Chief Cardiac Physiologist - Echocardiography

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; London; On-site; GBP 54,000 - 61,000; Full time

Job summary

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust seeks a Chief Cardiac Physiologist to lead echocardiography services. Responsibilities include performing specialist cardiac investigations, ensuring clinical quality and governance, and mentoring junior staff. The role is vital for patient assessment in cardiovascular care and offers continuous professional development opportunities.

Benefits

Continuous professional development

Flexible working arrangements

Qualifications

• Performing and reporting transthoracic echocardiograms.
• Technical assistance in transoesophageal echocardiography.
• Mentorship of trainee staff.

Responsibilities

• Provide echocardiographic services across multiple hospital sites.
• Perform complex echocardiographic measurements and analyses.
• Supervise and train junior staff.

Skills

Effective verbal and written communication

Ability to organise and prioritise workloads

Ability to cope with heavy workload

IT literate

Education

BSc Clinical Physiology

BSE/EACVI Accreditation

Evidence of continued professional Development

BLS

ILS

Job description

We are an award winning organisation providing care at two main hospital sites—Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital—and a number of community-based services across London, such as sexual health and HIV clinics.

With 6,700 members of staff, we are proud to care for a diverse population of one million people. We are committed to ensuring that our workforce is just as diverse with a strong mix of skills and abilities.

Our staff are at the very heart of our organisation and we recognise the valuable contribution that each and every person working at the Trust makes. One of our Trust priorities is to be an employer of choice—a place where people want to start their career and to grow with us through continued education, professional development and support .

NHS AfC: Band 7

Main area Echocardiogram Grade NHS AfC: Band 7 Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week Job ref 289-CS-66

Site (Cross site) Chelsea and Westminster hospital/West Middlesex Hospital) Town London Salary £54,320 - £60,981 per annum inc. HCAS Salary period Yearly Closing 25/06/2025 23:59

Job overview

The Band 7 Chief Cardiac Physiologist will play a leading role in the provision of specialist echocardiography services within the Cardiology Department. The post-holder will be instrumental in the development and day-to-day delivery of both Valve Clinic and the Physiologist-Led Stress echocardiography services.

This highly specialised role involves autonomous practice in advanced echocardiography, including independent acquisition, interpretation, and reporting of complex studies. The post-holder will work collaboratively with the wider multidisciplinary team, contributing to the assessment and management of patients with valvular heart disease and suspected coronary artery disease.

You will be responsible for ensuring service quality, clinical governance, and adherence to BSE standards, as well as supervising junior physiologists and supporting service development initiatives.

Clinical Physiology BSc degree combined with appropriate technical training and Echocardiography accreditation (BSE or EACVI) are mandatory for this position.

We actively encourage continuous professional development with staff attending conferences and courses.

Main duties of the job

To provide, as part of the cardiac physiologist team, cardiac diagnostic services across the trust sites Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex Hospital, specialising in the field of Echocardiography.

As a specialist in Echocardiography, you will perform a range of highly specialist cardiac ultrasound investigations, measurements and analysis, interpret findings and issue final clinically diagnostic reports to a competent and highly professional standard.

Provide assistance in the performance of cardiac investigations relevant to your specialist field.

Assist in the supervision and training of other echocardiographers, cardiac physiologists, doctors and students.

Assist the lead Cardiac Physiologist in the provision, organisation and development of the services of the department, including some administrative and housekeeping tasks.

Maintain accreditations with the relevant professional bodies/societies.

Working for our organisation

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of England's top-performing and safest trusts. We operate two main acute hospital sites—Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital—along with award-winning clinics across North West London.

Our nearly 7,500 staff care for a diverse population of 1.5 million, providing full clinical services, including maternity, A&E, and children’s services, plus specialist HIV and sexual health clinics. The Care Quality Commission rates us 'Good' in safety, effectiveness, care, and responsiveness, and 'Outstanding' in leadership and resource use.

We continually invest in our facilities, including a £30m expansion of critical care at Chelsea and Westminster and an £80m Ambulatory Diagnostic Centre at West Middlesex.

We welcome applications for flexible working arrangements, accommodating requests where possible to support our staff and patient needs.

The Trust is committed to equality and welcomes applications from all, regardless of background. Adjustments can be made for disabled candidates. Early application is advised as vacancies may close once sufficient applications are received. If you haven’t heard from us within three weeks of the closing date, your application was likely unsuccessful. Employment is subject to a six-month probationary period.

