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Job summary

Main area
Acute Medicine
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 5
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
193-7834876UCGB5-RESP
Employer
Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Royal Berkshire Hospital
Town
Reading
Salary
£31,049 - £37,796 PA
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
26/03/2026 23:59
Interview date
10/04/2026

Employer heading

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust logo

Respiratory Physiologist

NHS AfC: Band 5

At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust we put our patients at the heart of every element of health and care that we provide. The Trust works together as a community to deliver its vision which is “Working together to provide outstanding care for our community.”

Royal Berkshire Hospital are pleased to announce that following our CQC inspection we have been rated ‘Good’ with inspectors reporting that we have made significant improvements.  The Trust’s overall rating has also improved to ‘good’.  

We are Compassionate in our thoughts, words and actions

We are Aspirational and have a true desire to be dynamic and to innovate

We are Resourceful and responsible in the way we work and live

We are Excellent in our development, fairness and sharing best practice

At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, we value candidates who bring their unique personalities, skills, and experiences to the Trust. When completing your application, we encourage you to highlight your individual achievements and strengths, showing us how they align with the requirements outlined in the job description and person specification. While we recognise that some applicants may use AI tools during the process, please be mindful that AI-generated responses can often lack the personal detail and relevance needed to demonstrate your suitability for the role. AI generated content is discouraged by the Trust and may diminish the candidates chances of success.

Amazing things happen at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust; delivered by amazing people so why don’t you come and join us.  We offer a range of learning and development for all employees may you be clinical or non-clinical.  

Job overview

Band 5 Respiratory Physiologist

The provision of diagnostic assessment services in Respiratory Physiology and the therapeutic monitoring of patients with lung disease and sleep disordered breathing.

Applicants who are invited for interview should be prepared to discuss various relevant aspects of running a respiratory physiology service.  Interpretation of full lung function, sleep studies and CPAP data may be required.

Applicants will also be required to provide a 10 minute (8 slides maximum) PowerPoint presentation covering the brief - 'Next steps in waiting list recovery'.

A short practical assessment may also be performed covering one of the following measurements: FeNO, Spirometry, simulated bronchodilator response, TLCO, static lung volumes.

Main duties of the job

To perform respiratory physiological measurements in accordance with ARTP/BTS National Guidelines and Departmental Standards at various trust locations.

To train and supervise department staff to perform the basic respiratory physiological measurements in accordance with ARTP/BTS National Guidelines and Departmental Standards.

The maintenance of equipment, stocks of consumables, accurate record keeping.

The instruction of student nurses and doctors, trainee physiotherapists and pharmacists, junior doctors, staff nurses, GPs and practice nurses, etc., in lung function testing.

 

 

Working for our organisation

We are one of the largest hospital foundation trusts in the country, and currently touch the lives of half a million patients in the west of Berkshire every year by providing high quality acute medical and surgical services for our local communities.  

Our values:

  • Compassionate
  • Aspirational
  • Resourceful
  • Excellent

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES

  • To perform diagnostic tests to nationally accepted standards for accuracy and quality.
  • To carry out the following investigations:
  1. Spirometry (measurement of dynamic flows and volumes).
  2. Measurement of static lung volumes by multiple approved techniques.
  3. Gas transfer for Carbon Monoxide by single breath technique.
  4. Bronchodilator Response Testing.
  5. Field exercise tests (6 minute walk test; shuttle test; 6 minute step exercise test).
  6. Ambulatory oxygen assessment (when required).
  7. Measurement of respiratory muscle strength (MIP/MEP; SNIP tests; postural spirometry).
  8. To assist in the performance of hypoxic inhalation tests (fitness to fly).
  9. To assist in the performance of histamine challenge tests.
  10. To perform earlobe blood gas sampling and analysis.
  11. To perform fraction exhaled Nitric Oxide testing.
  12. To perform a range of diagnostic tests in patients who have suspected sleep related breathing disorders.
  13. To perform CPAP Trial set ups for patients with diagnosed sleep disordered breathing.
  14. To perform the review of CPAP therapy for patients with diagnosed sleep disordered breathing who are on CPAP treatment.
  15. To assist in the provision of home NIV.
  16. To assist in the performance of cardio pulmonary exercise tests.

Please refer to the attached Job Description & Person Specification for further details.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • Scientific knowledge acquired through formal training to Clinical Physiology BSc or equivalent level
  • Good IT skills
Desirable criteria
  • Recognised ARTP qualification in physiological measurement (associate level or equivalent) – or working towards
  • ARTP CPAP or oximetry portfolio qualification

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Minimum of 2 years experience working in clinical respiratory physiology
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of non-routine respiratory physiological tests
  • Experience in the diagnosis and treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyCare quality commission - GoodArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Florence Nightingale FoundationNational Preceptorship for Nursing Quality Mark 2024

Applicant requirements

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.

Application numbers

This vacancy may close early due to the application cap imposed.
Candidates to be capped at 30 applications for each whole time equivalent position being recruited to.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Mark Unstead
Job title
Lead Respiratory Physiologist
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01183225111
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