Upper GI Triage Clinical Nurse Specialist

NHS; Hereford; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider is seeking a Clinical Nurse Specialist to provide high-quality nursing care for patients with suspected upper gastrointestinal cancers. The role involves triaging referrals, coordinating care, and supporting patients through their diagnostic journey. The successful candidate will require a registered nurse qualification, band 6 experience, and expertise in upper-GI patient care. This is a full-time, permanent position with a competitive salary package, including a salary range of £47,810 to £54,710 annually.

Qualifications

• First‑level registered nurse.
• At least one year’s experience at band 6 within a relevant specialty.
• Recognised adult health assessment qualification or working towards one.
• Experience within upper‑GI patient care or IDA.

Responsibilities

• Triage gastroenterology referrals for suspected upper GI cancers.
• Coordinate care and provide patient information.
• Support compliance with cancer waiting time targets.
• Review and interpret clinical investigation results.
• Advocate for patients at multidisciplinary team meetings.

Skills

First‑level registered nurse

Experience at band 6 within a relevant specialty

Adult health assessment qualification

Experience within upper‑GI patient care

Education

Post‑registration qualification within the specialty

Job description

Job Summary

To ensure the provision of high‑quality specialist nursing care to patients under investigation for oesophagogastric cancer. The nurse will triage gastroenterology referrals for suspected upper gastrointestinal cancers, with symptoms of dysphagia, dyspepsia and iron‑deficiency anaemia, and will support these patients through investigations and diagnosis.

They will work as an autonomous expert practitioner, making critical holistic clinical decisions through assessment, monitoring and planning. They will facilitate timely investigations, coordinate care, and provide information to enable patients to make informed choices.

They will work alongside the Iron Deficiency Anaemia Specialist Nurse, offering clinical supervision and support.

Main Duties

As an Upper GI Triage CNS, you will have an expert knowledge base, complex decision‑making skills, and clinical competencies for an expanded autonomous scope of practice within gastroenterology.

• Undertake nurse‑led, consultant‑supervised protocol‑driven triage of Direct to Test upper endoscopy referrals for patients with dysphagia, dyspepsia and iron‑deficiency anaemia.
• Take a comprehensive patient history using tools such as the Edinburgh Dysphagia Score and Rockwood Frailty Score.
• Using protocols, clinical judgement and advanced practice skills decide on an appropriate treatment pathway for each individual patient.
• Advise patients on the risk and benefits of each intervention, and give advice on procedures, for example reviewing anticoagulation.
• Ensure diagnostic procedures have been requested and proactively avoid any potential delays.
• Seek out results from investigations (e.g., endoscopy, CT, biopsies), review them, and decide on the most appropriate course of action such as presenting to an upper GI MDT or discharging back to GP.
• Act as an advocate for the patient, keeping the patient and relatives informed and sharing information in a sensitive and understandable way.
• Serve as an expert resource for patients and professionals alike.
• Provide direct clinical support and supervision of the IDA Nurse Specialist.

Responsibilities

• Support the Trust in achieving compliance with urgent suspected cancer (USC) and referral to treatment (RTT) waiting‑time targets.
• Use highly advanced communication skills to support patients throughout the diagnostic pathway and ensure all relevant clinical information is available to the multidisciplinary team.
• Use specialist nursing knowledge to review and interpret all clinical investigatory results and determine the next pathway stage, including further diagnostic procedures, staging investigations, discharge, referral back to GP, or referral to specialist services.
• Present and advocate for patients at multidisciplinary team meetings, contributing to future patient care planning.
• Demonstrate a higher level of practice through delivery of diagnostic pathways and, when appropriate, supervision of complex caseloads.
• Provide linkage between patients and health‑care professionals across primary, secondary and tertiary care.
• Facilitate, participate in and monitor quality initiatives in line with local and national requirements or guidelines, and undertake clinical audit.

Person Specification – Required Criteria

• First‑level registered nurse.
• At least one year’s experience at band 6 within a relevant specialty.
• Recognised adult health assessment qualification or working towards one.
• Experience within upper‑GI patient care or IDA.

Person Specification – Desirable Criteria

• Post‑registration qualification within the specialty or equivalent, with the ability to link theory.
• Experience of teaching and assessing in a clinical area.
• Knowledge of national and local issues in the field of gastroenterology.

Professional and Regulatory Requirements

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and requires a disclosure and barring service (DBS) check. Applicants must hold current UK professional registration.

Applications from job seekers who require skilled‑worker sponsorship are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website: https://www.gov.uk/visas-immigration.

Details

Date posted: 22 December 2025
Pay scheme: Agenda for Change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £47,810 to £54,710 per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full‑time
Reference number: 229-MED-7661695

Employer Details

Wye Valley NHS Trust

Hereford County Hospital
Stonebow Road
Hereford
HR1 2ER

Website: https://www.wyevalley.nhs.uk/