Cancer Co-ordinator Band 4 | Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
| Posting date: | 11 May 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | Not specified |
| Additional salary information: | £28,392 - £31,157 per annum |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 10 June 2026 |
| Location: | Bedford, MK42 9DJ |
| Company: | Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |
| Job type: | Contract |
| Job reference: | 7967089/418-AHP67089-CW |
Summary
The Cellular Pathology Department is seeking to appoint aCancer Coordinatorbased at the Bedford site. The successful candidate will be responsible for overseeing the progression of samples through the diagnostic pathway up to the point of referral. This post is offered on an18‑month fixed‑term contract.
The department processes approximately44,000 surgical and diagnostic requests annuallyacross two sites: Luton & Dunstable Hospital and Bedford Hospital. As part of Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, a large general hospital, we manage a wide range of tissue and diagnostic cytology specimens, including post‑mortem examinations.
The Pathology Department is currently undergoing a merger, with the main Cellular Pathology Laboratory to be located at Bedford Hospital. Staff may be required to work occasional shifts at the Luton & Dunstable site.
Our Pathology services hold fullUKAS accreditationand operate in compliance withHTAandMHRAregulations.
The post holder will contribute to the day‑to‑day management of theinter‑trust cancer pathway, including:
• Monitoring_and_tracking— Monitoring, reporting, and tracking cancer patients to ensure their pathway progresses in a timely and efficient manner.
• Single_point_of_contact— Acting as the single point of contact for all cancer MDT pathways within Histology.
• Resolving_delays— Identifying and resolving delays at the earliest opportunity, and escalating issues to the Histology Operational Manager when necessary.
The post holder will also be responsible for theprospective collection of data, ensuring accuracy at all times. This includes maintaining proficiency in histology systems, analysing target breaches, and reporting findings to the Histology Operations Manager.
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.
We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.
Patient Navigating
To navigate samples through the diagnostic pathway, from point of referral to Histology. Using hospital IT systems.
To proactively manage samples in accordance with the National Targets.
To escalate diagnostic samples for target patients, (if falling outside the appropriate timescale).
To proactively identify and resolve delays at all stages in the patient pathway. Where this is not possible, to follow the escalation procedure to line Management.
To ensure that samples which require transfer to a tertiary centre are transferred in accordance with agreed timescales.
To highlight any bottlenecks within the process, communicating regularly with line management, and where possible suggesting and implementing solutions.
To liaise, if necessary with other Trusts in order to achieve continuous monitoring of the sample pathway.
Be the single point of contact for Imaging and wider trust to ensure 2ww target is implemented for all imaging referrals.
Please refer to the attached Job Description file.
This advert closes on Monday 25 May 2026