CONSULTANT IN CELLULAR
PATHOLOGY
ACUTE SERVICES DIVISION
NHS FIFE
INFORMATION PACK
CLOSING DATE:
www.medicaljobs.scot.nhs.uk
www.nhsfife.org
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Information for Candidates
CONTENTS
Page(s)
Post Information
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Cellular Pathology Services, Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy
4
Post Description
5-6
Duties & Responsibilities
6-8
Staffing
8-9
Job Planning
9-11
Person specification
12-14
Terms and Conditions of Service
15-16
Fife Region
How to Apply
16
16-17
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SUMMARY INFORMATION
POST:
Consultant
BASE:
Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy
The department provides a comprehensive pathology service to Fife (population 360,000). The
department has undergone comprehensive refurbishment and expansion in order to relocate
Cytology and Histopathology onto a single site. Concomitantly a new mortuary and body store has
been constructed to support the relocation of all acute activity at the Victoria site. The Victoria
hospital has undergone considerable expansion by a PFI project whose capital requirement is in
excess of £170 m with the new hospital having opened in January 2012. The department has a
large and varied workload with an annual throughput of 21,000 surgical specimens, 25,000 gynae
cytology, 2,000 diagnostic cytology specimens and 300 necropsies.
This is a replacement post. The successful candidate will join a team of 7 other NHS Consultants.
The duties of the post will be predominantly in histopathology with a small component of nongynae cytology. You should hold the FRCPath or equivalent qualification. Applicants must be on
the specialist register or be within 6 months of the anticipated award of a certificate of completion
of training (CCT) or certificate of eligibility of specialist registration (CP) at the time of interview for
the post.
Fife, only 15 miles from Edinburgh, has excellent road, rail and air transport links. Affordable
housing, quality education and a wide variety of leisure opportunities are available throughout the
region.
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Cellular Pathology Services
The Histopathology and Cytopathology services are provided from the Department of Cellular
Pathology on the first floor of the North laboratory building, Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy. The
department provides a broad range of services including histopathology: routine, special stains,
immunohistochemical staining, frozen sectioning and post mortem histology and cytopathology:
cervical and diagnostic.
Service Level Agreements exist with NHS Lothian and NHS Tayside to provide specialist services
such as HER2 immunostaining and FISH and renal services, respectively.
NHS Fife has awarded Roche the contract to provide a managed service contract for blood sciences
and the Immunohistochemistry section within Cellular Pathology is also a part of this contract.
Cervical Cytology is also within a national managed service contract provided by Hologic.
Each consultant pathologist has their own office, microscope and digital camera. Digital dictation and
transcription (Winscribe) system is in place and the Dragon speech recognition software is being
introduced. The Laboratory Information System is Labcentre supported by Clinisys.
The department has full CPA accreditation and is now in a transition period, moving across to ISO
15189 standards which will involve a UKAS assessment. Consultant pathologists and relevant
technical staff take part in interpretive and technical external quality assessment schemes for both
histopathology and cytopathology.
Workload for the year 2014/2015 was 21,821 requests for Histopathology, 24,722 cervical cytology
requests, 1,867 diagnostic cytology cases and 335 post mortems (hospital and fiscal).
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JOB DESCRIPTION
Outline
Applications are invited from registered medical practitioners for the full-time post of Consultant
Pathologist. This is a replacement post and the post holder will join 7 other consultant pathologists
within Laboratory Medicine, NHS Fife. The appointee will be expected to divide programmed
activity sessions between histopathology and non gynae cytopathology. It is anticipated that the
majority of sessions will be in histopathology with a roster for non gynae cytopathology.
Any candidate who is unable 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 with
the clinical director in consultation with consultant colleagues.
The appointment is for 10 PA. It is subject to the Terms and Conditions for medical consultant
grade staff under the new consultant contract (Scotland).
General provisions
You will be expected to work with local managers and professional colleagues in the efficient
running of services and will share with consultant colleagues in the medical contribution to
management. Subject to the provisions of the terms and conditions of service you are expected to
observe the Division’s agreed policies and procedures drawn up in consultation with the profession
on clinical matters, and to follow the standing orders and financial instructions of the Board. In
particular, where you formally manage employees for the board, you will be expected to follow the
local and national employment and personnel policies and procedures. You will be expected to
make sure there are adequate arrangements for hospital staff involved in the care of patients to be
able to contact you when necessary.
You are required to comply with National, NHS Fife and local Health and Safety policies.
Introduction
1. Hospitals and clinics where services are to be provided from
The advertised post is that of a full time Consultant Pathologist. Duties will be in accordance with
the job plan. The post is based in the Cellular Pathology Department within the North Laboratory
which is situated at the Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy.
2. Organisation of Laboratory Services
Laboratory medicine is organized and managed as part of the Clinical Support and Access
Directorate within the NHS Fife Acute Services Division which currently provides laboratory
services to all hospitals and clinics within the Fife region.
The main laboratory building (North Laboratory) is situated in Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy. It was
opened in 1967 and covers an area of approximately 2300 square metres. The North laboratory
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provides comprehensive services in Microbiology (lower floor) and Cellular Pathology (upper floor).
The department underwent extensive refurbishment in 2011/12, which resulted in the transfer of
cytopathology from Forth Park to the North laboratory. The refurbishment has been extensive with a
new cytology lab, histopathology trimming room, processing room, main lab and
Immunohistochemistry lab. A new secretarial room, cytology screening room and multidisciplinary
room have also been established.
Blood Sciences have been relocated to a state of the art new modular building elsewhere on the site
(South Laboratory).
A new mortuary facility was completed within the Victoria Site in April 2015.
The Clinical lead for the laboratory service (Consultant Haematologist) is Dr S Rogers. There is
also a general laboratory manager who covers both North and South labs; Mrs D. Galloway.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Laboratory
In conjunction with other pathologist colleagues, assist with:




