Locum Consultant Cardiologist - Heart Failure and Advanced Echo
The closing date is 17 November 2025
Applications are invited for the above full time post for this 660 bedded acute hospital serving a local population of approximately 400,000. The appointment will be made in accordance with the terms and conditions of service for the 2003 consultant contract (England).
This is an exciting opportunity to join a friendly team of fourteen existing consultants in Cardiology. The successful candidate will augment and complement the consultant capacity, to help drive forwards the department's vision of a comprehensive Cardiology service. Sub-specialty interest in any area appropriate is welcomed, as is an enthusiasm for teaching, audit and research.
Main duties of the job
The appointee will join our dynamic Cardiology department and play a pivotal role in the delivery of high quality General Cardiology and Heart Failure (HF) care at Luton & Dunstable Hospitals and within the trust. At Luton and Dunstable hospital we have an established HF services with 1 Consultant, 2.5 HF specialist nurses and 4 community HF nurses at Luton and 2 community HF nurses covering 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 Wednesday. The post holder is expected to join the team to further develop the services and support periodic pathway development and achieving national standards in HF management for the trust. The post holder will be encouraged to develop subspeciality clinics such as Heart Failure Rapid Optimisation Clinics (HFROC) or inherited cardiomyopathy clinics, cardiac disease in pregnancy clinics or valvular heart disease clinics. There may be the possibility to accommodate subspeciality areas such as Cardiac MRI, Cardiac CT, Echocardiography in the future. They may be the possibility participate in Community Cardiology projects.
About us
Our Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Travel between hospital sites may be required. We have state‑of‑the‑art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available. Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. Please ensure that you make your application as soon as possible.
Job 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
* 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.
* 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.
Person Specification
Qualification
* Medical Degree
* MD or equivalent Higher Degree or evidence of relevant research
Registration
* Full GMC Registration with a licence to practice
* Entry onto the GMC Specialist Register: CCT (or within 6 months of receipt of CCT at time of interview) CESR (must be on Specialist Register at time of applying)
Clinical Experience
* Excellent all round experience of DGH work
* Evidence of thorough and broad training and experience in Cardiology and General Medicine
* Able to take full and independent responsibility for clinical work and delivering service without direct supervision.
* Subspecialty interests in Heart Failure and Advanced Echocardiography (including TOE, dobutamine/ exercise stress echo)
* BSE level 2 accreditation in transthoracic echocardiography
* Experience of performing and interpreting a high volume of advanced echocardiography studies including TOE & stress echo
* Training in Advanced Heart Failure management
* Training in Cardiac Transplantation and Mechanical Support
* Experience in Community Cardiology
Clinical Effectiveness
* Understanding of clinical governance and ability to demonstrate ongoing CPD
* Experience of guideline appraisal
* Participation in relevant local audits
* Ability to interpret and apply clinical research
* Participation in relevant national audits
* Experience of quality improvement within subspecialty interests
Teaching
* Knowledge and ability to teach all grades of trainees and medical students
* Has attended Teaching the Teachers or similar course
* Ability to co-operate in a democratic team environment
* Flexible attitude, team player with good management skills
* Leadership Skills
Clinical Governance
* Able to demonstrate a broad understanding of the principles and elements of clinical governance.
Personnel Circumstances
* Residence within 10 miles by road or up to thirty minutes travelling time of the hospital for purposes of on‑call emergencies.
* Fit to undertake the role with satisfactory Occupational Health clearance
* Satisfactory DBS clearance
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.
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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