Job overview
A major component of the role is project leadership and service development. This includes advancing existing initiatives such as non-malignant decision clinics and straight-to-test pathways, as well as identifying new opportunities for improvement through detailed service analysis. The postholder is expected to develop a strong understanding of cancer diagnostic pathways, national targets, and local processes, and to work with stakeholders to design and implement project plans that address identified issues.
The role also involves improving operational efficiency, monitoring the impact of changes on key performance indicators (such as Faster Diagnosis and treatment timelines), and ensuring that improvements are sustainable. This may include developing business cases for additional resources. The postholder will also support broader understanding of cancer waiting time targets across haematology subspecialties and share learning across teams.
In terms of clinical responsibilities, the role includes managing diagnostic haematology cases, delivering care and advice to non-malignant patients, reviewing test results, and ensuring patient pathways are efficient. It also involves coordinating the timely transition of patients diagnosed with cancer to the appropriate subspecialty services.
Additionally, there is scope for the individual to continue contributing to their existing subspecialty CNS role, depending on agreement.
Main duties of the job
The Haematology Diagnostic Project Lead CNS role combines service transformation with direct clinical care. The position focuses on improving the efficiency and performance of the diagnostic haematology service while continuing patient-facing responsibilities.
This role focuses on maintaining compliance with cancer waiting time targets, including the 62-day standard and 28-day Faster Diagnosis Standard, while driving continuous improvements in diagnostic haematology care pathways. Key responsibilities include leading service improvement projects to enhance performance against these targets, delivering care and advice to non-malignant patients through a biweekly decision clinic, and reviewing diagnostic test results to ensure patient pathways are efficient and well-coordinated. The role also involves working closely with administrative teams to optimise patient flow, attending patient tracking meetings to support pathway progression, and ensuring the timely transfer of patients diagnosed with cancer to the appropriate subspecialty services.
Working for our organisation
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research.
We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites:
1. University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing)
2. National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
3. Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals
4. University College Hospital Grafton Way Building
5. Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine
6. University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre
7. The Hospital for Tropical Diseases
8. University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street
We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women’s health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.
We are committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net zero health service, embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.