CONSULTANT CLINICAL
GENETICS
SOUTHERN GENERAL
HOSPITAL
INFORMATION PACK
REF: 34362D
CLOSING DATE: NOON 2ND JANUARY 2015
www.nhsggc.org.uk/medicaljobs
As you may be aware, the new South Glasgow University Hospital and new Royal Hospital
for Sick Children are due to open on the current Southern site early in 2015.
With this in mind, please note that positions based within the Victoria Infirmary,
Mansionhouse Unit, the Western Infirmary and the current Royal Hospital for Sick Children
at Yorkhill will change location and move to the new hospitals.
Gartnavel General Hospital and Glasgow Royal Infirmary will also have some services
affected by moves to the new Hospitals.
These changes mean your base may change after joining us and you will be informed as
soon as possible prior to any change of base.
SUMMARY INFORMATION RELATING TO THIS POSITION
POST: CONSULTANT CLINICAL GENETICS
BASE: SOUTHERN GENERAL HOSPITAL
The West of Scotland Clinical Genetics Service are seeking an additional Consultant
Clinical Geneticist. You will join an established consultant team of 8 who provide a regional
service to the West of Scotland. The post is a general genetics post - ideally, the
successful candidate will have an interest in learning disability and paediatric
neurogenetics, but other subspecialty interests would be considered. This is a permanent
post, but we would consider a short term contract if desired by the applicant. Based at the
Southern General hospital in Glasgow, in the new purpose built Laboratories Medicine
building, the clinical service is adjacent to the West of Scotland Laboratory Genetics
Service who have outstanding facilities for cytogenetics, prenatal diagnosis, molecular
genetics, molecular pathology and biochemical genetics. In addition, they provide
pregnancy and newborn screening for Scotland. The unit is closely associated with the
University of Glasgow Medical School and you will work in a progressive environment
where research and audit are actively encouraged. For more information call Dr
Rosemarie Davidson on 0141-354-9234.
Applicant must have full registration with the General Medical Council and a licence to
practise. Those trained in the UK should have evidence of higher specialist training leading
to CCT or eligibility for specialist registration (CESR) or be within 6 months of confirmed
entry from date of Interview.
INFORMATION PACK
FOR THE POST OF
CONSULTANT
IN
CLINICAL GENETICS
CONTENTS
THE POST




Job Description and Information about the Departments
Information about the Division
Terms and Conditions of Service
Further Information
 Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Background
This is a full time post, within the Department of Clinical Genetics, in the Diagnostics
Directorate of Greater Glasgow and Clyde HB. Dr Gordon Lowther, Consultant
Cytogeneticist is currently the Head of Service and Dr Rosemarie Davidson is the Lead
Clinician for Clinical Genetics. The appointee will join the clinical team providing Regional
Genetics Services to the five Health Boards of the West of Scotland, serving a population
of 2.9 million. The department is based in the Clinical Genetics Department, in the new
Laboratories Medicine Building at the Southern General Hospital, which houses the
regional cytogenetics, biochemical genetics (pregnancy and newborn screening),
molecular genetics and molecular pathology services.
Candidates must have a higher qualification, a broad clinical experience and have
received specialist training in clinical genetics.
University Links
The unit is closely associated with the University of Glasgow Medical School, and assists
with the teaching of clinical genetics to medical undergraduates and postgraduates.
2.
WORK OF THE DEPARTMENT
The main work of the department is in providing clinical genetic diagnosis and advice to
the 7000+ families referred every year. There has been a steady increase in referrals year
on year, without any initiatives to invite referrals of families for whom genetic advice may
be appropriate but who are not currently being seen. Part of the increase relates to the
technological advances in ability to investigate conditions with a possible genetic basis
such as learning difficulties, and it is hoped that the postholder may help to further develop
this aspect of the service.
There are currently 8 NHS consultants in addition to one honorary consultant, two part
time specialty doctors and three specialist registrar posts. There is a consultant genetics
nurse counsellor who specializes in community genetics, a genetic counsellor with a
special interest in Huntington’s disease, 4 cancer genetics counsellors and a Macmillan
cancer genetics counsellor, one community genetic counsellor, a genetic counsellor for
haematology, a genetic counsellor for cardiology and one of the cancer genetic
counsellors also works with muscular dystrophy families. Also based within the department
are four nursing staff, two family support nurses, for complex disorders and Muscular
Dystrophies, a research nurse and a clinic nurse. The physiotherapist for muscular
dystrophies is also housed within our department. This post is to replace an existing
consultant position.
