Senior Respiratory Clinical Physiologist

Job overview

The Department of Respiratory Medicine is seeking a senior respiratory clinical physiologist to join our friendly multi-disciplinary team and help deliver a comprehensive respiratory diagnostic service for our catchment population in Dorset.

The successful candidate will have been working as a Respiratory Clinical Physiologist at Band 6 and have at least 2-3 years experience at this level and be ready to progress up to a Band 6 role. You should hold a BSc in Respiratory Clinical Physiology, Biological Sciences or an equivalent qualification. The possession of relevant professional qualifications (for example, ARTP part 1 and 2 or practitioner) or working towards achieving these is highly desirable. You should be RCCP registered or at least be eligible for registration.

Main duties of the job

The department provides a broad range of respiratory physiological measurements including Full PFT’s (currently using Vyaire equipment including whole body plethysmography), FeNO and exhaled CO monitoring, field walk tests, arterial, venous and capillary blood gas measurements and interpretation, shunt fraction tests, CPET, skin prick testing, methacholine & hypoxic challenges and oxygen assessments. Training and support will be given to the right applicant if they are not fully competent in performing the diagnostic tests that will be part of their duties.

We also provide a sleep diagnostic and CPAP service in partnership with another Trust and so experience of performing and knowledge of analysing respiratory polygraphy sleep studies and CPAP would be an advantage, but not a major requirement of this role and further training can be provided.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The holder of this post will be responsible for providing and overseeing routine pulmonary function tests and some advanced respiratory diagnostic tests. They would be expected to partake in performing CPET and working towards analysis and interpretation of this test, and so experience of this test performance and ECG monitoring would be ideal but training and development can be given to the right applicant.

They will need to liaise with patients, carers and other healthcare professionals (within secondary care and across primary care networks) to provide and improve the delivery of respiratory services. They will also develop links to improve the performance of spirometry and other respiratory diagnostic procedures in primary care settings.   Respiratory & Sleep Investigations

• To perform a broad range of lung function investigations and interpret as necessary (including Spirometry, Full PFT’s inc. Plethysmography, Methacholine Challenge, FeNO, Exercise Tests (including field tests, Cardio-Pulmonary Exercise Tests, etc.), skin prick allergy tests, and arterial/capillary blood gas assessments
• To perform Multi-Channel Sleep (Polygraphy) & Overnight Oximetry Studies and interpret as necessary.
• To assist with initiating and monitoring CPAP treatment.
• To assist in running the physiologist-led ILD clinics.
• To produce technically accurate results in accordance with local and national guidelines, including safety and infection control.
• Be competent in manipulating lung function and other computer software to ensure accurate results and clear reports.
• Administrative duties, including stock control and managing inpatient and outpatient appointments (allocating resources, including staff, to ensure efficient use).
• Be responsible for the maintenance, quality assurance, calibration and infection control of all lung function & sleep equipment.
• To oversee the training and development of junior team members and apprentices, including portfolio completion and DOPS, CBDs and OCEs.
• To undergo some clinical systems training (such as Vyaire SentryConnect and Solus by HD Clinical) to ensure the smooth operation of our integrating requesting and reporting systems. This would be part of a group of trained physiologists to ensure system resilience.