other United Kingdom
Job description
THE PATHOLOGY DEPARTMENT AT WEST SUFFOLK NHS FOUNDATION TRUST (WSFT) Introduction The Department of Pathology at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust forms part of the Clinical Support Services & Womens and Childrens Division (CSS and W&C). Clinical Support Services also includes Radiology, Endoscopy, Pharmacy, Out Patients, Health Records, Clinical Coding and Medical Photography. It is one of four Clinical Divisions within WSFT alongside the Medical Division, Surgical & Anaesthetic Division and Community and Integrated Services Division. Each Division has a Clinical Director, Associate Director of Operations (ADO) and Head of Nursing (and Midwifery in the case of CSS and W&C).
The Clinical Director, ADO and Head of Midwifery and Nursing are members of the Trust Executive Group. The Clinical Director for Clinical Support Services is Dr Daniel Gavin (Consultant Gastroenterologist); the ADO is Mr Simon Taylor; the Senior Operations Manager for Pathology is Mrs. Linda Johnston and the Senior Pathology Service Manager is Mrs Sarah Rollo. The Clinical Lead for Pathology post is currently vacant.
Appointment to this role is made by the Clinical Director for Clinical Support Services in conjunction with the ADO for the Division. Pathology and Modernisation This is an exciting time for the department and the Trust. West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (WSFT), Eastern Pathology Alliance (EPA), Cellular Pathology at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH), and East Suffolk & North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT) have recently agreed to work collaboratively as equal partners to form the East Coast Pathology Network (ECPN). All employees will continue to be employed by their current Trusts, remaining under their current terms and conditions of employment.
WSFT has also been confirmed as one of 40 Trusts across the country to receive funding for a new build hospital from the Governments Health Infrastructure Programme. Planning is underway and the Pathology Department has the opportunity to create a purpose-built department fit for the 21st century. Staffing The current consultant microbiologist establishment at WSFT comprises: Dr Daniel Greaves Consultant in Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (0.9 WTE) Dr Philippa King Consultant Microbiologist (0.8 WTE) Dr Beverley Palmer Consultant Microbiologist (0.6 WTE) Dr Sue Partridge Consultant Microbiologist (0.4 WTE) Dr Rebecca Tilley Consultant Microbiologist (0.8 WTE) Dr Gillian Urwin Consultant Microbiologist (0.4 WTE) This advertised post vacancy. The Microbiology Department The Microbiology Laboratory provides a comprehensive service covering all aspects of general microbiology to the West Suffolk Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (circa 450 acute beds), Newmarket Hospital and GPs in Bury St Edmunds and the surrounding catchment area.
The laboratory is located in the main West Suffolk Hospital building. It is actively working towards UKAS accreditation and has applied for assessment. The microbiology Laboratory Manager is Mr Marcus Milner. There are four Band 7 Biomedical Scientists who each take a lead in Health & Safety, Quality and Training.
Administrative support for the Microbiology Department, Consultants and Infection Prevention Team is provided by named members of the Pathology Administrative & Clerical team. Team based administrative support across Pathology helps ensure demand is met regardless of holidays, sickness and any other absence. This team approach also helps with appropriate support when most needed, for example during outbreaks. Pathology uses the WinPath Enterprise laboratory information management system and the Q-pulse quality management system.
Office space containing a personal computer (with access to email, the internet and the relevant IT systems) will be provided within the West Suffolk Hospital Microbiology Department. The Trust provides free access for all staff to UpToDate. The Laboratory undertakes routine bacteriology, parasitology, mycology, serology and antibiotic susceptibility testing. It participates in the UKNEQAS schemes for general bacteriology, antimicrobial susceptibility, faecal parasitology, mycology and appropriate viral serology.
There is also an internal quality assurance scheme. There is an automated blood culture system (BioMerieux BacT/ALERT), automated urinalysis (Beckman Coulter DxU) and a Bruker MALDI-TOF. Following successful business cases, implementation of Serosep EntericBio and BioMerieux BioFire FilmArray molecular analysers is underway. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing uses both the BioMerieux Vitek 2 automated system and EUCAST standardised disc methods.
Gentamicin and Vancomycin assays are performed in the Biochemistry department; other antimicrobial assays are referred to the Bristol antimicrobial reference laboratory. Serological testing, including antenatal serology, is performed on a DiaSorin Liaison XL. Influenza, RSV and C. difficile toxin gene testing is performed on a Cepheid GeneXpert.
Rapid antigen testing is available for Norovirus. Other molecular testing is performed at UKHSA Cambridge and specialist virology advice is obtained from regional specialists. Chlamydia & Neisseria gonorrhoeae NAATs testing is currently performed at Micropathology. Mycobacterial culture is undertaken at a reference laboratory at present.
AAFB staining is performed on site. Urgent overnight microbiology samples are transported to UKHSA Cambridge for testing at present, with a plan to repatriate this service. Abnormal results are communicated to the West Suffolk Hospital Consultant Microbiologist on call. The bulk of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza testing is performed on SAMBA IIs in a designated laboratory area within the Emergency Department.
Paediatrics have Roche LIAT and Lumira DX analysers for point-of-care Influenza, RSV and SARS-CoV-2 testing. The remainder of SARS-CoV-2 testing is undertaken at East Suffolk & North Essex Foundation Trusts Ipswich laboratory as part of NHSIs Mid 6 network. Results are transmitted via an NPEx link. SARSCoV-2 IgG Antibody testing is performed on the Roche COBAS 8000 analyser in the Blood Sciences laboratory.
Infection Prevention Team The Infection Prevention Team (IPT) consists of the Infection Prevention Doctor, Lead Infection Prevention Nurse Band 8a, one Band 7 nursing post, two Band 6 nursing posts, one Band 6 nursing post for AMS & audit, and clerical support. Business cases to further expand the team are in progress. The Infection Prevention Nurses sit within the Nursing Division. The Director of Infection Prevention and Control (DIPC) is Mrs Sue Wilkinson, Executive Chief Nurse.
The IPT has formal meetings with the DIPC each month and liaises with the Consultant Microbiologists and the laboratory on a daily basis. It advises the Trust and staff in some community settings on all aspects of Infection Prevention. The Infection Prevention & Control Committee meets monthly and reports to the Trusts Safety and Effectiveness Committee and is chaired by the (DIPC) Executive Chief Nurse. The Committee includes the IPT, Medical Director, Consultant in Public Health, and representatives of the Facilities Directorate, Occupational Health Department, Housekeeping Department, Pharmacy, Nursing/Practitioner Heads of Divisions, Clinical Governance, Clinical Directorates and Suffolk & North East Essex Integrated Care System.
The IPT has good working relationships with the Suffolk & North East Essex Integrated Care System Infection Control Team and the regional Public Health Team. The lead IPN attends the Regional Infection Control Network meetings.
