Skip to main content
Please wait, loading

Job summary

Main area
Radiology
Grade
Consultant
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 10 sessions per week (10 PA's per week)
Job ref
435-MQ132-24
Employer
East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital
Town
Blackburn
Salary
£105,504 - £139,882 per annum
Closing
10/01/2025 08:00

Employer heading

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust logo

Radiology Consultant with Subspecialist Expertise in MSK Radiology

Consultant

At East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust our vision is to be widely recognised for providing safe, personal and effective care.  We currently provide high quality services and treat over 600,000 people across East Lancashire and the surrounding area. We employ over 9,500 staff, many of whom are internationally renowned and have won awards for their work.

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Radiology Directorate for a Consultant Radiologist join our highly functional, accomplished, and friendly team. 

The Radiology Directorate offers a full range of diagnostic investigations over a number of sites (2 acute and 5 community).

The Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital is part of the PFI hospital. Radiology comprises 6 general rooms, 1 fluoroscopy room, 1 multipurpose interventional suite, 4 CT scanners (Canon 640 slice, Siemens 128 slice and 2 x 80 detector row Toshiba systems), 2 MRI scanners (Siemens Sola 1.5T) and a 3 room ultrasound suite.  A further 5 ultrasound rooms are situated adjacent to antenatal and include Siemens and Canon machines. The angiography suite is within the theatre complex. Further investment is planned with a hybrid theatre to be commissioned.

Our Nuclear Medicine Department has 2 Siemens SPECT enabled Gamma Cameras. 

Burnley General Teaching Hospital primarily supports out-patients and GP patients.  Radiology has a single CT, two MRI systems, five general rooms, a single digital fluoroscopy room and 2 ultrasound rooms. Further ultrasound equipment is located within the Lancashire Women and Newborn Centre.

Both screening and symptomatic breast imaging services are provided for the women of East Lancashire from a dedicated Breast Imaging Unit on the Burnley General Teaching Hospital premises.

The service has a mobile MRI scanner (Philips Ingenia Evolution 1.5T).

Main duties of the job

We are seeking to appoint a  capable and forward-thinking doctor. The candidate should have completed the radiology training (either in the UK or equivalent abroad) and should have sufficient skills to be able to independently report MRI, CT and US examinations within their areas of sub-specialty expertise. Must have good experience with general CT and MRI, both inpatient and outpatient scans.

The candidate is required to take a lead role in the rheumatology and orthopaedic MDTs. They must already be proficient in each of these areas without needing support.

Essential skills are:

  • Independently be able to perform MSK ultrasound including procedures
  • Independently perform MSK fluoroscopy procedures
  • Independently report MSK X-ray, CT & MRI imaging
  • Independently provide specialist MSK opinions for clinicians

Working for our organisation

There are currently 30 Consultant Radiologists working at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (28.5 WTE) with approximately 280 radiographic and support staff. Each modality has a Lead Radiographer overseeing operational management and service development. The Interventional Radiology Unit is supported by 6 dedicated IR radiographers and 6 dedicated IR nurses.

Secretarial support is provided within the department however, we have developed an electronic paperless department with digital dictation, voice recognition and electronic distribution of results.  We have a single, central booked appointment system across all sites.

Day to day management of the service is supported by the Radiology Directorate Manager and Radiology Operations Manager.

There is an active skill mix programme within the Directorate with Radiographers participating in x-ray reporting (Chest, Abdomen & MSK), CT, MRI, Breast and Nuclear Medicine reporting.

Both hospital sites are training departments for student radiographers. There are close teaching links with the University of Cumbria and the University of Salford.

The Radiology Directorate is headed by the Clinical Director.  The Directorate resides within the Division of Diagnostics and Clinical Support which includes Pathology, Pharmacy, Therapies.  The Division is supported with dedicated Human Resources, Finance and Governance colleagues.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To take a lead role in the rheumatology & orthopaedic MDTs, undertake MSK ultrasound including fluroscopy procedures, independently report MSK Xray, CT & MRI. Provide specialist MSK opinion.

A sample 10.0 PA job plan subject to discussion would include:

  • 3.5 sessions cold reporting mainly MSK scans
  • 1 session hot reporting - acute MRI and/or CT 
  • 1 session injections (screening and/or ultrasound guided
  • 0.5 sessions MDT 
  • 2 sessions ultrasound
  • 0.75 session free in lieu of on call (1 in 20)
  • 1.25 SPA session off site

0.25 SPA is afforded to departmental meetings (directorate, audit, REALM, consultant meetings) - this activity replaces a direct clinical care session.

