Consultant in Medical Microbiology

Job summary

This is a replacement Consultant post and forms part of our Infection Sciences department. The post-holder will be based and work at the Denmark Hill site and will support and develop our Infection service at DHS. This service consists of Microbiology, Virology, Infection Prevention and Control and the Infectious Diseases (ID) and OPAT services.

There is a 1:9 on-call commitment providing 'second on' out of hours cover for a week at a time (Band A).

Main duties of the job

The provision of a comprehensive infection service including advice regarding appropriate specimens, involvement in specimen analysis, validation and interpretation of results for transmission to clinicians, and management of individual patients through full clinical liaison.

In conjunction with King's consultants, senior nurses and the IV team work closely with the antimicrobial stewardship lead and clinical colleagues across the Trust to ensure appropriate and cost-effective use of antibacterial and antifungal agents.

About us

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£2.1billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and around 14,000 staff based across 5 main sites in South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local hospital services across its different sites, and specialist services from King's College Hospital (KCH) sites at Denmark Hill in Camberwell and at the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH) site in Bromley.

King's is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus.

In June 2026, we launched our new strategy for 2026-31. Our vision is to transform healthcare, and we have agreed six strategic ambitions to help us improve care for patients, and the working lives of our staff.

Job responsibilities

The appointee will deliver Infection services for in/out patients and the local CCG as part of the microbiology consultant team and play an active role in the general workload of the department including overseeing the resident doctors.

You will join the microbiology "duty day" rota, providing senior supervision and support to trainees, fellows and the laboratory in managing significant microbiology results, complex clinical queries (by telephone and EPIC referral system), and authorisation of results. Ward based consults are encouraged (by trainees and consultants) to optimise patient management and outcomes.

Please see attached Job Description for full details of responsibilities

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Registerable medical qualification (MBChB, MBBS or equivalent)
• Full FRCPath (UK) or show evidence of equivalent qualification
• Full and specialist registration (and with a current licence to practise) with the General Medical Council (GMC) or eligible for registration within six months of interview)

Desirable

• MRCP (UK)or show evidence of equivalent)
• Diploma in Hospital Infection Control (or equivalent)
• Other higher degree or diploma (e.g., MD)

Registration

Essential

• Full Registration with GMC
• Name on GMC Specialist Register on date of taking up appointment

Training and Experience

Essential

• Wide experience in all aspects of Microbiology and Infection, culminating in award of Certificate of Completion of Training by GMC, or completed portfolio pathway application.
• Experience of working with the clinical and laboratory aspects of Medical Microbiology
• Specialist training in Microbiology or Joint Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
• Experience in Infection Control

Desirable

• Experience in laboratory management
• Experience in Infectious Diseases
• Experience in delivering outpatient antimicrobial therapy
• Experience in management of infection in critical care settings

Administration

Essential

• Experience in day-to-day organisation of Infection services in a busy Teaching Hospital
• Familiarity with information technology and general computer skills
• Familiar with current structure of UK National Health Service and conversant with recent initiatives and changes

Desirable

• Familiar with current structure of Health Service and conversant with recent initiatives and changes

Management and Leadership

Essential

• Able to demonstrate leadership capability within multi-disciplinary teams

Desirable

• Management course and/or qualification

Audit and Quality Improvement

Essential

• Thorough understanding of principles of medical audit
• Must have undertaken and completed audit projects

Desirable

• Audit Publications

Research and Publications

Essential

• Experience of clinical research
• Publication of relevant review articles or case reports

Desirable

• Relevant research experience in one or more aspects of Microbiology, ID or IPC

Teaching

Essential

• Experience of undergraduate and post-graduate teaching and exam preparation.

Desirable

• Teaching skills course/qualification