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Job description

This a full-time post based at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust with duties across two main hospital sites in Blackburn and Burnley. The appointee will be working in the Microbiology Department alongside four (3.8 wte) existing Consultant Microbiologists / Infectious Diseases (the team is mixed, some with Microbiology specialist registration, some with Infectious Diseases specialist registration).

The Department of Microbiology provides microbiology services to Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital, Burnley General Teaching Hospital, and Pendle Community Hospital along with general practices within the East Lancashire CCG and Blackburn with Darwen CCG. The department carries out routine microbiological work and limited viral screening serology. The serology work, including COVID antibody testing, is largely carried out in the blood sciences department. Most of the specialist virology work and advice is provided by the Microbiology Department in Preston.

The Microbiology Department has UKAS accreditation.

The laboratory takes part in external quality control schemes for the following assays:

UK NEQAS Schemes for:

• General microbiology
• AAFB microscopy
• Faecal parasitology
• Mycology
• Interpretative Comments

A successful medical applicant will hold the FRCPath or MRCP or have equivalent qualification/training and have full and specialist registration in either Medical Microbiology or Infectious Diseases or both (and with a licence to practise) with the General Medical Council (GMC) or be eligible for registration within six months of the interview. Applications are also welcomed from registered Consultant Clinical Scientists in Microbiology, who hold FRCPath.

The appointee will be expected to take part in the on-call cover which is currently 1:4 rota, paid at Band A and 1 PA of scheduled work including work from off site on Saturday mornings and Sunday mornings. With the addition of further staff in the future the on-call rota may be changed - with a reduction in the on-call.

The job plan will be agreed between the post holder and the Clinical Director and is subject to annual review.

Main areas of work will include:

• Laboratory
• Clinical
• Ward Rounds
• Infection Control Duties
• Antimicrobial Stewardship

The main laboratory services (all the microbiology work) are situated on the Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital site. All major disciplines are included with the exception of specialist virology and immunology which are referred to Preston.

Microbiology is part of the Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine in the Diagnostic and Clinical Support Division. The Head of Department role is undertaken by one of the consultant microbiologists on a rotational basis.

The Infection Prevention and Control Team provide infection control advice and support to East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, Blackburn and Darwen CCG and East Lancashire CCG. The consultant microbiologists provide infection control advice during the day and when required when on-call.

Suitable office accommodation is available with computer access to the Internet, telepath and ICnet. A computer is also available for on-call and home working.

The trust has Postgraduate Medical Centres at Burnley General Teaching Hospital and the Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital with clinical meetings held on both sites.

Facilities for continuing medical development, including a library are available in the postgraduate centre at Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital.

The department has links with University of Central Lancashire which provides medical student training from a base in Burnley. There are opportunities to help deliver the medical student course.

The job plan will be agreed between the post holder and the Clinical Director and is subject to annual review. A provisional work programme is attached.

Laboratory

• Day-to-day supervision of diagnostic methods and examination of specimens and authorisation and interpretation of the results obtained.
• Involvement in policy and SOP preparation.
• Responsibility for quality assurance within the department, including taking part in all relevant National External Quality Assurance (NEQAS) programmes.
• Responsibility for achieving and maintaining full accreditation of the laboratory with Clinical Pathology Accreditation (UK) Ltd, UKAS or another equivalent agency.
• Business planning, including the assessment and introduction of new methods, and forward planning for staff and equipment requirements.
• Provision of an on-call service in microbiology.

Clinical

• Liaison with clinicians, hospital staff and GPs concerning the diagnosis and management of patients and prevention of infection.
• Implementing an on-going medical audit programme within the department and participating in multidisciplinary clinical audit.
• Providing advice on management of OPAT patients

Ward Rounds

• Attendance at ward rounds and ward visits to discuss patient management

Infection Control Duties

• Advising on hospital policies for infection prevention and control, antibiotic and disinfectant use.
• Co-operating with Public Health England and environmental health officers in the investigation and prevention of communicable disease in the community.

Antimicrobial Stewardship

Antimicrobial stewardship is a key area of our work. This is led by one of the microbiologists/ infectious diseases physicians, on a rotational basis (reviewed at annual job planning), who chairs the Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee. A longer tenure is possible if a staff member has a particular interest in this area. The Trust has an antibiotic App (MicroGuide). All departmental consultants are expected to play a role in antimicrobial stewardship.

Key Internal Relations:
Others involved in infection control, particularly the infection control and prevention nurses, other Consultant Microbiologists, microbiology scientific staff, the Chief Executive, Trust Board, Medical Directors, Physicians, Surgeons, Occupational Health Physicians and Heads of Departments e.g. Catering, Estates, Pharmacy, HSDU, Domestic Services.

All of the existing departmental consultants are expected to provide support to each other and to new starters. The Head of Department can be approached with any issues.

A mentor can be appointed for the first year in post (may or may not be required dependent on experience of the new appointee).

Key External Relations:
In the case of statutorily notifiable diseases, community involvement, and major outbreaks of infection with community involvement, work closely with the Consultant and other staff in the Public Health England, appropriate Reference Laboratories, Environmental Health Officers, General Medical Practitioners and Microbiologists / Infectious Disease Physicians in other regional departments.

Teaching

The directorate participates in teaching medical students, medical and non-medical staff and the post holder will be expected to participate in the teaching process.

Administration

• Contributing to management within the Trust, via the directorate structure
• Acting as custodian of data under the Data Protection Act.

Service and administrative duties on various committees which may include:

• Microbiology Management Meetings
• Antimicrobial Stewardship Committee
• Hospital Infection Prevention Committee
• Infection Prevention and Control Team Meetings

Clinical Governance and Audit

The post holder will be expected to be actively involved in the development of clinical guidelines, investigation protocols, laboratory SOP’s, guidance in the use of appropriate use of antimicrobials.

The post holder must be involved in Clinical Audit. The appointee is expected to participate actively in clinical audit meetings.