Visa note
While this position offers a certificate of sponsorship for eligible international candidates, all applicants must verify their visa eligibility directly with the employer before applying.
Job Details
Company: University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)
Location: St Richards Hospital
Salary: £109,725 to £145,478 a year per annum
Schedule: Full-time
Employment Type: Permanent
Language: English
Education: Knowledge
Experience: Experience and Qualifications
Essential Qualifications: Basic medical degree, FRCPath or appropriate specialist qualification, Full and specialist registration with GMC or eligibility within six months of interview, UK training equivalent if trained outside UK
Desirable Qualification: Breadth of experience in and outside specialty
Essential Experience: Basic medical degree
Contact: Joanne Legg (Consultant Microbiologist)
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 01903205111
Application Deadline: 12 November 2025
Employer Website: https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/
Job Summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Consultant in Medical Microbiology, or Virology, with or without Infectious Diseases, to join the University Hospitals Sussex, Department of Infection. The successful candidate will join our friendly and committed team of 16 Infection Doctors in post, who have expertise across a broad range of clinical and academic areas and provide high-quality infection services to the hospitals and community of Sussex.
We are looking for a motivated individual who wants to embrace the opportunities offered within our department in our acute teaching hospital in Brighton, and District General Hospitals in Worthing, Chichester and Haywards Health. The base hospital for this post is St Richard’s Hospital (SRH), Chichester.
Our team work closely with our Microbiology Laboratories based in the Royal Sussex County Hospital (RSCH), Brighton, and St Richard’s Hospital (SRH), Chichester which provide a comprehensive diagnostic repertoire. Inpatient Infectious Diseases is based at RSCH, in Brighton, in the recently completed state of the art Louisa Martindale Building, which has recently been awarded Specialist Regional Infectious Diseases Centre (SRIDC).
This post includes cover of the out-of-hours advice service for Worthing and SRH (1 in 4), with a day off in the week given in lieu of predictable on call.
Main Duties of the Job
The Consultants in Infection (Medical Microbiology/Virology) are responsible for providing a high-quality, comprehensive and efficient clinical Microbiology service to the Trust and community. Duties are shared with the other consultants in the department. We are committed to delivering a unified clinical infection service, covering the laboratories, and all clinical infection duties. Consultants all contribute to the service depending on their skills and experience and are encouraged to develop a specialist interest.
Duties include:
- Involvement in the management of patients with infections through direct clinical liaison, bacteraemia, and antimicrobial stewardship rounds
- Provision of a comprehensive infection service including advice on appropriate samples, appropriate interpretation of results including timely communication to requestors, treatment, and infection prevention advice
- Taking up a lead role if required: OPAT, Arthroplasty, Clinical lead/deputy lead, Infection Control, Antimicrobial Stewardship
- Working with colleagues to develop, promote and monitor antimicrobial stewardship in the Trust
- Clinical and Educational supervision of Specialist Trainees in Infection
- Participation in the teaching of Medical Students during their clinical infection attachment
- Contribution to clinic governance initiatives in the department
About Us
At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.
We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our Wellbeing Programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance – because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.
As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.
We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.
Job Responsibilities
This is an exciting opportunity to contribute and develop the Department of Microbiology having a real say in the future travel and direction of the Infection service at UHSussex. There is scope to expand and enhance infection service provision in antimicrobial stewardship, paediatrics, cardiology, OPAT and infectious diseases. We are looking for an individual that wants to embrace the opportunities offered within our department at both the District General Hospitals, and in the acute teaching hospital, with a strong commitment to clinical excellence, teaching.
The Consultants in Medical Microbiology are responsible for the provision of a high quality, comprehensive and efficient clinical microbiology and infection service to the Trust and General Practice. Duties are shared with the other consultants in the Department. We are committed to delivering a unified clinical infection service, covering the diagnostic laboratory and all clinical infection duties. Consultants all contribute depending on their skills and accreditation.