Day-to-day reporting of surgical specimens together with participation in a rota for the
reporting of non gynae cytology. The candidate will be expected to participate in the rota for
the trimming of gross specimens.
Responsibility for quality assurance within the department, including taking part in all
relevant national external quality assurance programmes.
Responsibility for achieving and maintaining full accreditation of the laboratory with UKAS.
Business planning, including the assessment and introduction of new methods, and forward
planning for staff and equipment requirements.
Clinical

The post holder will be encouraged to develop one or more areas of
special diagnostic interest taking responsibility for the relevant multidisciplinary meetings
in collaboration with the appropriate clinicians.
In conjunction with other consultant colleagues, assist with:


Liaison with clinicians, hospital staff and GPs concerning the diagnosis and management of
patients.
Implementing an on-going medical audit programme within the department and
participating in multidisciplinary clinical audit.
Administrative
In conjunction with other pathologist colleagues, assist with:


Management contribution within NHS Fife, via the division structure.
Acting as custodian of data under the Data Protection Act.
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Service and administrative duties on various meetings / committees, which may include the
following:
Departmental meetings
Consultant Medical Staff meetings
MDT meetings
MDT Meetings
In conjunction with other consultant pathologist colleagues, assist with:
The department provides for the various specialities in the acute operating division,
Clinico-Pathological Meetings which contribute to patients care, postgraduate and
undergraduate education. The meetings include the following:Tuesday
9.00/5.00 pm
Tuesday
10.00/11.00am Lung Cancer Combined Clinico-Pathological Meeting, every
Tuesday of each month, Conference Hall, Victoria Hospital,
Kirkcaldy.
Tuesday
1.00/2.00pm
Breast Cancer Combined Clinico-Pathological Meeting,
every week, Postgraduate Education Centre, Queen Margaret
Hospital, Dunfermline
Tuesday
3.00/4.00pm
Gynaecological Combined Clinico-Pathological Meeting,
first Tuesday of every month with the Gynaecological team in
the Conference Room FPH
Tuesday
2.15/3.15pm
NESPAN Lymphoma Meeting, first Tuesday of every month in
Ninewells Hospital, Dundee.
Orthopaedic Combined Clinico-Pathological Meeting, first
Tuesday of every second month with the Orthopaedic team in
the Conference Hall, Victoria Hospital.
Wednesday 1.00/2.00pm Oral Surgery Combined Clinico-Pathological Meeting, last
Wednesday of every month, Room T30, Pathology Department,
North Laboratory. Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy.
Wednesday 1.00/2.00pm Urology Combined Clinico-Pathological Meeting, weekly
with the Surgical Urology team in the Postgraduate Education
Centre, Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline.
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Thursday 8.30/10.30am
Regional Gynaecological /Oncology Meeting, weekly,
Western General Hospital, Edinburgh.
Thursday 9.00/10.00am
Dermatology Combined Clinico-Pathological Meeting, last
Thursday of every month with Dermatologists, Room 30,
Cellular Pathology Department, North Laboratory.
Thursday 2.00/3.00pm
Renal Clinico-Pathological Meeting, fortnightly,
Postgraduate Education Centre, Queen Margaret Hospital,
Dunfermline
Friday
8.00/9.00 am
Gastro-intestinal Clinico-Pathological Meeting, weekly,
MDTM room Cellular Pathology Department North Laboratory.
Friday
8.00/9.00am
Upper gastro-intestinal Clinico-Pathological Meeting,
Weekly, Radiology Suite, New Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh
Friday
9.00/10.00 am
Lymphoma Clinico-Pathological Meeting, every second
Friday of every month with Haematologists/Oncologists in
theNorth Laboratory, Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy.
Staffing
The current department medical, scientific, technical and secretarial staff in Cellular Pathology is
as follows:
Medical:
Clinical Lead in Cervical Cytology and
Consultant Pathologist (Head of Department)
Consultant Pathologist
Consultant Pathologist
Consultant Pathologist
Consultant Pathologist
Consultant Pathologist
Consultant Pathologist
Consultant Pathologist
Dr F Murdoch
Dr I Nawroz
Dr M Rahilly
Dr B Adamson
Dr S Gupta
Dr D Reeves
Dr A Patel
Vacant post
0.7 wte
1 wte
1 wte
1 wte
1 wte
0.63wte
0.85wte
1 wte
Biomedical Scientists:
Clinical Service Manager AfC B8b
1.0 wte
