Job summary
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking to appoint a 12-month 10PA fixed term Consultant Histopathologist for maternity cover. The core service requirement for this post is diagnostic expertise in gastrointestinal pathology, and we particularly welcome applicants able to support these high-volume and clinically critical services. Experience in other subspecialties and non-gynaecological cytology is welcome.

The gynaecological pathology service is based at Cheltenham General Hospital and supports a large and well-established clinical service. This includes secondary and tertiary gynaecological cancer services to a population of approximately 1.4 million, covering Herefordshire, Powys and Worcestershire, as well as diagnostic, unit-level and tertiary management for the local Gloucestershire population of 652,000. The post therefore offers an opportunity to work within a busy, regionally significant service with strong MDT engagement.

The successful applicant will join a supportive, UKAS-accredited Cellular Pathology Department with established digital pathology since 2025.

Main duties of the job
The successful candidate will:

• Provide high-quality diagnostic reporting, with a core contribution to gastrointestinal pathology, supporting both local and regional cancer services.
• Support additional subspecialty areas aligned with experience and departmental need, including dermatopathology, urological, lung, GI or head and neck pathology and non-gynaecological cytology.
• Participate in cut-up, supported by experienced dissection practitioners.
• Attend and contribute to MDT meetings, including regional and tertiary gynaecological cancer MDTs as appropriate.
• Take part in the department's longstanding second-signing process for quality assurance.
• Use the digital pathology service fully.
• Contribute to service development, audit and clinical governance in line with Trust policies.

About us
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is the largest provider within the SWAG Cancer Alliance and delivers high-quality emergency, elective and specialist care across a wide range of services. The Cellular Pathology Department is based at Cheltenham General Hospital and supports both local and regional specialist clinical services, including tertiary gynaecological oncology.

Cheltenham is consistently rated as one of the best places to live in the UK, offering excellent schools, a vibrant cultural scene, green spaces and easy access to the Cotswolds.

The department has a strong culture of subspecialisation, a fully implemented digital pathology service, and an expanding Molecular Pathology Service, supporting modern diagnostics and flexible working.

Details
Date posted: 02 November 2026
Pay scheme: Hospital medical and dental staff
Grade: Consultant
Salary: £113,565 to £150,569 a year per annum
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 12 months
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 318-26-LOCCONSHISTO

Job responsibilities
Clinical duties

• Histopathology reporting across a range of specimen types.
• Subspecialty reporting with emphasis on gastrointestinal pathology, including work supporting regional cancer services.
• Support additional subspecialty areas and/or non-gynaecological cytology aligned with experience and departmental need.
• MDT preparation and attendance.
• Participation in second signing and intradepartmental consultation.

Training, teaching and departmental culture
The department has an active and supportive training culture:

• Consultants are expected to support postgraduate histopathology trainees.
• Regular undergraduate teaching is delivered, with medical students attending structured half-day sessions.
• The department offers taster sessions for resident doctors considering a career in histopathology.
• Formal Educational Supervisor roles are allocated separately, but all consultants are expected to contribute to the educational environment.

Laboratory and departmental responsibilities

• Participation in the cut-up rota with expert dissection practitioner support.
• Full engagement with digital pathology workflows, including remote reporting.
• Contribution to audit, service improvement, clinical governance and teaching.

Qualifications

• Full GMC registration with licence to practise.
• GMC Specialist Register for histopathology.
• Commitment to delivering a high-quality cellular pathology service.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Full registration with the General Medical Council (GMC).

Desirable

• Teaching qualification
• FRCPath or equivalent qualification
• Higher degree

Knowledge and Skills
Essential

• Experience in devising, conducting and applying audit results
• Familiar with clinical governance
• Awareness of current relevant developments within the NHS

Desirable

• Training in evidence-based practice
• Ability to apply research outcomes to clinical problems

Clinical/Experience
Essential

• Proven clinical skills in cellular pathology
• Willing and able to work with colleagues in management and other specialities to ensure the delivery of a high quality, safe and reliable service
• Familiar with clinical governance
• A willingness to accept responsibility
• Awareness of current relevant developments within the NHS
• Determination to play a full part in the future development of the service
• Interest in teaching

Desirable

• Experience of clinical governance
• Experience of teaching of hospital and professional staff at all levels

Personal Attributes
Essential

• Ability to work co-operatively as a team member
• Flexibility and willingness to share clinical responsibility
• An understanding of the wider healthcare environment in which Cellular Pathology operates.
• Conscientiousness
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to communicate effectively with clinical, academic and managerial colleagues and with all grades of laboratory, clerical and ancillary staff
• Ability to self-motivate

Desirable

• Ability to think laterally
• Ability to respond quickly to change

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here: Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details
Employer name: Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Cheltenham General Hospital, Sandford Road, Cheltenham, GL53 7AN, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.gloshospitals.nhs.uk/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Clinical Lead and Consultant Histopathologist, Dr Michael Thomas
m.thomas@nhs.net
03004223302

Apply through our website.