Clinics are held within the clinical genetics department at the Southern General, and at a
number of peripheral sites including Crosshouse Hospital in Kilmarnock, Inverclyde Royal
Hospital in Greenock, Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley, Forth Valley Royal Hospital in
Larbert, Wishaw Health Centre, and Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary. The cancer
genetics counsellors also hold clinics in Dumfries, Inverclyde and Larbert, and in
Monklands Hospital, Airdrie and Ayr Hospital. A number of specialist joint clinics are at
other sites within Glasgow, including skeletal dysplasias, cardiac genetics, growth,
endocrine cancers, neurogenetics, craniofacial and facial clefting, and child development
clinics.
The Clinical Genetics department moved into the new building in July 2012. The clinic floor
encompasses a waiting area and patient reception, 7 clinic rooms, a treatment room, and
a patient access information room. The departmental nursing staff also have offices on this
floor. The floor above provides office space for the clinicians and genetic counsellors,
secretaries, case note storage and a meeting room and library. The referrals to the clinics
at the Southern and satellite sites, appointments, and other clinic related correspondence
is all administered by the secretarial team in the Department. There are 2.5 full time staff
who coordinate appointments and 8 clinical secretaries, 1 senior clinical secretary, and 1
receptionist.
The nearby laboratories have excellent facilities for cytogenetics, prenatal diagnosis,
molecular genetics, molecular pathology and biochemical genetics and provides clinical
diagnostic services for the West of Scotland, and pregnancy and newborn screening for
Scotland.
The academic arm of the department has laboratories for medical genetics research, with
interests in gene expression, human gene mapping and application of molecular genetics
in addition to clinically based research. It also has a teaching role for postgraduate
students with an MSc course in medical genetics.
The laboratories building has full laboratory facilities (haematology, biochemistry,
microbiology, pathology). The Southern Hospital site is currently under major construction
with a new paediatric hospital to replace The Royal Hospital for Sick Children ,Yorkhill in
2015, which will provide general and specialist paediatric services for Glasgow and the
West of Scotland, and national services for cardiac surgery, and ECMO. In addition many
adult services from the city are to be relocated in the new adult hospital, also due to open
in 2015. The maternity services have already been centralised in Glasgow at the Glasgow
Royal and Southern General site, which has a fully equipped Neonatal unit, and
departments of Obstetric ultrasonography and Fetal Medicine.
3.
THE JOB ITSELF
(a)
Title: Consultant in Clinical Genetics
(b)
Relationships:
(i)
Name of Health Board(s)/Trust:
Greater Glasgow & Clyde NHS Board, Diagnostics Directorate, Laboratories
Division.
(ii)
Names of Consultant members of the Department:
Dr Gordon Lowther - Head of Service, Head of Cytogenetics
Dr Rosemarie Davidson - Lead clinician, consultant in Clinical Genetics
Dr Ed Tobias - Senior Lecturer and Honorary Consultant
Dr Margo Whiteford - consultant in Clinical Genetics
Dr. Victoria Murday - consultant in Clinical Genetics (part time)
Dr Ruth McGowan – consultant in Clinical Genetics (part time)
Dr. Ester Kinning - consultant in Clinical Genetics
Dr. Carol Gardner - consultant in Clinical Genetics
Dr Shelagh Joss - consultant in Clinical Genetics
Dr.Cheryl Longman - consultant in Neuromuscular Genetics (working
between Glasgow and Edinburgh, with input to the rest of Scotland).
(c)
Duties of the Post:
(i)
Clinical- details of all clinical commitments
The consultant will be based at clinical genetics at the Southern General, and the
administrative arrangements for the post will be the responsibility of Greater
Glasgow and Clyde. The appointee will work in close collaboration with the Head of
Service, Lead Clinician and the other consultant geneticists to further develop the
clinical genetics services for the region. He / she will have continuing responsibility
for care of patients in his / her charge, and will undertake administrative duties
associated with the care of those patients. There will be 2-3 outpatient sessions per
week, at SGH or satellite clinics / specialist clinics as the need arises. Part of the
clinical commitment involves giving advice on reproduction, contraception, prenatal
diagnosis and selective termination of pregnancy. Other duties include ward visits to
hospitals within the region for patient assessment and counselling, communication
(and interpretation) of prenatal diagnostic and laboratory test results to clinical
colleagues and patients, audit of the clinical service, and administrative duties
associated with the running of the clinical service including pre-clinic workup, and
maintenance of clinical databases.
(ii)
Other duties: Audit, teaching, research, CPD etc
The appointee will have one session of SPA time which may include time for audit,
CPD, teaching, research etc by negotiation with colleagues and according to their
specific interests. Teaching duties may include assistance with the teaching of
medical genetics to medical undergraduates (lecturing and in the clinic), to
postgraduates and to members of the nursing and paramedical professions. It may
be possible to negotiate one further session if a specific need for this can be
demonstrated.
