Job Description

A vacancy for a full time Consultant Radiologist with an interest in breast imaging has arisen at the West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust.



The department provides a wide range of diagnostic services. You will be joining a team of 26 consultants and a growing registrar body. We are looking for an individual who wants to be part of an innovative and dedicated team. The department offers a friendly and supportive atmosphere. CPD is well supported.

We are currently planning for our new hospital so this is an exciting time to joining our Trust. All consultants have a dedicated home reporting station and home reporting sessions are encouraged. The department has been QSI accredited for 13 years running and we pride ourselves on high standards. Equal participation in the on call system is expected. Overnight reporting is outsourced. Applicants encouraged to contact the department prior to application.



The interview will be held on Thursday, 26th June 2025



Please refer to the supporting job description and person specification which will outline the duties of the role.



Maintenance of the highest, evidence-based clinical standards in the delivery of Radiology services for the Trust and the local community.



Active member of team delivering West Suffolk breast screening according to NHS BSP standards.



Teaching and training of Radiology SpRs, Radiographers, Medical Students, SAS doctors and other staff as appropriate.



To participate actively in both departmental and Trust matters concerning Clinical Governance and Audit.



To participate actively in continuing professional development (CPD) and Trust Appraisal and Revalidation Process.



Please refer to the supporting job description and person specification which will outline the duties of the role.



#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community



We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.



The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.



Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.



We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.



With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.



We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.



Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?



Please see the and Person Specification attached for full details of the post.



The breast imaging team benefits from long established skill mix and comprises 4 consultant radiologists, 2 consultant radiographers, 1 trainee consultant radiographer and 1 advanced practitioner. The successful candidate will be responsible for the delivery of high quality breast imaging in both the breast screening programme and the symptomatic breast service.



In the breast department the post holder would share responsibility for covering symptomatic and assessment clinics, ultrasound guided pre-treatment localisations. Most stereo procedures are undertaken by consultant radiographers or advanced practitioners, ultrasound excisions are undertaken by some of the team. Screen reading in dedicated sessions includes reading follow up and family history mammograms. MRI is double read independently by two breast radiologists. Timetabled MDT preparation and presentation is shared, with Consultant Radiographers participating in presentation of new cases. Consensus meetings occur three times a week at dedicated times.



The post holder will join the other radiologists sharing the service provision for the Radiology Department, which would include reporting CT, MR and XR for inpatients / emergency department attenders, outpatients and GP patients and performing and reporting Ultrasounds.



Clinicoradiological conferences and MDTs are recognised as an important part of the department workload. The post holder will also be expected to participate in departmental audit and clinical governance processes and will be expected to provide training and education to medical and other departmental staff as required. The department was one of the first in the country to achieve ISAS/QSI accreditation and consultants are expected to embrace and participate in this process.



On call work will be included in the role which comprises evening and weekend daytime cover. Overnight acute studies are outsourced with the radiologist acting as back up in case of system failures or for other radiological queries that need immediate input.



The department actively encourages skill mix with the following roles and responsibilities implemented:

Sonographers run and report on obstetrics, gynaecology and general ultrasound lists. Several reporting and consultant radiographers report a mixture of X-ray, fluoroscopy, CT, MRI and nuclear medicine studies

The Royal College of Radiologists' guide 'iRefer Making the Best Use of Clinical Radiology' is in use to assist with justification of all examinations.



The post(s) will be for 10 programmed activities. The exact nature of these programmed activities will be discussed with the Lead Radiologist and consultant colleagues prior to taking up the post.



The successful candidate(s) will be expected to hold the Fellowship of the Royal College of Radiologists, or equivalent, and to satisfy the current regulations concerning accreditation prior to taking up this appointment. Accreditation is not, however, a statutory requirement. Since 1st January 1997 it has been a legal requirement for all doctors to be on the Specialist Register before taking up a consultant appointment. The vacancy is full time, but any candidate who is unable for personal reasons to work full time will be eligible to be considered.



The successful candidate should ideally have completed appropriate training to participate in the NHS breast screening programme.