Upper Gastrointestinal Nurse Specialist

Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Upper Gastrointestinal Nurse Specialist to join our Gastroenterology Team here at Whiston Hospital

The Upper Gastrointestinal Nurse Specialist acts as a keyworker and provides a continuous point of contact throughout the patients' pathway from diagnosis and onwards.

The Nurse Specialist will oversee and deliver the key aspects of personalised care which includes Holistic Needs Assessment, Care Plans, Treatment Summaries and Health and Well-being events for patients with Upper Gastrointestinal Cancers.

Main duties of the job
The post holder will play a key role in the delivery on Upper GI cancer services throughout the Trust. To give advice and implement patient care in Upper GI which requires specific clinical knowledge, skills, and experience. To work alongside other clinical colleagues to ensure quality of care to the patients is maximised.

The role of the Nurse Specialist in Cancer Care can be complex and varied, involving interventions and communication with multiple health care professionals across Primary and secondary care and other private and charitable organisations. The Nurse specialist role improves the quality and experience of care for patients, reinforces patient safety, demonstrates leadership and can increase productivity and efficiency.

About us
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 10,500 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.

Our services:
Acute Care
Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.

Primary Care
Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.

Community Services
Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital is where patients needing acute hospital beds can continue rehabilitation. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre.

Specialist Regional Services
We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.

Achievements:
Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme.

Details
Date posted: 24 July 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year Per Annum
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 12 months
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 409-8139392
Job locations: Whiston Hospital, Warrington Road, Prescot, L35 5DR, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
KEY DUTIES

• Assess, plan, implement and evaluate programmes of evidence-based nursing care.
• Provide specialist advice and clinical practice.
• Provide specialist education and training to others including ward staff.
• Work collaboratively and co-operatively to support clinical colleagues to develop services and high quality of care delivered.
• Support the Band 8A and 7 to lead the development of clinical services within the specialist field.
• Triage referrals to Upper GI CNS team.
• Manage an agreed patient caseload when the diagnosis of Upper GI cancer has been made.
• Order investigations per protocol act upon results following discussion with senior colleagues.
• Identify, assess, and triage patients ensuring smooth transition to other services as appropriate.
• As required undertake procedures.
• Undertake Holistic Needs Assessment, develop comprehensive care plans, with measurable outcomes, including advice or education to other clinical staff and care givers.
• Ensure the involvement of patients, cares and relatives in the planning and delivery of care.
• Act as a practitioner with supervision, exercising judgement, discretion and decision making in clinical care.
• Support senior team with compliance with any specific regulations for example: Quality Surveillance Programme, drug administration, record keeping and data collection within own area of work.
• Adhere to protocols for nurse led clinics, ensuring that outcomes are evaluated, and activity monitored.
• Support the senior nurses to lead on the development of integrated care with primary and secondary care clinicians as required and other agencies involved with care delivery.
• Ensure appropriate services are put in place to support management of condition at home, supported by the multidisciplinary team as required.
• The post holder will abide by legal requirements and statutory rules relating to practice and promote and maintain standards of professional practice in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Councils (NMC) Code and Professional Conduct and Scope of Professional Practice.
• Responsibility to develop and deliver Living with and beyond cancer patient support service.
• Responsibility to develop and deliver the Recovery package as per NHS England requirements.
• Provide specialist telephone advice.
• Key worker role

CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Perform comprehensive assessment of patient nursing needs, plan, implement and evaluate care delivery according to changing health care needs.
• Perform clinical skills in assessment &/or diagnosis &/ or treatment.
• Collect, collate, evaluate, and report information, maintaining accurate patient records.
• Involve patients and carers/ relatives in the planning and delivery of care and the development of services.
• Monitor investigation results, initiating further assessment/ review and co-ordination of treatment pathway as required.
• Work collaboratively with other professionals and agencies to ensure discharge arrangements.
• Establish and maintain effective communication with patients and carers/relatives and professionals across health and social services.
• Contribute to the health and promotion agenda with the local health economy.
• To undertake / work towards non-medical prescribing as per NMC and trust guidance.
• In keeping with the NMC Code of Professional Conduct and Standards of Proficiency for Nurse and Midwife Prescribers, keep up to date with best prescribing practice in relation to the management of conditions within his/her specialist area.
• Attend Clinical Supervision sessions.
• Attend Trust / Network meetings in the absence of senior staff.

ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

• Administration supporting direct patient care/MDT preparation/follow up.
• Dictating and signing letters
• Requesting appointments for patients
• Processing Clinical Outcome sheets
• Updating Somerset Cancer Registry
• Report Writing
• Presentations
• Macmillan Service Reviews
• Address issues raised by remote follow up clinic service.
• Patient experience assessment/improvement advocates

TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSIBILITIES

• Identify learning needs, plan, implement and evaluate programmes of education to meet identified needs.
• Participate in the education of pre and post registered nurses, medical staff, AHPs, patients and carers and participate in curriculum development where appropriate.
• Address specific health targets e.g. CHI, NICE Guidance, NSF related to own are of practice through education.
• Ensure own compliance and compliance of others with regarding mandatory training and PREP requirements.

LINE MANAGEMENT/SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide specialist clinical knowledge to clinical colleagues, patients, and carers/relatives.
• Evaluate service delivery against key performance targets, National Quality Measures, identify areas for improvement and initiate change.
• Ensure the effective and efficient use of physical and financial resources; make suggestions regarding supplies and equipment.
• Collect, collate and report activity data to key stakeholders, producing regular formal reports.

RESEARCH & AUDIT

• Identify need for, participate and undertake, research, clinical audit, benchmarking, and equipment trials, to improve effectiveness of patient care.
• Disseminate research and audit findings through presentation to professional groups and publication.
• Comply with policies, procedures, and guidelines relevant to own area of work.
• Promote patient and public involvement activities in the specialist area, leading to service improvement.
• Promote peoples equality, diversity, and rights.

Person Specification

Qualifications
Essential

• RGN
• Relevant Degree or currently on a degree pathway (willingness to undertake)
• Teaching and assessing qualification
• Evidence of continuing professional development

Desirable

• Post-registration qualification in specialist area
• Recognised counselling qualification

Knowledge & Experience
Essential

• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Substantial clinical experience in Upper GI specialty or cancer related area
• Participation in service development and implementation of change
• Experience of teaching and assessing in the clinical area
• Knowledge of professional and NHS issues and policy relating to specialist area

Desirable

• Management experience in specialty or related area

Skills
Essential

• Able to influence and overcome resistance through application of advanced communication skills
• Intermediate IT skills in word processing and spreadsheets
• Able to manage work autonomously
• Able to present information to professional groups
• Able to perform assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of nursing care
• Assertive
• Able to participate / undertake clinical audit & research

Desirable

• Able to analyse data and provide written reports
• Able to perform advanced clinical skills
• Advanced communication skills
• Ability to communicate unpleasant / sensitive information to patients in a variety of settings
• Ability to develop effective interpersonal relationships with colleagues across health and social care setting
• Car owner / supported driver

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details
Employer name: Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Address: Whiston Hospital, Warrington Road, Prescot, L35 5DR, United Kingdom
Employer's website: Apply through our website

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Lead Upper Gastrointestinal Nurse Specialist
Barbara Ashall
View email address on meeveem.com
View phone number on meeveem.com