Senior Specialist Biomedical Scientist AfC B7
4.0 wte
Specialist Biomedical Scientist AfC B6
3.0 wte
Trainee Specialist Biomedical Scientist B5
3.0 wte
Anatomical Pathological Technicians B5
1.0 wte
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Anatomical Pathological Technicians B4
Associate Practitioner AfC B4
1.53 wte
3.8 wte
Clinical Support Worker AfC B3
3.89 wte
Medical Secretaries AfC B4
4.34 wte
Personal Secretaries AfC B3
1.33wte
Clerical assistant AfC B2
0.4wte
The above consultants have subspeciality responsibility for the following area:Dr F Murdoch - Cytology and respiratory pathology
Dr I M Nawroz - Breast, gynae, orthopaedic,oral/head and neck pathology.
Dr M Rahilly - Lymphoma and urology.
Dr B Adamson - Gastrointestinal, dermatopathology and gynae cytology
Dr A Patel - Breast, gynae and dermatopathology
Dr D Reeves - Gastrointestinal, urology, dermatopathology and cytology
Dr S Gupta – Diagnostic Cytology, breast and gynaecological pathology
JOB PLANNING
The successful candidate’s job plan will be negotiated between the Consultant and the Clinical
Lead for Laboratory Medicine annually.
Review of Job Plan
The Job Plan is still to be finalised and, as agreed, will be subject to review by you with your
colleagues in Cellular Pathology and the Clinical Lead for Laboratory Medicine. If it is not possible
to agree a job plan with the Clinical Lead, either initially or at review, the matter will be subject to
further review by the Medical Director. If it cannot be resolved by the Medical Director you may
appeal to the Board whose decision will be final.
In the event of any significant changes in the circumstances affecting this job plan, it is agreed that
it will be renegotiated jointly in collaboration with consultant colleagues in Cellular Pathology.
Cover for Consultant Colleagues
Annual/Study Leave - You will be required to provide emergency cover for consultant colleagues
during their absence on annual or study leave. Provision for achieving this will be included in the
roster arrangements. Locum cover is not routinely provided.
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Teaching and Training
There are regular post-graduate meetings at Victoria Hospital
The post entails that you provide professional supervision and management of junior staff within
the cellular pathology department. This is on an ad-hoc basis currently with cellular pathology
trainees spending upto 3 months rotational training in a District General Hospital.
The department is involved in extended dissection training of specialist biomedical scientist staff.
Consultant pathologists take part in a roster to sign off competencies of these staff.
You are expected to be involved in teaching of medical students, junior medical staff, post
graduates and others, both locally and regionally.
Continuing Medical Education
The Board supports and will require the successful candidate to participate in continuing medical
education (CME). You are entitled to 30 days paid study leave within any 3-year period, with
expenses for the purposes of CME.
Clinical Research
Research is strongly encouraged and there is a development of links with St. Andrews University
whenever possible; provided it does not interfere with your clinical responsibilities.
Interest in research is welcomed and would be supported by Consultant colleagues. The
Department has been involved in recent multi-centre trials.
Clinical Governance
NHS Fife’s Acute Services Division is committed to maintaining a high quality of services to
patients, with particular regard to patient safety, by continual development of practice in the light of
research evidence and by audit based against relevant standards.
Clinical Audit
You will be expected to participate in the audit of the work of the department and audit with other
clinical specialties and to have a programme for structured user feedback. You will be provided
with appropriate computer hardware and software along with maintenance of equipment and
secretarial support for such an audit.
Managerial/Administrative Responsibilities
You are encouraged to attend all meetings of the department. You may also be required to attend
the committees at the behest of NHS Fife or Royal Colleges or National Committees. NHS Fife
accepts that your commitment to undertake such duties may involve cancellation or alteration of
your fixed commitments, as well as expenses.
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CONSULTANT IN CELLULAR PATHOLOGY
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Requirements
Essential

