Job summary
- Main area
- Cellular Pathology
- Grade
- 4
- Contract
- Bank: 5 months (Fixed term)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday)
- Job ref
- 418-COR1556-PN
- Employer
- Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Bedford
- Town
- Bedford
- Salary
- £27,485 - £30,162 Pro Rata
- Salary period
- Hourly
- Closing
- 31/10/2025 23:59
Employer heading
Bank Cancer Co-ordinator
4
Job overview
The Cellular Pathology Department is seeking to appoint a Cancer Coordinator based at our Bedford site. The successful candidate will be responsible for managing samples through the diagnostic pathway up to the point of referral. This is a fixed-term contract for 5 months.
Our department processes approximately 44,000 surgical and diagnostic requests each year across two sites: Luton & Dunstable Hospital and Bedford Hospital. As part of the Bedfordshire Hospital Trusts, a large general hospital, we handle a wide range of tissue and diagnostic cytology specimens, including post-mortem examinations.
The Pathology department is currently undergoing a merger, with the main Cellular Pathology Laboratory to be based at Bedford Hospital. Staff will be required to cover some shifts at the Luton & Dunstable site.
Our Pathology services hold full UKAS accreditation and are compliant with HTA and MHRA regulations.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will contribute to the day-to-day management of the inter-trust cancer pathway, this includes:
- Monitoring, reporting and tracking cancer patients, ensuring that the patient’s journey is processed in a timely and efficient manner.
- Be the single point of contact for all cancer MDT pathways within Histology.
- Resolving delays in the pathway at the earliest opportunity and where this is not possible escalating issues to the Histology Operational Manager.
The post holder will also be expected to ensure the collection of data in a prospective manner, assuring accuracy at all times. Proficiency in the use of histology systems as well as analysing target breaches and report to the Histology Operations Manager.
Working for our organisation
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.
Our values
We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Patient Navigating
To navigate samples through the diagnostic pathway, from point of referral to Histology. Using hospital IT systems.
To proactively manage samples in accordance with the National Targets.
To escalate diagnostic samples for target patients, (if falling outside the appropriate timescale).
To proactively identify and resolve delays at all stages in the patient pathway. Where this is not possible, to follow the escalation procedure to line Management.
To ensure that samples which require transfer to a tertiary centre are transferred in accordance with agreed timescales.
To highlight any bottlenecks within the process, communicating regularly with line management, and where possible suggesting and implementing solutions.
To liaise, if necessary with other Trusts in order to achieve continuous monitoring of the sample pathway.
Be the single point of contact for Imaging and wider trust to ensure 2ww target is implemented for all imaging referrals.
Data Collection and analysis
To respond to new reporting requirements as required
Analyse patient journeys for all patients who have a sample taken for Histology.
Analysing target breaches and report to Histology Operational Manager.
As an ongoing process consider opportunities for improvements in the co-ordination of the pathway and in the efficient transfer of samples and information between sites and Trusts.
ADDITIONAL DUTIES
To provide cover for absent colleagues to ensure a smooth running service.
To undertake related training as required.
To develop a good working knowledge of anatomy, terminology, specimen types, medical coding and pathology relating to cancer. (To attend relevant courses as required)
To assist in Cancer Services related projects within the Trust and to raise awareness of the Cancer waiting Times targets.
To undertake additional information requests and associated duties as and when required.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- • Educated to diploma level of equivalent
- Grade C/5+ plus in GCSE Biology
- Grade c + A Level Biology
Desirable criteria
- • Educated to degree level
- BSc Biomedical Science
Experience
Essential criteria
- • Working within a busy environment
- • Working in an administrative role
- • Experience of working in a supervisory role
- • Previous NHS experience
Desirable criteria
- • Previous PA experience
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- • Comprehensive knowledge of hospital procedures and cancer pathways
Desirable criteria
- • Knowledge of hospital information systems such as PAS
Personal Skills
Essential criteria
- • Able to prioritise work and adapt to changing priorities
- • Excellent secretarial skills including word processing and audio and diary management
- • Ability to analyse data
- • Ability to understand medical terminology
Desirable criteria
- • Flexible and positive
- • Ability to work under pressure
- • Self-motivated
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Charlotte Emmony
- Job title
- Cellular Pathology Laboratory Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01234 355122
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