Locum Consultant Cardiologist with an Interest in Cardiac Imaging

Job overview

Applications are invited for the post of Locum Consultant Cardiologist with a Specialist Interest in Cardiac Imaging at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital (LHCH). This is an exciting opportunity to join a dynamic and expanding team of imaging cardiologists in one of the UK's leading specialist cardiothoracic centres. The successful applicant will have expertise in at least two advanced cardiac imaging modalities from echocardiography, cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) and cardiac computed tomography (CT). Experience in structural heart disease, valve and TAVI imaging is desirable but is not essential. The department is committed to supporting the development of additional imaging competencies, including structural heart, TAVI and advanced valve imaging, where appropriate. The successful applicant will join an established and supportive multidisciplinary imaging team and will contribute to the delivery and development of high-quality cardiac imaging across the Trust.

Main duties of the job

The appointee will join an established team of imaging cardiologists, working alongside the wider consultant cardiology and radiology teams to provide a broad range of multimodality cardiac imaging. The imaging service supports a wide range of clinical pathways including valvular heart disease, structural and interventional cardiology, cardiac surgery, electrophysiology and devices, inherited cardiac conditions, cardio-oncology and general cardiology. The successful applicant will contribute according to their individual expertise and areas of interest. The department provides a comprehensive range of advanced cardiac imaging including transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography, stress and 3D echocardiography, cardiac CT and cardiovascular MRI. The successful applicant will contribute to multidisciplinary team meetings and provide expert imaging opinion for both elective and urgent clinical cases.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The appointee will be joining a team of six imaging cardiologists, as well as the larger cardiology consultant group. Due to the expansion of LHCH’s surgical and structural programmes, this is an exciting and rewarding time to be involved in tertiary centre cardiac imaging in Liverpool due to the increasing demand, improving investment in cardiac diagnostics/radiology, improving image quality and scanner capabilities, and advancing research. LHCH is a high-volume centre for cardiac CT and MRI, with the scanners being dedicated to cardiac work. The imaging cardiologists and radiologists form a supportive, cohesive, collaborative and efficient team who benefit from each other’s knowledge and experience.

LHCH provides an advanced echo service encompassing all aspects of echocardiography including stress, 3D, contrast, transoesophageal and echo in the catheter lab for interventional procedures. The cardiac diagnostics department is staffed with 20 highly skilled cardiac physiologists with individual BSE accreditation, with the same accreditation also awarded at departmental level. In the past 12 months, over 10,000 outpatient transthoracic echocardiograms were performed along with over 500 stress echo, 400 transoesophageal echo, 4500 in-patient scans and over 1000 scans for the community cardiology service. For stress echo, the department is able to offer all modalities including treadmill, bike, pacing and pharmacological stress. TOE is performed in a purpose-built endoscopy suite. The adult congenital heart disease imaging team are integrated with the imaging department and work in close collaboration with the imaging cardiologists. There are strong links with local secondary care cardiologists and a local network to which the appointee would be expected to contribute.

The TAVI/structural team work closely with the imaging group and currently consist of six interventional cardiologists. The service is expanding with new appointments imminent, and there is collaborative working with dedicated nurse specialists, cardiac and vascular surgeons. Approximately 500 TAVIs will be performed this year, with a recently established TEER service gaining experience and consultant recruitment. Additional structural work includes PFO, paravalvular leak and VSD closure.

Applicant requirements

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.