4811- Speciality Doctor in Microbiology(UK Visa Sponsorship)

Job Description

About the Role

This is an opportunity to join a well-established Infection and Microbiology team within Somerset NHS Foundation Trust. The service is collaborative and multidisciplinary, bringing together infection consultants, doctors in training, laboratory scientists, antimicrobial stewardship teams, and infection prevention specialists.

The post is primarily based at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton, with additional responsibilities supporting Yeovil District Hospital and providing advisory input to community healthcare services and general practitioners across Somerset.

The role is structured around weekday working (Monday to Friday), with no current on-call commitments, making it suitable for candidates seeking a stable and focused clinical environment.

Your Day-to-Day Work

As a Specialty Doctor in Microbiology, your role will combine clinical advisory work, laboratory collaboration, and teaching responsibilities.

You will:

• Provide clinical microbiology advice to hospital teams, GPs, and community services
  Support diagnosis and management of infectious diseases through laboratory interpretation
  Contribute to infection prevention and antimicrobial stewardship initiatives
  Participate in teaching and training of medical and non-medical staff
  Take part in audit and quality improvement activities
  Work in line with Trust policies, ensuring safe and effective patient care

The microbiology service handles a wide range of investigations including bacteriology, virology, mycology, parasitology, and serology. Specialist testing is supported through collaboration with the UK Health Security Agency laboratory in Bristol.

Working Environment & Systems

The department uses a modern, integrated pathology system across the region, enabling efficient communication and reporting.

Key systems include:

• A county-wide Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS)
  Electronic requesting and reporting platforms for hospitals and GP services
  Integration with national surveillance systems for infectious diseases

This infrastructure supports accurate diagnostics and effective infection monitoring across the healthcare network.

About the Organisation

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust offers a supportive and inclusive workplace with a strong emphasis on professional development and staff wellbeing.

Benefits include:

• Flexible working arrangements
  NHS pension scheme
  Generous annual leave entitlement
  Access to Blue Light Card discounts
  Opportunities for career progression and continued learning

Somerset provides a high quality of life, with a mix of countryside, coastline, and easy access to major cities such as Bristol, Bath, and Exeter.

What You’ll Need

Essential Requirements:

• Full registration with the General Medical Council (GMC), or eligibility within 6 months
  Evidence of equivalent experience to FRCPath level
  Ongoing commitment to continuing medical education
  Strong clinical knowledge in microbiology and infectious diseases
  Experience in clinical liaison with hospital teams

Desirable Skills & Experience:

• FRCPath qualification
  Experience in antimicrobial guideline development
  Background in infection prevention and control
  Teaching and training experience (undergraduate or postgraduate)
  Understanding of NHS systems and clinical governance

Key Competencies

You should be able to:

• Analyse clinical problems using a structured and scientific approach
  Communicate clearly with multidisciplinary teams
  Prioritise workload effectively in a busy environment
  Adapt to evolving clinical and organisational needs
  Support and mentor junior staff

Additional Information

This role requires:

• Enhanced DBS clearance
  Compliance with UK immigration and visa requirements (Skilled Worker visa available if needed)
  Criminal record checks for overseas applicants where applicable

Useful UK Government Resources

For further guidance on requirements and processes related to this role, see the following official resources:

• General Medical Council (registration & licensing)
  Skilled Worker visa guidance
  DBS (criminal record checks)
  UK Health Security Agency (infectious disease guidance)
  Working in the UK healthcare sector