An exciting and rare opportunity to recruit a CNS consultant to join the Neuro Oncology team at The Christie. This is an 8pa post with an additional temporary 1pa of up to 5years.
The successful applicant will share new referrals of adult neuro-oncology patients with colleagues. The neuro-oncology new patient clinic takes place weekly at The Christie. Referrals are divided equitably via a shared rotation of this clinic with approximately 250 new referrals per year. They will have office accommodation provided within the clinical oncology department and 0.8 WTE secretarial/PA support
The neuro-oncology service encompasses the surgical, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and supportive care management of the complete spectrum of CNS tumours in the adult and Teenage and Young Adult (TYA) populations. Care is co-ordinated via 4 MDTs. The neuro-oncology MDT (which includes a brain metastases / SRS subsection), the base of skull MDT and the pituitary MDT are hosted by Salford Royal Hospital (part of the Northern Care Alliance, NCA) while the cancer network supportive care MDT is hosted by The Christie. Support of the Preston skull base and pituitary MDTs is provided remotely, via MS Teams, under the auspices of the North West ODN (Operational Delivery Network).
The postholder will contribute to the delivery of high‑quality consultant‑led care across 7 days. This includes participation in planned weekend and weekday clinical activity to support safe, timely decision‑making and continuity of care for patients.
The Christie is one of Europe’s leading cancer centres, treating over 60,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of 3.2 million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist around 15% patients are referred to us from other parts of the country. We provide radiotherapy through one of the largest radiotherapy departments in the world; chemotherapy on site and through 14 other hospitals; highly specialist surgery for complex and rare cancer; and a wide range of support and diagnostic services. We are also an international leader in research, with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years. We run one of the largest early clinical trial units in Europe with over 300 trials every year. Cancer research in Manchester, most of which is undertaken on the Christie site, has been officially ranked the best in the UK.
The successful applicant will share new referrals of adult neuro-oncology patients with colleagues. The neuro-oncology new patient clinic takes place weekly at The Christie. Referrals are divided equitably via a shared rotation of this clinic with approximately 250 new referrals per year. They will have office accommodation provided within the clinical oncology department and 0.8 WTE secretarial/PA support.
The neuro-oncology team is active in research including imaging, basic science, radiotherapy and phase I, II and III clinical trials. Prof McBain leads on trials of systemic therapy, Dr Whitfield has led on radiotherapy trials.
Neuro-oncology research is supported by 4 neuro-oncology research nurses and 4 Clinical Trials Administrators at The Christie, with additional staff at Salford. Clinical trials are conducted via a dedicated once weekly neuro-oncology trials clinic and there are close links with the Early Phase Medicines team and the wider research infrastructure of the University of Manchester and MCRC. The successful applicant will help colleagues in supporting the conduct of clinical trials, with scope to develop this aspect of the role.
The successful applicant will be a core member of the pituitary MDT and will provide input into this patient group, alongside Clinical Oncologists Dr Claire Barker and Dr Jenny King, Endocrinologist Dr Claire Higham and other colleagues.
They will also have expertise in, and work with colleagues to deliver, the stereotactic radiosurgery service. This is Tier 1 and Tier 2 provision, treating brain metastases, meningiomas, vestibular schwannomas and pituitary tumours.
The successful applicant will work with Prof McBain to provide cross-cover for the oncology aspect of the NF2 service (MDT and systemic therapy delivery) and the skull base MDT and service. Full support and training will be given for this aspect of the role.
A further aspect of this post will be to share responsibility for the clinical leadership and development of the neuro-oncology late effects service, working closely with and supported by other colleagues including Dr Claire Higham, Consultant Endocrinologist, Dr Martin McCabe, TYA Medical Oncologist and Dr Anthony Penn, paediatric Medical Oncologist. The late effects clinic population comprises patients who were treated as children or young adults. Late effects clinic review provides assessment and management of the late effects of treatment. The importance and prominence of this aspect of oncology care is being increasingly recognised nationally and internationally; it is a key component of The Christie clinical and research strategy. There is much scope to develop this aspect of the role via research and publication, and in collaboration with the Proton service and with colleagues locally and internationally.
Job Plan Timetable
The timetable below is indicative and will be confirmed on commencement in post.
It is the requirement of the Trust that all new consultant colleagues must have 0.25 SPAs within their job plan to support Trust appraisal and supervision requirements. This can either be as appraiser or a supervisor for medical staff or Advanced Clinical Practitioners (ACP).
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
AM
SPA
(1PA)
Neuro-oncology MDT
(1PA)
Outpatient clinic (review and chemo)
(Christie)
(1PA)
Pituitary MDT 0800-1000 (alternate weeks)
(at Salford or on Teams
(0.25 PA)
Research clinic
(alt weeks)
(0.5 PA)
Admin
(0.25 PA)
Late effects clinic / SRS clinic / skull base MDT (by rotation)
(1 PA)
PM
SPA
(1 PA)
On-treatment reviews / planning
(1PA)
Admin
(0.5 PA)
SPA
( 0.5 PA)
New patient clinic (Christie)
(1PA)
NB This timetable is indicative
Job Plan PA Summary
Total PAs
Direct Clinical Care (DCC)
5.5
Planning
1.0
MDT
2.25
Admin
1.0
Supporting Professional Activities (SPA) (including 1.5 core SPA)
2.5
Supervision role (minimum 0.25 must be allocated)
0.25
- Research (additional programmed Activity Fixed term) 5 year
- 1.0
Total Programmed Activities (PAs)
8
- Research APA is not permanently funded and will be confirmed following the outcome of the recruitment in line with job planning policy.
