Specialty Doctor in Microbiology

Overview

This role will play a key role in delivering a comprehensive, high-quality microbiology, infection prevention and control, and antimicrobial stewardship service across the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and partner organisations. Working alongside an experienced team of Consultants, a Specialist Doctor, and Clinical Scientists, the post holder will provide daily clinical microbiology advice to hospital clinicians, GPs, community teams, and infection control services.

Responsibilities include participation in ward rounds, reviewing significant microbiology results, supporting infection control nurses, and contributing to the Trust's antimicrobial stewardship strategy.

The role requires strong clinical judgment, effective communication, and the ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary environment. The post includes participation in an on-call rota, offering telephone-based out-of-hours microbiology advice across several local hospitals. The successful candidate will engage in teaching, audits, clinical governance activities, and Continuing Professional Development, ensuring safe and evidence-based practice.

This full-time position comprises 10 programmed activities (8.5 DCC and 1.5 SPA) with a flexible job plan agreed upon appointment. The appointee will be integral to maintaining UKAS-accredited laboratory standards and supporting the Trust's infection prevention goals.

• Provide daily clinical microbiology advice to clinicians, GPs, and community teams.
• Participate in ward rounds and review clinically significant results.
• Contribute to infection prevention and control activities.
• Support antimicrobial stewardship initiatives.
• Work collaboratively with Consultants and Clinical Scientists.
• Participate in the out-of-hours on-call rota.
• Engage in clinical governance, audits, teaching, and CPD.
• Maintain UKAS-accredited laboratory standards and safe practice.

The Trust's services are provided from three locations:

• The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 473 general and acute beds.
• Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 60 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility.
• Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.

The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust employs 5,964 staff (headcount) to provide care and treatment to a population of over 400,000 people living in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire.

The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care System. Due to its location on the border with North Wales, the Trust also works closely with the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

The Trust treats patients from England and some parts of Wales. During 2024/2025, there were approximately 643,000 patient attendances (inpatient, A&E, outpatient and diagnostic) ranging from a simple outpatient appointment to major cancer surgery.