The Laboratory Medicine (LabMed) Directorate is a fully accredited service and comprises the clinical laboratory disciplines of:

• Biochemistry (including Point of Care Testing),
• Cancer Molecular Diagnostics
• Haematology (incorporating Coagulation and Cryobiology),
• Histopathology (incorporating Cytopathology)
• Immunology
• The Irish Mycobacteria Reference Laboratory (IMRL)
• Microbiology (incorporating Virology and Infection Prevention and Control)
• The National MRSA Reference Laboratory (NMRSARL)
• The interim Gonococcal reference Laboratory
• Phlebotomy

Transfusion Medicine (incorporating Haemovigilance).The LabMed Directorate is responsible for the overall management and development of the Clinical Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Services in support of St. James’s Hospital and General Practitioners, and also provides a referral service for hospitals, laboratories and other agencies throughout the country. The Laboratory Medicine Directorate manages three designated national reference laboratories and is also a national referral laboratory for many specialties in laboratory medicine. The Directorate also manages the Infection Prevention and Control Service, Phlebotomy Service, Point-of-Care service and mortuary services. The laboratory processed over 10 million tests in 2019. 

The Microbiology Department in St. James’s Hospital provides a clinical, laboratory diagnostic, educational, research and infection prevention and control service to St. James’s Hospital and local General Practitioners. The Department also acts as a reference centre for a large number of external hospitals. The diagnostic laboratory processed in 611,381 tests in 2019 (with approximately 61% of samples from St James’s Hospital and 34% from GPs). The laboratory is the largest in Ireland and offers laboratory diagnosis in bacteriology, serology, virology, mycology, molecular diagnostics and mycobacteriology.

The microbiology consultants provide; a clinical consult and advice service for the hospital and local GPs; an infection prevention and control service for the hospital and the department jointly leads the Antimicrobial Stewardship Programme for the hospital along with the Department of Infectious Diseases. The Department manages the National MRSA Reference Laboratory, the Irish National Mycobacteriology Laboratory and the interim Gonoccocal reference Laboratory that are also on the SJH site.

The department is a recognised training centre for Microbiology specialist registrars and is accredited for 4 SpR training posts. The last inspection reported that’ this is an excellent training facility with very positive feedback and experiences reported by the trainees interviewed’ (RCPI Training Site Inspection Report relating to the Clinical Microbiology 17th of September 2019. The Department is also involved in teaching of other staff within the hospital and students attending TCD.

 Laboratory aspects of the current consultant staff are considerable and involve screening test request to ensure appropriate use of resources, authorising test results, test selection, managing the laboratory (with the Chief Medical Scientist) and involvement in accreditation and maintenance of a quality management system.

Clinical services involve regular rounds to critical care areas, weekly attendance at multidisciplinary haematology and bone marrow transplant team meetings, weekly attendance at burns unit and TB services MDT, clinical consult service and participation in antimicrobial stewardship rounds.

The Infection Control Service comprises managing and giving professional leadership and direction to the Infection Prevention and Control team. There are weekly team meetings, regular Infection control Steering group meetings, attendance at Risk Management, the Quality Safety and Risk Committee meetings and Sterivigilance Meetings. The Infection Control service is involved with planning across the site.

Clinical

• Provide clinical microbiology advice and consultation on in-patients concerning diagnosis, management of patients and prevention of infection.
• Participate in multi-disciplinary teaching ward rounds and in educational programmes for Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors.
• Provide microbiology advice for Clinical staff in the community, including General Practitioners, Public Health Doctors and Nursing Personnel.
• Advise on the diagnosis, management and prevention of infection in hospitals and in the community.
• Participate in Medical Audit.
• Advise on Antibiotic and other hospital policies.
• Participate in the on call advisory service and provide access to 24 hour specialist microbiology advice.

Laboratory

• participate and advise on appropriate use of laboratory tests, test selection and interpretation of test results
• authorise laboratory test results
• engage with scientific colleagues on the introduction of new tests and methodologies

Public Health

• Collaborate with the Department of Public Health Medicine in surveillance, investigation and management of communicable diseases. Assist and advise on the control of communicable disease outbreaks.
• Provide Public Health Microbiology support
• Co-operate with external agencies requiring Public Health Microbiology expertise, e.g. National Disease Surveillance Centre (NDSC), and the Department of Health and Children.