Some roles may require weekend shifts at multiple sites.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Participate in the provision of echocardiographic services across the trust including departmental sites and at point of care and community locations.
• Cooperate in the provision of an evolving and flexible service (with possible altering shift patterns and occasional weekend working). Appropriate consultation prior to any proposed alterations to working patterns will be given.
• Perform all echocardiographic studies to departmental protocols & relevant society standards/guideline, including transthoracic adult, bubble, contrast (LVO), exercise (treadmill and bike) and pharmacological stress tests utilising a range of techniques.
• Perform accurate and reproducible standard and advanced echocardiographic measurements to departmental and relevant society standards/guidelines
• Perform complex analysis techniques to image acquisitions for 3D volumetric quantification and 2D strain.
• Interpret echocardiographic findings and produce timely signed off diagnostic reports to departmental and relevant society standards.
• Provide technical assistance in the performance of transoesophageal echocardiographic tests and cardiac investigations relevant to your specialist field.
• Obtain and maintain competency in IV cannulation
• Perform IV cannulation on patients in preparation for contrast (LVO), bubble and pharmacological stress echocardiography.
• Accurately perform 12 lead electrocardiograms, non-invasive BP, O2 sats and height and weight measurements
• Interpret 12 lead electrocardiograms
• Co-operate with the need for occasional but necessary ‘overtime working’ to ensure that any procedure in progress can be completed safely, in the usual fashion. Such extra working time being compensated for by time off in lieu or overtime payment).
• Maintain proficiency in echocardiography and other technical skills adopting best practice and current guidelines.
• Hold and maintain BSE/ESCVI or equivalent accreditations in echocardiography.
• Hold and maintain ILS certification.
• Know the location of resuscitation equipment, be familiar with its operation and participate in its daily check. Ensuring that this equipment is available prior to commencement of an investigation.
• Know how to summon the hospital resuscitation team.
• Prioritise and manage individual caseloads based on clinical urgency and service efficiency.
• Assist in the daily management of the echocardiography service, including the clinical prioritisation of inpatients and urgent outpatients, responding to a clinical and report queries and when required scheduling patient appointments.
• Clean ultrasound systems, probes, accessories and associated items in accordance with manufacturers recommendations and departmental and trust policy.
• Identify stock needs and assist in maintaining stock levels.
• Be responsible for the safe use of medical equipment within your role. Reporting to the line manager and EMBE of any faults or concerns
• Assist in the supervision and training of other cardiac physiologists, students and junior doctors, in their area of individual expertise.
• Understand and participate in clinical audit
• Assist in research and development in the department
• Attend and participate in departmental and team meetings.
• Maintain all trust mandatory training
• Adhere to mandatory training standards for frequent moving and handling of patients and equipment.
• Use PPE when indicated as per trust policy

Person specification

Education and Qualifications

• BSc Clinical Physiology (or equivalent)
• BSE/EACVI Accreditation (or equivalent)
• Evidence of continued professional Development
• BLS
• ILS

Experience

• Performing and reporting transthoracic echocardiograms consummate with a Band 7 post
• Performing imaging and reporting stress echocardiograms with limited supervision
• Providing technical assistance in the performance of transoesophageal echocardiography
• Performing IV cannulation
• Performing 12 lead ECG’s
• Mentorship of trainee staff

Skills and Knowledge

• Effective verbal and written communication
• Ability to organise and prioritise workloads and demonstrate initiative
• Ability to cope with heavy workload
• IT literate

Important

• The closing date given is a guide only. There may be some occasions when we have to close a vacancy once sufficient applications have been received. You are therefore advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
• Please check your emails regularly as this is how we will communicate with you throughout the recruitment process.
• If you have not heard from us within 3 weeks after the closing date, we regret that this usually means your application was not successful.
• In submitting an application, you authorise the Trust to confirm any previous NHS service details via the Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process, should you be appointed to the post.
• During the recruitment process your identity documentation (ie passport, driving licence, visa etc) will be scanned using a device which recognises UV, infrared and machine-readable zone security features of the documents provided.
• Employment at the Trust is offered subject to successful completion of a six month probationary period.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

• Looking for flexible work? Why not join our StaffBank .

The recruitment team are available to provide support from 9am–5pm, Mon–Fri. To contact the team please call the Trust switchboard and ask for ‘Recruitment team, Human Resources Department’.