Chief Echocardiographer

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; Greater London; On-site; GBP 56,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS Trust in Greater London seeks a Chief Echocardiographer to lead their echocardiography services. Ideal candidates will possess a BSc in Clinical Physiology and advanced echocardiography accreditation. Responsibilities include performing advanced diagnostic procedures, providing mentorship to staff, and ensuring high-quality patient care. The position offers a competitive salary and a Recruitment and Retention Premium of up to 15%. Join a dynamic team dedicated to excellence in cardiac care.

Benefits

15% Recruitment and Retention Premium

Comprehensive training and mentorship programs

Qualifications

• Full accreditation in echocardiography is mandatory.
• Experience in clinical teaching and research is beneficial.
• Demonstrated competence in advanced echocardiography techniques.

Responsibilities

• Perform diagnostic echocardiography using advanced techniques.
• Provide training and support to junior staff.
• Manage workload and ensure timely report completion.

Skills

Knowledge of cardiac anatomy

Leadership skills

Cardiac physiology

Experience with contrast and stress echo

Education

BSc Clinical Physiology (Cardiology) or equivalent

BSE and/or equivalent accreditation

Accreditation in TOE and/or Stress Echo

Tools

GE E95

Philips CVX / Affinity echo machines

ISCV and TomTec reporting packages

Job description

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Chief Echocardiographer

The closing date is 04 January 2026

We are looking for an enthusiastic highly specialist echocardiographic to join and complement our internationally recognised echocardiography services at King's College Hospital. Staff may be required to work cross site.

This post attracts up to 15% Recruitment and Retention Premium.

The Echo department features the latest cardiac ultrasound equipment in an all‑encompassing digital echo lab. It provides transthoracic, TOE, 3D, DSE and stress exercise echo and contrast studies for all specialties in the Trust. King's College Hospital is a renowned research institution and encourages participation in new and on‑going projects.

Clinical Physiology BSc degree combined with appropriate technical training and Echocardiography accreditation (BSE, EACVI or equivalent) are mandatory for this position. Candidates will also be expected to demonstrate competence and expertise in the full range of advanced echocardiography techniques (TOE, Stress echo, 3D and contrast echo).

We currently offer some physiologist led services such as valve clinic, contrast and bubble, exercise echo and valve stress echocardiography and are developing new services for the future.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be a specialist in Cardiac Echocardiography with BSE and/or equivalent accreditation and expected to be a key and dynamic member of the Cardiac Physiology Team based at King's College Hospital at Denmark Hill. As part of this role, you will be required to independently practice with a high level of skill and autonomy in echocardiography and possess the relevant skills for advanced echocardiographic imaging with good scientific practice as their foundation.

KEY ROLES

• Perform diagnostic echocardiography using advanced techniques such as 4D and GLS to produce a clinically comprehensive report in accordance with BSE guidelines and local standards/protocols
• Maintain own proficiency in echo and other technical skills by keeping up to date with current guidelines.
• Manage your own workload and ensure all reports are complete within a timely manner.
• Co‑ordinate inpatient lists and effectively triage inpatient and outpatient referrals in order of clinical priority as per BSE guidelines and local standards/protocols

About us

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c£1 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust‑wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality & Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person‑centred, digitally‑enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King's to another level.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King's is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone's contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust's carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Job responsibilities

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Demonstrate knowledge in a range of complex cardiac pathologies.
• Perform diagnostic echocardiography using advanced techniques such as 4D and GLS to produce a clinically comprehensive report in accordance with BSE guidelines and local standards/protocols.
• Perform echocardiography in a range of settings, including portable scans at bedside, ITU and cath labs.
• Assist in monitoring stock levels of technical equipment, resolving any shortfalls as appropriate.
• Promote a multi‑disciplinary approach to patient care within the Trust, ensuring a patient‑centred approach to care.
• Actively encourage the development of innovative practices within the department, such as advanced clinical practice.
• Shared responsibility for the Quality Assurance of all Clinical Sonographers & Cardiac Physiologists working within echocardiography specialism.
• Adhere to infection control guidelines including correct use of PPE and uniform policy.

Education

• Provide training, mentorship and support to junior staff, SpRs and Echo Fellows, with a view to improve their echo knowledge and skills.
• Assist in echocardiography education throughout the Trust, including medical students, PTP and STP trainees.
• Maintain own proficiency in echo and other technical skills by keeping up to date with current guidelines.
• Ensure that own mandatory training certificates are current.
• Actively participate in his/her own performance review and own professional development.
• Maintain BSE and/or other transthoracic echocardiography accreditation.
• Maintain/ work towards additional professional accreditation as appropriate.
• Actively participate in the education sessions and journal club.

MANAGERIAL

• Co‑ordinate inpatient lists and effectively triage inpatient and outpatient referrals in order of clinical priority as per BSE guidelines and local standards/protocols.
• Liaise with the administration team to book clinically urgent appointments.
• Manage your own workload and ensure all reports are complete within a timely manner.

PROFESSIONAL

• The post holder has a general duty of care for the health, safety and well‑being of work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital accordance with the Health & Safety at Work Act of 1974 and all other relevant legislation in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountabilities associated with this post.
• The post holder will carry out their duties with due regard to the Trust's Human Resources Policy, Standing Financial Instructions and other relevant Policies of the Trust.
• To observe the rules, policies and procedures of King's College Hospital NHS Trust.
• To maintain satisfactory personal performance and quality standards and to achieve where possible objectives agreed in the Annual Staff Appraisal system.
• To ensure that acceptable standards of data protection are maintained in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1984.
• To observe and maintain strict confidentiality of patient records and staff information: any unauthorised breach of confidentiality may result in disciplinary action.

This job description is intended as a guide to the general scope of duties and is not intended to be definitive or restrictive. It is expected that some of the duties may change over time and this description may be subject to review after discussion with the post holder.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• BSc Clinical Physiology (Cardiology) or equivalent.
• ILS.
• Possession of BSE and/or equivalent accreditation.
• MSc/ STP/ STP equivalence.
• Accreditation in TOE and/or Stress Echo.

Skills / experience

• Demonstrate knowledge of cardiac anatomy, physiology and pathology.
• Some experience with contrast and stress echo.
• Leadership skills and ability to work as part of a team.
• Previous experience of clinical teaching, experience of academic teaching and presentation.
• Previous experience in research / clinical audits.
• Previous experience using GE E95 and Philips CVX / Affinity echo machines.
• Previous experience of ISCV and TomTec reporting packages.

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.

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

£56,276 to £63,176 a year per annum pro rata, including HCA + 15% RRP on Basic Salary