(iii)
Administration
As above.
(d)
Timetable
The post is full time (10 PA), and an indication of duties is provided in the timetable
but precise timings of commitments could be negotiated to suit individual
circumstances.
A split of 9:1 between direct clinical care PAs and supporting professional activities
is now the advertised standard for all new consultant job plans in Scotland. The
one SPA minimum will reflect activity such as appraisal, personal audit and
professional development occurring outside study leave time. Once the candidate
has been appointed more SPA time may be agreed for activities such as
undergraduate and postgraduate medical training which takes place outside direct
clinical care, as well as research and/or management. These activities must be
specifically and clearly identified and be agreed with the candidate and desired by
the board.
Day
Hours
MON
MON
TUES
TUES
WED
WED
THURS
THURS
FRID
FRID
SAT
SAT
SUN
SUN
AM
PM
AM
PM
AM
PM
AM
PM
AM
PM
AM
PM
AM
PM
Hospital or Clinic and Description of Duties e.g. ward
Rounds, Theatres and Out-patients etc.
Satellite clinic OR Genetics clinic SGH
Lab liaison work / ward visits OR admin / clinic prep
Joint specialist clinic OR Genetics clinic SGH
Lab liaison work / ward visits OR admin / clinic prep
Lab liaison work / ward visits OR admin / clinic prep
Clinical audit meeting / journal club; genetics MDT meeting
General genetic clinic SGH OR Community Genetics clinics
Lab liaison work / ward visits OR admin / clinic prep
SPA activities / CPD
Lab liaison work / ward visits OR admin / clinic prep
(e)
Domiciliary consultations as may be required.
(f)
The Consultant has a continuing responsibility for the care of patients in his/her
charge, and for the proper functioning of his/her Department.
(g)
The Consultant will undertake the administrative duties associated with the care of
his/her patients and the running of his/her clinical department.
(h)
In addition to the duties mentioned above, duties at other hospitals administered by
the Health Board may be necessary.
5.
DATE WHEN POST IS VACANT:
6.
DETAILS OF ARRANGEMENTS FOR APPLICANTS TO VISIT HOSPITAL
Now
In the first instance please contact:
Dr Rosemarie Davidson,
Consultant in Clinical Genetics,
Clinical Genetics,
Laboratory Medicine,
1345 Govan Road
Glasgow G51 4TF
Tel: 0141 354 9200.
Short-listed candidates are invited automatically by the Director of Human
Resources to visit the hospitals concerned. If candidates on their own initiative
have visited the hospital prior to short-listing, they will only be allowed expenses for
that prior visit if they are subsequently short-listed. When it is thought that there will
be difficulty in filling the post, the Director of Human Resources has the authority to
approve a second visit.
7.
POSITION OF CONSULTANTS UNABLE FOR PERSONAL REASONS TO
WORK FULL-TIME
Any consultant who is unable for personal reasons to work full-time will be eligible
to be considered for the post; if such a person is appointed, modification of the job
content will be discussed on a personal basis in consultation with consultant
colleagues.
NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde - Acute Services Division
EMPLOYEE SPECIFICATION
JOB TITLE:
GRADE:
DEPARTMENT/DIRECTORATE:
DIVISION:
LOCATION:
Consultant Clinical Geneticist
Consultant
Clinical Genetics, Diagnostics
Acute
Southern General Hospital
CRITERIA
ESSENTIAL
Full registration with the General Medical Council
YES
and a licence to practise.
MRCP/MRCPH or equivalent
YES
Those trained in the UK should have evidence of YES
higher specialist training leading to CCT or eligibility
for specialist registration (CESR) or be within 6
months of confirmed entry from date of Interview.
Special interest or willingness to develop special
interest in relevant areas
Good general medical training
YES
Experience of multidisciplinary team working
DESIRABLE
YES
YES
Experience of audit and research
YES
Excellent organisational and communication skills YES
Effective in the teaching and training of junior
colleagues
Knowledge of general management issues
YES
YES
Proven team player
YES
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE
The conditions of service are those laid down and amended from time to time by the Hospital
and Medical & Dental Whitley Council.
TYPE OF CONTRACT
Permanent
GRADE AND SALARY
Consultant
£ 76,001 - £ 102,465 per annum (pro rata)
New Entrants to the NHS will normally commence on the minimum point of the
salary scale, (dependent on qualifications and experience). Salary is paid
monthly by Bank Credit Transfer.
