Consultant in Infectious Diseases & Microbiology

Job overview

Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Consultant in Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology for a new post within our integrated Infection Service.

You will join a team of three Clinical Microbiologists/Infectious Diseases Physicians providing infection services to the Trust. Development of a special interest that complements the existing interests of colleagues is strongly encouraged.

The role includes specialist infection advice, inpatient reviews, outpatient care and clinical microbiology support for a diverse population with a wide range of complex infections. You will lead on antimicrobial stewardship alongside the antimicrobial pharmacist and clinical teams.

Based at Bradford Royal Infirmary, with sessions at St Luke’s Hospital, you will work collaboratively with colleagues across the integrated Bradford and Airedale service and participate in a shared 1-in-6 Category A on-call rota.

This full-time post offers 10 programmed activities, including 1.5 supporting professional activities, with opportunities to contribute to teaching, quality improvement and service development.

Please note interview will be conducted face to face and no offer of virtual interview.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will provide a combined Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology service, working closely with consultant colleagues, laboratory staff and multidisciplinary teams. Main duties include:

• Providing specialist advice on the diagnosis, investigation and treatment of infection, including interpreting microbiology results and reviewing patients with complex infections.
• Delivering inpatient consultations, in-reach services and outpatient clinics, and participating in the weekly Infection multidisciplinary team meeting.
• Contributing to the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory Service, including reporting results, quality assurance, laboratory management, policy development and accreditation.
• Taking on the role of Trust Antimicrobial Stewardship Lead, with dedicated sessions in the job plan, working closely with the antimicrobial pharmacist and clinical teams to review prescribing, develop antimicrobial guidelines and deliver education.
• Working with the Infection Prevention and Control Team to advise on infection risks and support safe patient care.
• Participating in the shared Bradford and Airedale 1-in-6 Category A on-call rota and providing equitable cross-cover for consultant colleagues.
• Contributing to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, clinical audit, quality improvement and service development.
• Maintaining continuing professional development and participating in appraisal, job planning and clinical governance.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

This is a combined role that integrates the clinical and laboratory elements of the diagnosis of infection and its treatment. The role includes the provision of medical reporting and interpretation of results and advice on patient management.

The successful candidate will be expected to:

• In collaboration with other colleagues, help plan the future provision of Infection Service through the collaborative arrangement with Airedale & Harrogate Trusts..
• Provide an advisory and clinical consultative service to clinical colleagues in the Trust, including regular ward reviews of complex infection inpatients, PUO, granulomatous diseases, fever in returning traveller.
• Contribute to all aspects of the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory Service, including the supervision of the processing of requests and reporting of results; the provision of a clinical service to inpatient areas, and regular liaison with key clinical personnel as appropriate; participation in the Consultant microbiologist on-call rota.
• Share responsibility with the other Consultants for monitoring performance in Quality Assurance programmes and, by contributing to the internal management process, ensure that appropriate action is taken in a timely fashion when this is necessary.
• Contribute to laboratory management including participation in EQA, policy /SOP preparation, quality improvement, involvement in business planning and ISO accreditation.
• Provide leadership around antimicrobial stewardship, alongside the Antimicrobial Pharmacist, with participation in the Trust Antimicrobial Prescribing Review Group (a sub-committee of the Drug and Therapeutics Committee). To lead on antimicrobial guidelines, introduction of carbapenem sparing agents and lab testing for these agents, engagement with other specialties to improve antimicrobial prescribing and reduce the use of reserve antibiotics.
• In conjunction with colleagues, participate in the Trust Infection Control Committee meetings, lab management meetings. Contribute towards the work of the infection prevention and control team, in liaison with the Director of Infection Prevention and Control and IPC Nurses, to ensure a safe environment is maintained for patients pertaining to infection control risks, and appropriate management is advised.
• Participate in policy formulation for the Trust as required. For example, input into infection prevention and control policies and protocols.
• Outpatient clinic work will include review of patients with suspected TB, non-tuberculous mycobacteria, pulmonary invasive fungal infection, tropical infection and chronic infection.
• Innovation in clinical service delivery is encouraged and we are trailblazing the use of MS teams ward rounds and MDT as part of our utilisation of remote working since the COVID-19 pandemic. Remote working is now an essential tool of our service delivery and is available to be used as needed based on the requirements and objectives of the department.
• With successful recruitment to our vacancies we hope to establish proactive MDT and in-reach into the following areas, however the list is not exhaustive: Vascular Surgery, Orthopaedics, respiratory, infectious endocarditis team.

The post holder will also provide cover for consultant colleague’s leave in Infectious Diseases or Medical Microbiology in a fair and equitable fashion including providing cross cover for ICU in-reach and general ID clinic.

Appointees will need to satisfy the requirements of the Trust and Professional bodies for continuing medical education and development and undertake other duties as agreed with the Clinical Director.

Shortlisted candidates are encouraged to visit department prior to interivew.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.