NSA: Pathology: Histopathology Transformation and Recovery
The Diagnostics Recovery & Transformation Programme is the largest single investment programme in the NHS in terms of capital and revenue combined (second largest after New Hospital Programme in terms of capital only).
It is delivering twin priorities:
- A significant transformation in the NHS diagnostic model (delivering recommendations of 2020 Richards Review)
- Recovery of diagnostic services as a key element of overall elective recovery and cancer performance.
The national diagnostics has four key Diagnostic Disciplines, and each team is made of subject matter experts including clinicians and implementation leads who each lead work across a priority area:
- Imaging
- Pathology
- GI Endoscopy
- Physiological Sciences
The pathology transformation element of this work seeks to boost the productivity and resilience of pathology services through the development of pathology networks, with the associated investment in shared digital infrastructure and equipment as well as workforce training and development.
The National Specialty Adviser(s) are responsible for providing expert clinical advice to the Diagnostics Recovery & Transformation Programme as well as expert professional advice and support in the development of strategy and policy relating to the Diagnostics programme and specialty programme workstream.
The role of the National Specialty Advisor (NSA) is to support senior leaders including Senior Responsible Owners (SROs), National Clinical Directors and Medical Directors to provide clinical advice in four respects:
- Clinical advice to drive transformation of services;
- Clinical advice to support identification and delivery of our corporate clinical priorities (at national and regional level);
- Clinical advice to support the commissioning of services; and
- Clinical advice on ad hoc issues to support parliamentary accountability.
You can find further details about the job, in the attached Job Description.
NHS England has a wide range of statutory functions, responsibilities and regulatory powers. These are focused on supporting the wider NHS to deliver high quality care, as well as doing those things that are best done once for the whole NHS.
Our staff bring expertise across clinical, operational, commissioning, technology, data science, cyber security, software engineering, education, and commercial specialisms — enabling us to design and deliver high-quality NHS services.
In March 2025, the Government announced that NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care will increasingly merge functions, ultimately leading to NHS England being fully integrated into the department.
If you currently work within the NHS and if successful at interview, we will initiate an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) via the Electronic Staff Record (ESR). This retrieves key data from your current or previous NHS employer to support onboarding, including competency status, Continuous Service Dates (CSD), and annual leave entitlement. You may opt out at any stage of the process.
Colleagues with a contractual office base are expected to spend, on average, at least 40% of their time working in our offices.
Staff recruited from outside the NHS will usually be appointed at the bottom of the pay band.
We cannot offer visa sponsorship for any vacancies.
The post holders will support senior leaders with the provision of clinical advice and leadership through: -
- Clinical advice to drive improvement of the performance of pathology services, in terms of histopathology services, including turn around times, automation and digital reporting ,
- Clinical advice and support to front line units / systems as needed, complementing the work of regional pathology Clinical Leads in this area.
- Clinical advice on the development and delivery of improved models of pathology service delivery.
- Clinical advice on the achievement of an effective and sustainable pathology workforce.
- Ensuring benefits to population health and addressing health inequalities.
- Securing buy-in and removing barriers to project success, including working with trusts and relevant national bodies and societies.
Essential role criteria
- Essential: Educated to Essential: educated to degree level in a relevant medical or scientific discipline and/or a relevant postgraduate qualification and experience in histopathology clinical leadership
- Good understanding of the latest medical and scientific developments affecting histopathology services
- Significant experience of working at a national or sub-national level as a clinical leader in the speciality
- The NSA is responsible for supporting senior leaders and national programmes with the provision of clinical advice including on improving population health outcomes and narrowing health inequalities within the field.
- The ability to build excellent collaborative networks and develop effective and mutually supportive relationships with key partners within and throughout organisations.
Please note that the reason for the fixed term of this contract is due to funding.
You can find further details about the role, including key responsibilities and accountabilities, alongside the organisational structure and person specification in the attached Job Description and other supporting documents.
Secondments
Applicants from within the NHS will be offered on a secondment basis only, agreement should be obtained from their employer prior to submitting the application.