HOURS OF DUTY
Full Time 40.00
SUPERANNUATION
New entrants to NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde who are aged sixteen but
under seventy five will be enrolled automatically into membership of the NHS
Pension Scheme. Should you choose to "opt out" arrangements can be made
to do this via: www.sppa.gov.uk
REMOVAL EXPENSES
Assistance with removal and associated expenses may be given and would be
discussed and agreed prior to appointment.
EXPENSES OF
CANDIDATES FOR
APPOINTMENT
Candidates who are requested to attend an interview will be given assistance
with appropriate travelling expenses. Re-imbursement shall not normally be
made to employees who withdraw their application or refuse an offer of
appointment.
TOBACCO POLICY
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde operate a No Smoking Policy in all premises
and grounds.
DISCLOSURE SCOTLAND
CONFIRMATION OF
ELIGIBILITY TO WORK IN
THE UK
This post is considered to be in the category of “Regulated Work” and
therefore requires a Disclosure Scotland Protection of Vulnerable Groups
Scheme (PVG) Membership.
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) has a legal obligation to
ensure that it’s employees, both EEA and non EEA nationals, are legally
entitled to work in the United Kingdom. Before any person can commence
employment within NHS GGC they will need to provide documentation to
prove that they are eligible to work in the UK. Non EEA nationals will be
required to show evidence that either Entry Clearance or Leave to Remain in
the UK has been granted for the work which they are applying to do. Where
an individual is subject to immigration control under no circumstances will they
be allowed to commence until the right to work in the UK has been verified.
ALL applicants regardless of nationality must complete and return the
Confirmation of Eligibility to Work in the UK Statement with their completed
application form. You will be required provide appropriate documentation prior
to any appointment being made.
REHABILITATION OF
OFFENDERS ACT 1974
The rehabilitation of Offenders act 1974 allows people who have been
convicted of certain criminal offences to regard their convictions as “spent”
after the lapse of a period of years. However, due to the nature of work for
which you are applying this post is exempt from the provisions of Section 4 of
the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 by virtue of the Rehabilitation of
Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions Orders 1975 and 1986). Therefore, applicants
are required to disclose information about convictions which for other purposes
are “spent” under the provision of the act in the event of employment, failure to
disclose such convictions could result in dismissal or disciplinary action by
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. Any information given will be completely
confidential.
DISABLED APPLICANTS
A disability or health problems does not preclude full consideration for the job
and applications from people with disabilities are welcome. All information will
be treated as confidential. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde guarantees to
interview all applicants with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the
post. You will note on our application form that we ask for relevant information
with regard to your disability. This is simply to ensure that we can assist you,
if you are called for interview, to have every opportunity to present your
application in full. We may call you to discuss your needs in more detail if you
are selected for interview.
GENERAL
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde operates flexible staffing arrangements
whereby all appointments are to a grade within a department. The duties of an
officer may be varied from an initial set of duties to any other set, which are
commensurate with the grade of the officer. The enhanced experience
resulting from this is considered to be in the best interest of both NHS Greater
Glasgow and Clyde and the individual.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
The postholder will undertake their duties in strict accordance with NHS
Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s Equal Opportunities Policy.
NOTICE
The employment is subject to three months’ notice on either side, subject to
appeal against dismissal.
MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE
In terms of NHS Circular 1989 (PCS) 32 dealing with Medical Negligence the
Health Board does not require you to subscribe to a Medical Defence
Organisation.
Health Board indemnity will cover only Health Board
responsibilities. It may, however, be in your interest to subscribe to a defence
organisation in order to ensure you are covered for any work, which does not
fall within the scope of the indemnity scheme.
FURTHER INFORMATION
For further information on NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, please visit our website
on www.show.scot.nhs.uk
View all our vacancies at: www.nhsggc.org.uk/medicaljobs
Register for Job Alerts at: www.medicaljobs.scot.nhs.uk
Applicants wishing further information about the post are invited to contact For more
information call Dr. Rosemary Davidson on 0141 354 9234 with whom visiting
arrangements can also be made.
HOW TO APPLY
To apply for these posts please include your CV and names and addresses of 3
Referees, along with the following documents; (click on the hyperlinks to open)
Medical and Dental Application and Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form
Declaration Form Regarding Fitness to Practice
Immigration Questionnaire
Alternatively please visit www.nhsggc.org.uk/medicaljobs and click on the “How to
Apply” tab to access application for and CV submission information.
RETURN OF APPLICATIONS
Please return your application by email to nhsggcrecruitment@nhs.net or to the
recruitment address below;
Medical and Dental Recruitment Team
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
Recruitment Services, 1st Floor
Modular Building, Gartnavel Royal Hospital
1055 Great Western Road
GLASGOW
G12 0XH
CLOSING DATE
The closing Date will be noon 2nd January 2015
INTERVIEW DATE
The interview date will be 3rd February 2015