Consultant Clinical Oncologist in Breast and Urological Cancers

Our oncology team is excited to welcome a friendly and enthusiastic colleague who values strong teamwork and a patient-centred approach. This new role is a vital addition to our expanding and ambitious oncology service, where you'll join an energetic, innovative team dedicated to providing a comprehensive range of oncology services for the communities of Gloucestershire and Herefordshire. With plans to develop the Gloucestershire Cancer Institute by expanding our regional Cancer Centre in Cheltenham through a new building and estate transformation, there's never been a more exciting time to join us.
This is a substantive position for a Consultant Clinical Oncologist at Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. When working 10 Programmed Activities (PAs), consultants typically see 150 to 200 new patients per year, approximately four new patients each week. Work closely with our established teams focused on urological and breast cancers, with a specific opportunity to engage in research, which is prioritised in the job plan.
While this role is advertised as a 10 PA post, we welcome applications from those interested in less-than-full-time work and are committed to accommodating particular interests or tumour sites the successful candidate may wish to pursue. We encourage informal enquiries to explore how we can tailor this role to suit your career aspirations., We have 13 Clinical Oncologists (consultants and specialty doctors) and 7 Medical Oncologists with 3 Consultant Radiographers and one Consultant Nurse. We are supported by 10 WTE Specialist Registrars in Clinical and Medical Oncology, 4 specialty doctors, 12 resident doctors and 3 clinical fellows. We have a large team of nurse practitioners providing acute care to our patients (inpatient care, 24-hour acute haematology oncology unit and acute oncology service) and assessment for patients undergoing SACT.
[INS: This :INS] Clin[INS: ical Oncology post :INS] will provide specialist input to the urology service in Gloucestershire and the breast service in Herefordshire in order to deliver high quality patient care[INS: . :INS] This will include:
-continuing the established links with site specialized teams through multidisciplinary team meetings
-further strengthening and developing multidisciplinary teams
-maintaining and fostering links with multi-disciplinary staff groups within Oncology, the palliative care teams, colleagues in medical and surgical specialties, and colleagues in primary care
-offering as many patients as possible access to a clinical trial (0.5 PA per week to pursue research activity), This Clinical Oncology post will cover the urology service in Gloucestershire and breast in Herefordshire. The successful candidate will be expected to continue the established links with site specialised teams through the appropriate multidisciplinary team meetings. The appointee will be encouraged to participate in the departmental philosophy of entering patients into clinical trials wherever possible. Further strengthening and development of multidisciplinary teams is anticipated.
The post holder will maintain and foster links with the multi-disciplinary staff groups within Oncology, the Palliative Care teams, colleagues in Medical and Surgical specialities, and colleagues in primary care.
Provisional Job plan
Programmed Activity 10
Direct Clinical Care (including unpredictable on-call) 8.5
Supporting Professional Activities 1.5
TOTAL PROGRAMMED ACTIVITIES 10.0
On call 1 in 13
The Medical Local Negotiating Committee (LNC) has agreed on behalf of the medical staff body within the Trust a standard allocation of 1.5 SPAs for all new appointments. Core duties are included in the present allocation of 1.5 SPAs but additional SPAs (up to a total maximum of 2.5 SPAs) may be available following discussion with the Clinical Lead, depending upon Trust requirements and individual expertise.
In line with the terms and conditions, the final job plan is subject to the agreement of the Trust through the Clinical Lead and the appointee.
Consultants provide cover for their colleagues for emergency work whenever they are away. The maximum number of Consultants away at any one time is always subject to the provision of an adequate service for patients.
The job plan represents an average week. The plan may vary in response to other consultants leave and to unplanned increases in work. The consultant will be expected to monitor their hours to ensure that the workload averages out to the proposed job plan.
Clinical responsibilities
The appointee will be expected to:
Take responsibility for the delivery of high quality medical oncology care
- Examine and treat patients in accordance with agreed Department, Regional Cancer Network and Trust wide policies
- Work with local and regional MDT colleagues to ensure the most appropriate care is delivered to patients in a timely way
- Support the clinical decision making of junior medical, nursing and pharmacy staff
- Provide on call support, participating in the Department rota for on-call and as per agreed protocols. To remain contactable and available when on call
- Carry out additional ward visits appropriate to the level of clinical care required by patients, as agreed with the AOS nursing teams on a rota basis and at the request of Consultant colleagues.
Education, Training, and Quality Improvement
A regular programme of meetings and activities is scheduled which the post holder will be expected to contribute to including:
- The SpR and SHO teaching programmes
- Journal club
- Academic meeting
- Governance meeting
- Department management meetings
Quality improvement projects and audit
There are post-graduate medical centres attached to Cheltenham General and Gloucestershire Royal Hospitals, which run regular programmes of activities, lectures, and seminars.
Opportunities for formal quality improvement training are available via the Gloucestershire Quality Improvement and Safety Academy and are encouraged.
