The Department is housed in a self-contained unit opposite the outpatient department.
It comprises separate histopathology, cytopathology and immunohistology laboratories; secretarial office, 5 consultant offices, 1 senior MLSO office and tea-room.
The mortuary is close-by on the ground floor of the main hospital block and has undergone major updating with an increased storage facility, expanding from 50 standard fridges, 16 plus size and 4 freezer spaces to 65 standards, 20 plus size and 9 freezer spaces and a refitted postmortem room with 2 new tables (New in 2017).
All consultants have their own offices with modern microscopes, video capture and VDU display, together with a networked PC.
There is a large multiheaded teaching/consultation microscope in the main laboratory.
A wide range of immunohistochemical stains are performed using 2 Benchmark Ultra analysers, with a maximum of 180 slides/day (if 3 ‘runs’, however normally only 2 are required per day). These machines are also capable of performing in situ hybridisation, currently only used routinely for immunoglobulin light chains and EBV. Immunofluorescence is used for skin biopsies on request. Molecular biological studies on an increasing number of tumour samples are performed in Bristol, Birmingham and Exeter.
The laboratory computer system (part of the integrated hospital system) uses Winpath (Clinisys), but will be moving to EPIC/Beaker in December 2024.
Responsibilities:
1. Take an equal share with the other consultants in the provision of a comprehensive histopathology and cytopathology reporting service (including work generated by the bowel cancer screening programmes).
2. Take an equal share in the provision of the autopsy service. Coroner’s cases are performed at the behest of the coroner. Foetal and paediatric postmortems are performed elsewhere. Hospital post-mortem work is extremely limited, work for H.M. Coroner is extra-contractual and achieved by ‘time-shifting’.
3. Share in the administrative duties of the department. The consultant pathologists take on the post of Head of Department/Budget Holder on a mutually compatible basis. All consultants may apply for the post of Clinical Director of Pathology (a post usually tenable for 3 years).
4. Share in the running of clinico-pathological meetings on a rota basis.
5. Participate in Continuing Professional Development in accordance with Royal College of Pathologist Guidelines.
6. Be involved in medical audit, clinical governance and duties relating to UKAS accreditation. There is annual appraisal with an agreed Trust policy, further details are available on request.
7. Prepare for and submit for revalidation as required.
8. Participate in regional (Wessex and Southwest Histopathology) and National Bowel Cancer Screening EQA schemes, and also any local internal quality control schemes within the department.
9. Cover for colleagues if unforeseen short periods of absence arise.
10. Participate in teaching and research. Some teaching of undergraduate medical students is performed for the Peninsula Medical Schools; honorary University Fellowships may be associated with this role.
11. Provide high quality consultant-delivered care to patients including clinical leadership and supervision of junior medical staff, ensuring the highest standards of clinical care are provided to all patients attending the hospital.
12. Be proactive in ensuring that all patients receive rapid assessment, treatment and clinical decision making, whilst ensuring our standard to deliver safe quality and performance are delivered and sustained.
13. Provide teaching and training at undergraduate and postgraduate level and supervise and train the juniors and specialty doctors.
14. Liaise with clinicians and managers within and outside the department to address any issues arising that may affect the services.
15. Participate in relevant audit and quality assurance processes.
16. Communicate with local GPs.
Patient safety, dignity and care are the highest priority and at the centre of all that we do. #J-18808-Ljbffr