This will include:
- Infection consults to review in-patients with complex infections
- Infection consults to review patients with bacteraemia
- Opportunity to contribute to the infectious disease clinic (runs weekly), bone and joint infection clinic, RAID clinic, OPAT clinic
- Clinical liaison with hospital staff and general practitioners on the management and prevention of infection
- Contribute to multidisciplinary meetings/specialist ward rounds: bone/joint infections, diabetic foot, haematology, infective endocarditis, cardiothoracic, vascular surgery neurosurgery, paediatrics, HIV, renal medicine
- ITU and HDU infection ward rounds
- Clinical and Educational Supervision of Specialist Trainees
- Participation in clinical and laboratory protocol and guideline development in association with the other consultants
- Contribute to teaching Specialist Trainees and Foundation Doctors
- Contribute to teaching medical students, both ward and lectures based
- Liaison with Health Protection Staff and Infection Prevention and Control Team when necessary
- Authorisation and interpretation of laboratory reports
- Attend cross site monthly consultant, governance, and management meetings
Opportunity to take on Departmental lead roles:
- Clinical Lead/Deputy lead
- OPAT/Arthroplasty Lead
- Antimicrobial Stewardship
- Infection Prevention
The lead role will be allocated by mutual agreement with the successful candidate depending on previous experience and training. Lead roles are reviewed at 2 yearly intervals. The Infection Control Lead appointment will also require the agreement of the DIPC.
Participate in the Medical Microbiology on call rota.
Participate in department audits.
Participate in yearly strengthened Trust appraisal and 5 yearly Revalidation.
Participate in Royal College of Pathologists CPD scheme.
Participation in research and development
Currently the consultants covering the clinical microbiology service are based at the Royal Sussex County Hospital (RSCH), Worthing and SRH sites, with remote clinical advice provided to Princess Royal Hospital (PRH), and Queen Victoria Hospital (QVH), East Grinstead.
On Call Commitment:
Currently there are 2 on call services covering Microbiology for the Trust, one covering RSCH/PRH/QVH, and one covering Worthing & SRH. This post will take part in the Worthing/SRH on call service, which is currently a 1 in 4 rota (with prospective cover), with one day off in the week, in lieu of predictable on call hours. Category A (8%). Specialist trainees provide 1st on cover 2 in 5 weeks, with the Consultant covering them.
There is approximately 6 hours i.e. 2 PAs of work undertaken on a Saturday which can be covered by attending either base hospital or remotely. Sunday provides approximately 3 hours work i.e.1PA covered remotely. Clinical Microbiology and Infection Control advice is provided off site at other times.
Person Specification
Experience and Qualifications
Essential
- Basic medical degree
- FRCPath or appropriate specialist qualification
- Full and specialist registration (with a licence to practise) with the GMC or be eligible for registration within six months of the interview
>If you trained in the UK, you must also have a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) in Medical Microbiology or Virology +/- Infectious Diseases or be within six months of receiving it by the interview date
>If you trained outside the UK, you must provide evidence that your qualifications are equivalent to the UK CCT. (Equivalence must be confirmed by GMC by date of AAC)
Desirable
- Higher Degree
Knowledge
Desirable
- Breadth of experience in and outside specialty
Organisation and Planning
Essential
- Experience and ability to work in multi-professional teams
- Understanding of: NHS / Clinical governance / Resource constraints
Desirable
- Evidence of managerial skills
Teaching Skills
Essential
- Evidence of an interest and commitment to teaching
Desirable
- Recognised teaching qualification
Academic & Research
Essential
- Evidence of participation in audit
Desirable
- Research experience
- Publications
- Prizes and honours
Career Progression & Personal Attributes
Essential
- Evidence of: Good communication skills both oral and written
- Appropriate progression of career to date
Additional Information
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 (Opens in a new tab).
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 (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer Details
Employer name: University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)
Address: St Richards Hospital, Chichester, PO19 6SE
Employer’s website: https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
How to Apply
Apply via NHS Jobs website. International applicants should:
- Verify visa eligibility with the employer before applying
- Prepare required documents: CV, qualifications, proof of GMC registration (or equivalent), proof of English language proficiency
- Contact Joanne Legg ([email protected], 01903205111) with any questions about the application process or sponsorship
- Submit application before the 12 November 2025 deadline
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