Job Overview
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Cardiology department in North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) as a Consultant with Special Interest in Complex Devices and Heart Failure (or other sub-specialty).
This post is key to delivering complex device services in the Cardiology Specialty at NBT (base hospital) and the Bristol Heart Institute.
NBT and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) are high-performing organisations with a strong track record of collaboration and proud histories of excellent care, teaching, and research.
NBT is partnering with UHBW to form a Hospital Group, with both NHS organisations sharing the ambition to deliver seamless, high-quality, equitable, and sustainable care across Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire.
With a combined workforce of 28,000 and a budget over £2.1 billion, the Hospital Group is delivering a Joint Clinical Strategy aimed at tackling health inequalities, improving outcomes, and delivering better value for patients, staff, and the public.
In Spring 2025, the Cardiology Specialty at NBT will form a Group Cardiac Service with UHBW, operating as a single service across both Trusts. Cardiac Services will be led by a unified leadership team, with UHBW as the lead organisation, and site-based leadership supporting daily operations. Cardiology care at NBT is delivered in the Brunel building at Southmead Hospital and at the Bristol Heart Institute for UHBW.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will need to have a CCT in Cardiology with subspecialisation in pacing/device therapy and Heart Failure (or other sub-specialty) and be well experienced in the in-patient and out-patient management of patients with General Cardiology diagnoses.
There is a commitment to a 1 in 10 Cardiology Consultant of the week service at Southmead Hospital, with the opportunity for pacing/lab sessions at both North Bristol NHS Trust and the Bristol Heart Institute.
The individual will be required to work flexibly and across site to fulfil high professional standards and contribute to Departmental, Division and Trust priorities. The attached job plan gives an indication of commitments but will be made firm on appointment and may take account of any additional clinical skills which the postholder brings.
Please note, the job description for this role is pending approval from the Royal College of Physicians.
Working for our organisation
North Bristol NHS Trust is the largest Trust in the South West region and one of the largest trusts in the country. Last year the Trust treated over 100,000 inpatients, over 35,000 outpatients, 90,000 emergency department patients and helped deliver over 6,000 babies. It employs more than 9,500 staff, has approximately 1,050 inpatient beds and income in excess of £540 million.
The Trust provides Medical, Surgical, Neonatal and Maternity Care for its local population of approximately a million people in Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset. The Trust also provides regional services in Neurosciences, Orthopaedics, Pathology, Plastic Surgery and Burns, Renal Medicine and Transplant and Urology and is the Major Trauma Centre for the West Country.
The health service in Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire is being remodeled to concentrate on acute facilities and where appropriate to provide more care close to patient homes through a network community hospitals and facilities. The Trust recently moved the majority of its acute services to the Brunel Building, regarded as one of the best hospital facilities in Europe, on the Southmead Hospital Site. At Southmead Hospital, we also have our excellent maternity and women’s health services, the Bristol Breast Care Centre and the Trust’s Severn Pathology service.
Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities
- The post holder will have continuing responsibility for the care of patients in his or her charge and for the proper functioning of the service and will undertake the administrative duties associated with the care of patients and the running of the clinical department. The post holder will be required to work in partnership with colleagues of all disciplines, external links to the Trust and service users, to ensure the creation of a quality service.
- The postholder will participate in the Consultant of the Week (COW) rota. This entails the running of the Coronary Care Unit for the week, as well as responsibility for patients on the general Cardiology ward. COW duties also involve a daily ward round on the Acute Medical Unit (AMU) to discuss new referrals, and review of any Cardiology referrals highlighted by the Cardiology Middle Grades within the Hospital.
- The postholder will support the pacing services at North Bristol NHS Trust and the Bristol Heart Institute including cross site collaborative work with complex devices.
- The postholder will have dedicated Catheter Laboratory sessions in the Brunel Building (Southmead Hospital).
- The postholder will support and work with the cardiac physiologist team in programming and follow up of patients with implantable cardiac devices.
- The postholder will deliver outpatient care will be delivered through regular clinics at the NBT site and attend MDT meetings.
- There will be an expectation that the postholder provides commitment to maintain professional expertise by attendance at meetings and courses, and completion of diaries for Continued Professional Development (CPD) is essential. Also essential is that the postholder have an annual appraisal and undergo revalidation as required.
- The postholder will be required to participate in audit and Division/Specialty meetings and undertake administrative duties as required by the role and directed by the Specialty Lead in Cardiology.
- Cover of colleagues absent on leave (prospective cover) will be required.
Person specification
Qualifications And Registration
Essential criteria
- Maintain full registration with the GMC;
- MRCP (UK) or equivalent
- Must have CCT in Cardiology and have been entered on the GMC Specialist Register at the time of the appointment
Desirable criteria
- Higher Academic Qualification (eg, MD or MS)
Training and Experience
Essential criteria
- Recent experience and familiarity of UK hospital systems and practices
- Minimum of 10 years postgraduate experience, including higher surgical/medical training
- 5 years as an SpR in an approved training post - part of this period may be in a post of equivalent responsibility and training potential
- Training in diagnosis and treatment of Heart Failure (or other sub-specialty)
- Subspecialty accreditation in complex pacing
Desirable criteria
- Complex pacing Fellowship
- Proven expertise in other Cardiology sub-specialties
- BSE accreditation
- Experience in managing advanced heart failure (e.g. managing patients with cardiogenic shock, ECMO, Impella, links with heart transplantation teams etc).
Further Training, Management and Audit
Essential criteria
- Evidence of recent CME/reasonable training progression at this stage of career
- Experience in audit project and written up
- Knowledge of contemporary NHS management issues
- Knowledge of political context within which the NHS and Cardiology operate
Desirable criteria
- Completion of a general management course or programme
Research, Training and Publications
Essential criteria
- Willingness to undertake teaching of medical undergraduate and postgraduate grades
- Proven teaching ability
- Ability to gain the trust and confidence of colleagues and patients
Desirable criteria
- Proven track record in research
- Willingness to undertake further research
- Evidence of relevant publications in peer reviewed journals
- Demonstration of involvement in clinical directorate management
Personal Requirements (eg, Communication, Leadership, Skills, Flexibility)
Essential criteria
- Ability to lead a team and form effective working relationships within a team
- Ability to inspire, motivate and develop junior medical staff
- Ability to work independently as well as part of a larger Specialty and Divisional team. To balance individual requirements against those of the Division and Trust as a whole
- Excellent written communication skills. Evidence of the ability to communicate with patients, colleagues and staff at all levels - verbally and in writing
