University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust (UH Bristol)
and North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) have jointly appointed a Clinical
Lead of Cellular Pathology, who will work across both Trusts to
improve histopathology services in Bristol.
Dr Robert Pitcher started work on 3 May. Dr Pitcher has worked
in the NHS as a consultant histopathologist since 1987 based in
Cornwall. During that time he developed an interest in leadership
and management and has held the roles of clinical director and
medical director within Cornwall. For the last three years he was a
national clinical lead in the Department of Healths informatics
directorate.
The appointment of a Clinical Lead of Cellular Pathology to
establish an integrated histopathology service for Bristol is one
of the central actions that arose from the independent inquiry into
allegations of histopathology misdiagnosis at UH Bristol.
Chief Executive of UH Bristol, Robert Woolley, said: Both
hospital trusts are committed to implementing the recommendations
of the inquiry panel and together we have drawn up an action plan
that will enable us to do this. Central to this was the appointment
of a joint Clinical Lead of Cellular Pathology and I am delighted
to welcome Dr Robert Pitcher to the role.
It is vital that the public has confidence in our services and
both trusts will continue to report progress implementing the
inquiry panels recommendations at their trust boards, through our
Membership Council and through Bristol City Councils Health
Scrutiny Commission.
Chief Executive of NBT, Ruth Brunt, said: It is essential to
have strong management and effective clinical leadership in place
as we work to establish an integrated histopathology service for
Bristol. The job description for the joint Clinical Lead of
Cellular Pathology was drawn up and agreed by both trusts and
submitted to the Royal College of Pathologists for their view. We
are delighted to welcome Dr Robert Pitcher and look forward to
working with him.
Dr Robert Pitcher said: I am both pleased and excited to have
been appointed to this post. The skills and knowledge in both
clinical histopathology and medical leadership that I have acquired
during my career are a good basis for those required in my new
role. I was a medical student in Bristol in the 1970s and began my
pathology training here and have fond memories of that time. Now I
have returned I will be focusing my energies on developing the
cellular pathology service in Bristol into one of which we can all
be proud.
