and tertiary gynaecological cancer MDTs as appropriate.
• Take part in the department's longstanding second-signing process for quality assurance.
• Use the digital pathology service fully.
• Contribute to service development, audit and clinical governance in line with Trust policies.

About us

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is the largest provider within the SWAG Cancer Alliance and delivers high-quality emergency, elective and specialist care across a wide range of services. The Cellular Pathology Department is based at Cheltenham General Hospital and supports both local and regional specialist clinical services, including tertiary gynaecological oncology.

Cheltenham is consistently rated as one of the best places to live in the UK, offering excellent schools, a vibrant cultural scene, green spaces and easy access to the Cotswolds.

The department has a strong culture of subspecialisation, a fully implemented digital pathology service, and an expanding Molecular Pathology Service, supporting modern diagnostics and flexible working.

Job responsibilities

Clinical duties

• Histopathology reporting across a range of specimen types.
• Subspecialty reporting with emphasis on gastrointestinal pathology, including work supporting regional cancer services.
• Support additional subspecialty areas and/or non-gynaecological cytology aligned with experience and departmental need.
• MDT preparation and attendance.
• Participation in secondsigning and intradepartmental consultation.

Training, teaching and departmental culture

The department has an active and supportive training culture:

• Consultants are expected to support postgraduate histopathology trainees.
• Regular undergraduate teaching is delivered, with medical students attending structured halfday sessions.
• The department offers taster sessions for resident doctors considering a career in histopathology.
• Formal Educational Supervisor roles are allocated separately, but all consultants are expected to contribute to the educational environment.

Laboratory and departmental responsibilities

• Participation in the cutup rota with expert dissection practitioner support.
• Full engagement with digital pathology workflows, including remote reporting.
• Contribution to audit, service improvement, clinical governance and teaching.

Qualifications

• Full GMC registration with licence to practise.
• Commitment to delivering a highquality cellular pathology service.

Qualifications

• Full registration (can we have a license to practice) with general medical Council (GMC).
• Teaching qualification
• Teaching qualification

Knowledge and Skills

• Experience in devising, conducting and applying audit results
• Familiar with clinical governance
• Awareness of current relevant developments within the NHS
• Training in evidence-based practice
• Ability to apply research outcomes to clinical problems

Clinical/Experience

• Proven clinical skills in cellular pathology
• Willing and able to work with colleagues in management and other specialities to ensure the delivery of a high quality, safe and reliable service
• Familiar with clinical governance
• A willingness to accept responsibility
• Awareness of current relevant developments within the NHS
• Determination to play a full part in the future development of the service
• Interest in teaching
• Experience of clinical governance
• Experience of teaching of hospital and professional staff at all levels

Personal Attributes

• Ability to work co-operatively as a team member
• Flexibility and willingness to share clinical responsibility
• An understanding of the wider healthcare environment in which Cellular Pathology operates.
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to communicate effectively with clinical, academic and managerial colleagues and with all grades of laboratory, clerical and ancillary staff
• Ability to self-motivate
• Ability to think laterally
• Ability to respond quickly to change

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.

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust