Consultant Medical Microbiologist/Infectious Diseases

Job Overview

This post offers an exciting opportunity to join the Clinical Microbiology team at the Royal United Hospitals (RUH) Bath NHS Foundation Trust.

Applications are invited for a part-time Consultant Medical Microbiologist (7.75PA), or a jointly trained consultant in Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.

You will join an enthusiastic and committed team of 5.875 WTE Consultant Microbiologists. You will provide a high‑quality, comprehensive, and cost‑effective clinical microbiology service for the Bath clinical area.

Laboratory services are performed by UK Health Security Agency staff in Bristol. There is an on‑site Hot Laboratory handling blood cultures, CSF, and tissue samples, with the majority of other microbiology and virology samples processed in Bristol.

The microbiology department is situated in a new purpose‑built laboratory and has full UKAS ISO 15189 accreditation. The role will be based at the RUH in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Bath. Bath is an historic city known for its elegant Georgian architecture, green spaces and vibrant cultural scene. It also boasts a variety of renowned schools, including primary, secondary, and higher education institutions. Bath Spa University and the University of Bath are prominent universities in the area.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will provide a comprehensive consultant clinical microbiology service, which will include:

• Clinical liaison with other healthcare professionals for the direct management of patients with infection
• Diagnostic laboratory liaison and oversight
• Authorisation and interpretation of laboratory results
• Participation in ward rounds and multidisciplinary team meetings
• Involvement in policy and guideline development and review

Other aspects of the role include involvement in Antimicrobial Stewardship, Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT), Infection Prevention and Control, and Laboratory Management. Lead consultant roles for these areas are organised by mutual agreement and can be arranged on a rotatory basis.

Working for our organisation

We are proud to be part of BSW Hospitals Group - a formal partnership between the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust, Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust. With a combined workforce of over 17, 600 colleagues, and budget of 1.6 billion the Group is united by a common purpose to deliver the best possible care to over 1 million people.

We are creating a health and care system that works with the people we care for, reducing the differences people currently face in access, experience and outcomes, improving the experience of our colleagues and tackling shared challenges like sustainability and finances. Every improvement we make across our Group will be guided by what creates the greatest benefit for our colleagues, our patients, our communities and our partners.

By working together, we make a real difference for our patients, each other, and our community. Every role matters in delivering the exceptional, person‑centred care we’re proud of.

We’re committed to a compassionate, inclusive culture where kindness is championed, differences are valued, and diversity makes us stronger.

We want to support you to thrive, taking your career to its full potential. We prioritise staff wellbeing – and yes, we even have a pool!

Discover what it’s like to live and work in Bath, explore our RUH staff benefits, and learn how we’re building healthcare for the future through the Dyson Cancer Centre and our commitment to research.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

Please see attached job description and person specification for further details about this opportunity.

Person specification

Qualifications & Training

Essential criteria

• FRCPath or equivalent qualification.

Desirable criteria

• Dual CCT with Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology

Knowledge & Experience

Essential criteria

• Full and specialist registration (and a licence to practise) with the General Medical Council (GMC) (or eligible for registration within six months of interview).
• Applicants that are UK trained, must also be a holder of a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT), or be within six months of award of CCT by date of interview.
• Applicants that are non-UK trained, will be required to show evidence of equivalence to the UK CCT (i.e CESR / portfolio pathway).
• Knowledge of the NHS Healthcare system and of infection sciences laboratory processes including Antimicrobial stewardship and infection control.
• Training and experience in infection sciences work sufficient to practice as an independent consultant within the structures currently in place at the RUH, Bath.

Desirable criteria

• A good record of peer-reviewed publications
• Relevant managerial qualifications and/or experience
• MRCP or equivalent research degree (MD or PhD)

Specific Skills

Essential criteria

• Capable of communicating effectively with clinical and other colleagues
• Interest and willingness to participate in laboratory management and administration.
• Previous experience of audit and awareness of the requirements of clinical governance.
• Ability to apply research outcomes to clinical problems

Desirable criteria

• Experience of quality improvement or service development.

Please note - Due to recent changes in UK immigration and visa rules applicants who do not currently have the right to work in the UK may not be considered unless an alternative right to work solution can be provided. Candidates requiring sponsorship (or will need sponsorship at the end of a current visa e.g. those with graduate visa's) should review the eligibility criteria on the gov.uk website before applying: Prove your right to work to an employer: Overview - GOV.UK

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

The postholder will have regular contact with vulnerable people and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Documents to download

• Job Description (PDF, 601.9KB)
• Join the RUH (PDF, 1.3MB)

Further details / informal visits contact

Name Dr Julia Vasant Job title Head of Department Email address ***email_hidden*** Telephone number 01225 824745 Additional information

Or contact the Pathology Clinical Director Dr Moya O'Doherty on 01225 824715 or moya.o’[email protected]