Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The appointee will join the Cardiology team in the delivery of comprehensive cardiac services across the Trust. The role will have a specialist focus in heart failure management and advanced echocardiography, with opportunities to lead and develop valve clinics in collaboration with multidisciplinary colleagues. The post will predominantly be based at the Luton & Dunstable Hospital.

At the Luton and Dunstable Hospital we have an established heart failure service with 4 Consultants, 3 HF specialist nurses and 4 community HF nurses at Luton and 2 community HF nurses covering the central Bedfordshire region. We also extend the service to adjacent areas of Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire. There is a well-established community HF service supported through MDT once a week on a Wednesday. The appointee will provide specialist outpatient and inpatient care for patients with heart failure. The appointee is also expected to support periodic pathway development in order to help achieve national standards in HF management for the trust.

The appointee will also help contribute to the scanning and reporting of advanced echocardiography studies including:

·       3D transthoracic echocardiography

·       Transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE)

·       Stress echocardiography (exercise and dobutamine)

·       Contrast and bubble studies

There will also be an opportunity to oversee and support heart valve clinics, providing expert review of patients with moderate to severe valve disease.

The successful candidate will complement the consultant capacity to enable an effective and seamless service for cardiology in both in-patient and elective settings. This will include ward rounds, consultant to consultant referrals, GP Advice and Guidance, MDT and outpatient clinics.

The appointee will participate in the provision of seven day cover for the Cardiology bed base on a 1:8 rota and in future cardiology on call as per service expansion. The appointee may have to work cross site at Bedford Hospital to cross cover leave or on a more regular basis in the future.  

1.             Duties and Responsibilities  

The main duties and responsibilities of the post include:-

·       To have a subspecialist interest in heart failure and advanced echocardiography, and to develop services as required.

·       To offer dedicated specialist Heart failure clinics as well as a General Cardiology clinic.

·       To perform, supervise and teach advanced echocardiography including TOE/ stress echo

·       To oversee and support heart valve clinics, providing expert review of patients with moderate to severe valve disease.

·       To participate in the provision of a high quality out-patient service, including patient administration.

·       To work with other consultants/ colleagues to provide specialist Cardiology advice and support to patients within the Trust

Other Tasks include: -

·       The appointee will attend and actively participate in the weekly multidisciplinary meetings and governance meetings.

·       Active participation in the management and development of the specialty and the introduction of new services.

·       Contribute to the educational programme, including departmental meetings and teaching.

·       Contribute to the General Medicine educational programme, including weekly department meetings and teaching.

·       Undertake high quality medical audit projects and participate in the collection of data required to meet national quality standards.

·       Implement audit and research findings as appropriate in clinical practice.

·       Prepare and participate in an annual appraisal in accordance with Trust policy.

Participate and comply with the requirements for Continuing Professional Development and revalidation as laid down by the Royal College of Physicians. The trust is committed to providing the time and financial support for these activities.