GP Cardiologist – Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Overview
OUHFT seeks to recruit qualified GPs to be trained to deliver cardiology services as part of a unified team at community locations in the region. The roles are part time; GP Cardiologists are asked to consider undertaking 1-2 sessions per week (with time off for annual leave, study leave and CPD). Full training will be provided, as will a shadowing programme at OUHFT. This approach to community cardiology aims to integrate primary and secondary care, making care more accessible and closer to home, improving patient experience and outcomes by identifying and holistically treating risk factors and co-morbid conditions—including mental health conditions—in patients with known or suspected heart disease.
Each clinic will be supported by a healthcare assistant and secretarial support. Consultant cardiologists will act as mentors and be available for advice when needed. The GP will be a substantive employee of OUHFT and will have access to the resources of the tertiary centre cardiology service. It is anticipated that, when trained and where appropriate, GP Cardiologists will be able to refer patients directly for cardiac procedures, including advanced imaging, angiography, cardioversion, ablation and pacing.
Main duties of the job
Integration between primary and secondary care is recognised to bring advantages such as increased accessibility, improved patient experience, better health care economies through enhanced cost-effectiveness, and opportunities for professional satisfaction.
OUHFT seeks to appoint several GP-Cardiologists to develop services for patients closer to home. Our approach is to recruit and train motivated, high-calibre general practitioners who are committed to high standards of patient care for those with known or suspected cardiovascular disease and to enhancing patient experience and the value created by the healthcare system.
The aims of the posts are to:
* Improve access to expert cardiovascular care
* Improve patient experience and provide care closer to home
* Enhance holistic patient assessment and treatment, including identification and treatment of co-morbid conditions and mental health issues
* Create value in the healthcare system by allocating resources effectively
* Strengthen primary care by enhancing interactions with secondary care and providing broader career paths for GPs
About us
GP Cardiologists will contribute to management, organisation, governance, educational and academic programs of the clinical service unit. They will attend and contribute to teaching sessions and to teaching and training activities within the department.
Job responsibilities
The GP Cardiologist will be responsible for assessing, analysing and forming a diagnosis and management plan for patients with known or suspected cardiovascular disease attending the Community Cardiology Clinic.
Assessments will include history, physical examination and interpretation of an ECG in most cases, and may include data from echocardiography, exercise testing, heart rhythm monitoring and more specialized imaging, with a provisional report provided by the physiologist in all cases.
The GP Cardiologist will diagnose, communicate results to the patient and carers/family, and make recommendations on lifestyle modifications, medications, need for further investigations, and follow-up location (with own GP, in community cardiology, or in secondary care).
They will communicate outcomes of the consultation to the GP and secondary care, and will complete all administration relating to the consultation and to the service, including requesting, reviewing and endorsing investigation results.
GP Cardiologists will be responsible for triaging all cardiology GP referrals, which may be triaged directly to the community cardiology service or to OUH services. Where a referral can be managed without a face-to-face consultation, the GP will provide written advice to the referring GP.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* GMC Registration with Licence to Practice
* MRCGP
* MB BS or equivalent
* Post-graduate exams relevant to Cardiology (e.g., MRCP) and/or Post-graduate Diploma in Cardiology
Experience
* At least 3 years of training in community GP practice or equivalent
* Independent general practitioner capable of accountability for patient care without direct supervision
* Additional experience in general practice
* Post-graduate experience in Cardiology
* Relevant experience from other secondary care specialties e.g. general medicine
Skills and Knowledge
* Willingness to learn
* Ability to triage cases
* Strong verbal and written communication skills
* Confidence with electronic patient record systems (training provided)
* Prioritisation and time management
* Ability to lead a small team (physiologist and healthcare assistant)
* Commitment to cardiology, including related posters, presentations, audits, abstracts, papers or research projects
Other
* Full GMC registration and Licence to Practice
* Willingness to travel to community cardiology clinics
* Commitment to more than one session per week
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and will require a Disclosure to check for any previous convictions.
Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Oxford Heart Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital
Salary: £109,725 to £145,478 per year, pro rata
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Part-time
Reference number
321-MRC-MS-7413563-S1
Job locations
Oxford Heart Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital
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