Qualifications


GMC registered medical
practitioner
FRCPath or equivalent
Be on, or be eligible for
inclusion on, the GMC
Specialist Registrar
Desirable

Additional post-graduate
qualifications, e.g. MD or
PhD

Wide experience in Cellular
Pathology

Evidence of contribution to
formal and informal teaching
and training of junior doctors
and medical students.

Participation in audit projects

Previous experience of
teaching and designing
and effecting audit
programmes

Evidence of publications and
presentations

Previous experience in
research

Evidence of contribution to
patient focused care, learning
and continuous professional
development, effective and
efficient use of resources

Desire to develop
services for patients

Able to work in a team with
colleagues in own and other
disciplines
Able to organise time
efficiently and effectively

Able to motivate
colleagues
Previous managerial
training and experience
Clinical Skills and
Experience
Teaching
Audit
Research and
Publication
Management
General Attributes


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PROVISIONAL JOB PLAN
Name:
Speciality:
Cellular Pathology
Contract:
Full time
______________________________________________________________
Part A: Programmed Activities
Weekly Timetable of Programmed Activities
Day/Time
Hospital/Other
Location
Type of Work
PA’s
Monday
am
VHK *
Histopathology
1 DCC
Monday
pm
VHK*
Histopathology
1 DCC
Tuesday
am
VHK*
Histopathology
1 DCC
Tuesday
pm
VHK*
Histopathology
1 DCC
Wednesday
am
VHK*
Diagnostic Cytopathology
1 DCC
Wednesday
pm
VHK*
1DCC
Diagnostic Cytopathology
Thursday
am
VHK*
Histopathology
1 DCC
Thursday
pm
VHK*
Histopathology
1 DCC
Friday
am
VHK*
Histopathology
Friday
pm
VHK *
Teaching/audit/research
1 DCC
1 SPA
9.0 DCC
TOTAL
1.0 SPA
Histopathology and Diagnostic Cytopathology include clinical administration (DCC).
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Part B: Breakdown of Programmed Activities
Type of Duty
Average Number of Hours
_____________________________________________________________
Histopathology and Diagnostic Cytopathology
36
Audit/Teaching/CPD, etc. (SPA)
4
TOTAL
40 (10 PAs)
DCC
36
SPA*
4
(DCC= Direct Clinical Care, SPA= Supporting Professional Activity, as described in new consultant
contract)
See Weekly Timetable of Programmed Activities on previous page.
This post has been identified as requiring 1 SPA*. The duties carried out during this time are as
follows:
Qualifications specified for the Post by NHS Fife
(a)
MBChB or equivalent
(b)
FRCPath or equivalent training and experience
(c)
CCT (GMC)/Specialist Register (or within six months from the date of the interview)
(c)
Current full GMC Registration.
This is not an exposure-prone post.
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TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE
The post is covered by the Hospital Medical and Dental Staff and Doctors in Public Health and The
Community Health Service (Scotland), Consultant Grade, Terms and Conditions of Service.
TYPE OF CONTRACT
Permanent
GRADE AND SALARY
Consultant: £76,761 - £103,490 per annum (pro rata for part time
staff).
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 hours per week /pro rata to 40 hours for part time staff
SUPERANNUATION
New entrants to NHS Fife 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.
SMOKING POLICY
NHS Fife operates a No Smoking Policy in all premises and grounds.
DISCLOSURE
SCOTLAND