Research
The Consultant Oncologists participate in academic and commercial research trials.
Oncology also undertakes some local research projects. All research activity is undertaken following agreement by the appropriate committee/individuals.
The Cancer Research Network was established in April 2002 and has developed an infrastructure that actively supports trials and a strategy for developing R&D in the Cancer Network. A dedicated research suite has opened at the Oncology Centre with facilities for patient consultation and examination, which will further enhance the potential for trials activity.
The post holder will be expected to take an active part in research activities.
Clinical Governance
The Trust has established a framework for clinical governance and the post holder will be expected to contribute to the relevant local programmes, for example:
-Management (as agreed with Clinical Lead)
- Provision of medical information for the development of services appropriate for Trust and catchment population needs. This will include analysis of the impact of National Guidance, the results of clinical trials and the emergence of new therapies on site speciality demand and capacity planning
- Participation in departmental Consultant and senior staff meetings whilst remaining within the framework of the agreed strategy of the Trust and the Department
- Attendance at other departmental, Divisional and Trust meetings as necessary, including: Monthly Oncology, Haematology & Palliative Care Board; Sub-specialty meetings; Management meetings, including monthly Consultant meeting
- Attendance at regional and national meetings as necessary
- Undertaking all work in accordance with Trust procedures and operating policies
Teamwork
We ask that colleagues:
- work within the framework of multidisciplinary team decisions
- take a whole systems approach to working with the wider health community
- show initiative, enthusiasm, kindness, collegiality and flexibility
Strategic development
We ask that colleagues:
- are aware of the national changes to health care provision, the regulation and monitoring of health care services and the drivers for change
- support the Trust management colleagues in developing effective links with commissioners and other providers to meet the Trust strategic objectives
Accountability
The post-holder will be immediately accountable to the Clinical Lead. Further line management is provided by the Divisional Chief of Service and subsequently the Medical Director.
The post-holder has a general duty of care towards their own health, safety, and wellbeing, as well as that of work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital. This statutory duty is in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountabilities associated with the post.
Finally, the post-holder is expected to:
- Observe the rules, policies, procedures and standards of Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust together with all relevant statutory and professional obligations
- Observe and maintain strict confidentiality of personal information relating to patients and staff
- Be responsible, with management support, for their own personal development and to actively contrib-ute to the development of colleagues
Location
The place of clinical work for this post is Gloucestershire Hospitals. Other work locations, including off site working, may be agreed in the post-holder's Job Plan where appropriate. The post-holder will generally be expected to undertake their Programmed Activities at the principal place of work or other locations agreed in the Job Plan. Exceptions will include travelling between work sites and attending official meetings away from the workplace. You may be required to work at any site within the Trust.
Review
This job description will be regularly reviewed. It is intended as a guide to the general scope of duties and is not intended to be definitive or restrictive. It is expected that some of the duties will change over time and this description will be subject to review in consultation with the post-holder.
The health and wellbeing of our staff and patients remains the priority of the Trust. Vaccination remains the best chance we have of conquering COVID and the Trust encourages everyone to take up this offer.
Please note, this vacancy may close as soon as sufficient applications have been received, so please apply as soon as possible if you are interested. The Recruitment Team are unable to accept any applications after the position has closed on NHS Jobs.

NHS Medical & Dental: Consultant
Join us at an exciting time for Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust! We have an ambitious plan for our journey to Outstanding and are looking for aspirational, committed individuals to join us, making a real difference to both staff and patients.
As a former winner of England for excellence award: Tourism destination of the year, the beautiful city of Gloucester and the scenic regency spa town of Cheltenham are fantastic places to work and live.
As a hospital Trust we are currently involved in over 100 clinical trials and studies, whilst also providing acute elective and specialist services to a population of over 620,000.
By joining Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust new colleagues can look forward to a warm welcome and a future full of opportunities and support., Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Trust (GHNHSFT) was formed in April 2002 and became a second wave Foundation Trust in July 2004. We are a large organisation providing acute services from Gloucestershire Royal Hospital in Gloucester and Cheltenham General Hospital. In collaboration with the other NHS Trust in Gloucestershire (Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust - GHCNHSFT - who provide physical health, mental health and learning disability services), we provide Oncology services across Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, parts of Powys, and Worcestershire.
Our workforce is almost 8,000 strong. Our caring and dedicated staff are recognised as providing outstanding patient-centred, high quality emergency, elective and specialist care across a range of clinical areas. Ours is a warm, collegiate, and patient-centred trust.
The Gloucestershire Oncology Centre is located on the Cheltenham site. This is a regional cancer Centre for the population of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and South Worcestershire, as well as parts of Shropshire and Powys. The Centre registered 5058 new patients in 2023. We are expanding our Centre to create Gloucestershire Cancer Institute (GCI). This will provide a brand-new building plus transformation of our current estate. Our new space will be bigger, brighter and more welcoming, enabling us to be fit for the future of oncology care in Gloucestershire.