Infection Control

• Participate as required in the Infection Control Advisory Committee facilitating the development and review of Infection Control Programmes within the       Hospital
• Collaborate with Infection Control Nurse Specialists to provide infection control services
• Assist in the preparation of and advice on the implementation of Infection Control Policies
• Liaise as appropriate with Directors of Public Health, the NDSC, the FSAI and DOHC.
• Participate in infection control audit, education and surveillance

 Teaching and Research

• To participate in teaching, including undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and conference commitments of the department and of the Hospital for medical, nursing and other staff.
• Participate in and facilitate the Continuous Professional Development of the Laboratory Technical and scientific staff.
• Participate in Hospital educational programmes for all related groups of staff
• Maintain a programme of continuing medical education applicable to the responsibilities of the post in accordance with the requirements of the Medical Practitioners Act, 2007
• Develop and collaborate clinical, laboratory or other research as appropriate to the specialty on a local, regional and national basis.
• Seek collaboration with other institutions in relevant research areas.
• Compete for research funding from appropriate bodies.

Management & Administration

• To work within the framework of the hospital’s service plan and/or levels of service (volume, types etc.) as determined by St James’s Hospital. Service planning for individual clinical services will be progressed through the Clinical Directorate structure.
• To participate in the development and operation of the Clinical Directorate structure and in such management or representative structures as are in place or being developed.
• To participate in and facilitate production of all data/information required to validate delivery of duties and functions and inform planning and management of service delivery.
• To collaborate with Hospital Management, Directors of Nursing, Medical and Surgical Staff of the hospital in all matters pertaining to the general efficiency of the hospital.

 Audit

• Plan, develop and maintain responsibility for clinical audit programmes within the Microbiology Department in conjunction with consultant colleagues and in accordance with the Hospital’s clinical governance structure. 
• To facilitate production of all data/information required for same in accordance with regulatory, statutory and corporate policies and procedures.

Registration on the Division of Microbiology in the Register of Medical Specialties maintained by the Medical Council in Ireland.

To be eligible, applicants must be registered as a Specialist in the relevant Specialty on the Specialist Division of the Register of Medical Practitioners maintained by the Medical Council of Ireland within 180 days of the day of interview.

Clinical Care: To demonstrate the ability to provide a level of clinical care required by this post according to the standards and requirements set by statutory and regulatory bodies

Communication: To illustrate a high level of verbal and non-verbal skills in order to effectively communicate with and relate to patients and / or parents / family, colleagues, hospital staff and management.

Administration & Management Skills: To demonstrate a satisfactory level of proficiency so as to enable the appointee to manage his/her staff and service and to be able to interact with and participate in hospital management structures as required. Furthermore, the appointee should demonstrate the ability to lead, supervise and be responsible for the clinical work of his / her multi-professional team.

Organisational Awareness: Provide evidence of knowledge and understanding of the structure and governance of this and similar organisations

Teaching: To demonstrate skills required for educational training to medical students, professions.

Research: To demonstrate a proven ability and track record of engagement in research relating to the speciality.

Continuing Education: To demonstrate a proven record of undertaking continuing medical education and continuous professional development.

Audit: The appointee will be required to provide evidence of undertaking and initiating audit and quality projects.

To apply for this position, you may submit an updated Curriculum Vitae by e-mail to: consultantappointments@stjames.ie.

Alternatively, you may forward a letter of application with CV to Medical Workforce Unit, HR Directorate, Hospital 1 Top Floor, St James’s Hospital.

A level of proficiency in the English language, written and spoken, is a requirement of all roles within St James’s Hospital. Your proficiency in spoken English will be assessed during the interview process appropriate to the role available. Nursing and other general staff will be required to self-assess their proficiency level in the Standard Application Form.

1. The Hospital Board will not be responsible for the loss or theft of personal belongings.
2. Fire orders must be observed and staff must complete fire training every 2 years.
3. All accidents within the department must be reported immediately.
4. In accordance with the “Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005”, all staff must comply with all safety regulations.
5. St James's Hospital is a tobacco free Campus. The use of tobacco or electronic cigarettes is not permitted within the hospital buildings or on the grounds.

In the course of your employment you may have access to or hear information concerning the medical or personal affairs of patients and/or staff, or other health services business. Such records and information are strictly confidential and unless acting on the instructions of an authorised officer, on no account must information concerning staff, patients or other health service business be divulged or discussed except in the performance of normal duty. In addition records must never be left in such a manner that unauthorised persons can obtain access to them and must be kept in safe custody when no longer required.

A candidate for and any person holding the office must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

It is the responsibility of all staff across the hospital to ensure that infection control and hygiene standards are adhered to and maintained at all times.

• Approval to hire (VAF process)
• Hiring Manager – role profile
• Advertising
• Application Process
• Shortlisting of Candidates will be based on information provided
• Interview Process
• All applicants who move to the 2nd stage of the Selection process (i.e. post interview) will be subject to Reference Checking X 2, Self-Declaration, Garda Clearance and Occupational Health Screening (Questionnaire)

St James's Hospital is an Equal Opportunities Employer