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.
CONFIRMATION OF
ELIGIBILITY TO WORK
IN THE UK
NHS Fife 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
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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 Fife. 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 Fife
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.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
The post holder will undertake their duties in strict accordance with
NHS Fife’s Equality Diversity and Human Rights 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 the post holder’s 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.
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Additional Information for Candidates
FIFE REGION
The Region of Fife is bounded in the north by the Firth of Tay, in the east by the North Sea and in
the south by the Firth of Forth. The Region spans an area of 130,700 hectares and has a
population of 360,000. The population served by NHS Fife is currently around 280,000. There is a
highly developed agricultural area in east and north-east Fife, and in the west there is an extensive
cross-section of highly skilled and scientifically orientated industry. The largest towns are
Dunfermline, Kirkcaldy and Glenrothes. The cathedral city of St Andrews is the seat of Scotland’s
oldest and the UK’s second oldest university.
Fife is an area of considerable scenic and historical interest. The usual range of sporting facilities
are available locally including golf, swimming, fishing, curling, soccer, rugby, cricket, sailing, motor
sport and gliding. The Cairngorm Mountains are within easy reach providing access to skiing,
mountaineering, orienteering, stalking and salmon fishing. Wide ranges of cultural activities are
available in Fife, and in the cultural centres of Edinburgh and Glasgow. The main urban and
leisure centres of central Scotland are within easy reach and there are excellent air, rail and
motorway links to the rest of the UK. Edinburgh & Glasgow Airports are within easy reach by road.
HEALTH CARE IN FIFE
Health care in Fife is provided by an Acute Services Division and three Community Health
Partnerships:
Acute Services Division
–
Acute services for Fife
Three Community Health Partnerships
–
Community, Learning Disability and Mental
Health Services for Fife
Corporate Services are based at the Board’s Headquarters, Hayfield House, adjacent to Victoria
Hospital, Kirkcaldy.
FIFE COUNCIL
www.fifedirect.org.uk
HOW TO APPLY
Applications in the form of Curriculum Vitae, giving details of qualifications and previous
experience, together with the names and addresses of three referees should be sent to:
Human Resources Directorate
Hayfield House
Victoria Hospital
Hayfield Road
Kirkcaldy
Fife KY2 5AH
Prospective applicants wishing to visit the Department or who would like further information should
contact: Dr Fiona Murdoch (full details given next page).
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Dr Fiona Murdoch
Consultant Pathologist/ Head of department
Victoria Hospital
Hayfield Road
Kirkcaldy
Fife KY2 5AH
Tel: (01592) 643355 ext 28549
E-mail: Fiona.murdoch2@nhs.net
or
Dr Stephen Rogers
Consultant Haematologist / Laboratory Director
South Laboratory
Victoria Hospital
Hayfield Road
Kirkcaldy
Fife KY2 5AH
Tel: (01592) 643355 ext 28516
E-mail: s.rogers3@nhs.net
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