The on-call is a 1 in 20. The radiologist is required to be on site at Blackburn 5-7pm on weekdays and 9am to 3pm on weekends. The consultant has the option to cover the rest of the on call from home. There will be an ST3-5 on call with the consultant who will be on site till 9pm. An outsourcing provider covers the on-call, reporting all the CT scan from 9pm to 9am with the local consultant then second on-call. MRI service is not provided from 9pm to 9am. It is incredibly rare to be disturbed overnight when second on-call.

The job plan will be reviewed through discussion with the clinical director within the first 3 months and annually thereafter.

The general reporting sessions can be at either Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital, Burnley General Teaching Hospital or Rossendale Community Diagnostic Centre, which are  within an 11 mile radius. A home workstation is also provided and most radiologists choose to work 1 day per week from home. 5 hours of the core SPA is flexible and can be undertaken at home. 1 hour is usually required for departmental meetings. 

As a senior employee of the Trust the candidate will work in close co-operation with clinical staff and other medical professionals and managerial colleagues in providing high quality health care to the Trust's patients. Integral to these responsibilities is: 

  • The provision of a first-class service
  • Effective leadership to all staff engaged in the specialty
  • Sustaining and developing teaching and research
  • Undertaking all work in accordance with Trust procedures and operating policies
  • Conducting clinical practice in accordance with Trust procedures and operating policies

A job plan will be agreed between the appointee and the Clinical Director.

 

Person specification

ATTAINMENTS

Essential criteria
  • Valid Full Registration with the General Medical Council with name on the Specialist Register with radiology as the named specialty.
  • FRCR or equivalent.
Desirable criteria
  • Other relevant medical and non-medical training/degree.
  • Other relevant postgraduate qualification.

TRAINING

Essential criteria
  • Satisfactory completion of previous posts providing professional training in core radiology.
  • Appropriate training in diagnostic radiology especially with respect to MSK.

PERSONAL SKILLS

Essential criteria
  • Experience of supervision of junior staff.
  • Ability to communicate and liaise effectively with patients, their relatives and with colleagues and staff in all disciplines.
  • Ability to lead the development of services and provoke best practice amongst the colleagues in a changing environment.
  • Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team with professional colleagues, management and AHP.
Desirable criteria
  • Evidence of development of leadership within the work environment.
  • Willingness to undertake additional professional responsibilities.

EXPERIENCE

Essential criteria
  • High level of experience in MSK radiology
  • Be able to independently lead the rheumatology and orthopaedic MDTs
  • Independently be able to perform the full breadth of MSK ultrasound including procedures
  • Independently perform MSK fluoroscopy procedures
  • Independently report the full breadth of MSK Xray, CT and MRI examinations
  • Independently provide specialist MSK opinions for clinicians
  • Evidence of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching. Ability to mentor others
  • Understanding of, and experience of, performing and participating in QI projects during general professional and higher specialist training. Willingness to undertake departmental QI projects as requested/required
Desirable criteria
  • Attendance at courses in teaching, appraisal and mentorship
  • Publications in peer reviewed journals

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Essential criteria
  • Clear commitment to lifelong learning including previous CPD relating to MSK radiologyogy.
  • Ability to keep up to date in the speciality.
Desirable criteria
  • Membership of Radiological societies.

MANAGEMENT

Essential criteria
  • Understanding of current NHS management systems including clinical governance and risk management.
Desirable criteria
  • Attendance at appropriate management courses.

OTHER

Essential criteria
  • Agree to live within 30 minutes travel time of the Trust unless permitted otherwise.
  • Satisfactory medical clearance from the Trust’s Occupational Health Physician.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardPositive about disabled peopleInvestors in PeopleCare quality commission - GoodDisability confident committedStep into healthHappy to Talk Flexible Working

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.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Dr. Tom Newton
Job title
Consultant Radiologist and Clinical Director
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01254733938
Additional information

Dr Tom Newton                                        

Consultant Radiologist, Clinical Director

Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital                              

Haslingden Road                                                    

Blackburn                      

Lancashire, BB2 3HH    

Tel: 01254 733938

Apply online nowAlert me to similar vacancies