Job summary
- Main area
- Acute Medicine
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 4
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (per annum)
- Job ref
- 193-8195302UCGB4-ARP
- Employer
- Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Royal Berkshire Hospital
- Town
- Reading
- Salary
- £28,392 - £31,157 PA
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 09/09/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Assistant Respiratory Physiologist
NHS AfC: Band 4
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.
Please note: all vacancies automatically close when 50 applications have been received.
Job overview
Band 4 Respiratory Physiologist
This is an exciting opportunity to join our team and develop to become an Assistant Clinical Respiratory Physiologist.
This is a period of ever expanding service for the department and this is an opportunity for you to be involved in the continued development of a laboratory where scientific process, data quality and patient experience are at the core of the daily activities.
Main duties of the job
You will train to perform a range of respiratory function investigations under the supervision of the Respiratory Physiologists. You will also gain skills in performing basic diagnostic procedures and treatment provision in our sleep and ventilation service. Once in post, you will undertake an in-service training program and when ready to do so, will complete a professional qualification exam. For the right candidate, there is also the possibility for future study whilst in post.
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
To assist in the multi-site-provision of diagnostic assessment services in Respiratory Physiology and the therapeutic monitoring of patients with lung disease and/or sleep disordered breathing.
PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES
- To perform diagnostic tests to nationally recognised standards for accuracy and quality.
To perform the following investigations under the supervision of the Clinical Respiratory Physiologists:
- Spirometry (measurement of dynamic flows and volumes)
- Measurement of static lung volumes by Helium dilution technique, Nitrogen Washout and Body Plethysmography.
- Gas transfer for Carbon Monoxide by single breath technique
- Assist with Bronchodilator Response Testing
- Assist with field exercise tests (6 minute walk test; shuttle test).
- Measurement of respiratory muscle strength (MIP/MEP; SNIP tests; postural spirometry).
- To assist in the performance of hypoxic inhalation tests (fitness to fly).
- To assist in the performance of methacholine challenge tests.
- To assist in the performance of earlobe blood gas sampling and analysis.
- To perform diagnostic tests in patients who have suspected sleep related breathing disorders.
- To assist in the performance of CPAP Trial set ups for patients with diagnosed Sleep Apnoea.
- To assist in the review of CPAP therapy for patients with diagnosed Sleep Apnoea who on CPAP.
- To assist in the performance of cardio-pulmonary exercise tests (CPET).
Please refer to the attached Job Description & Person Specification for further details.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Minimum 5 GCSE (A-C) Including Maths, English and Science
- Good IT skills
- A-Levels or equivalent in a scientific subject
Desirable criteria
- Recognised Spirometry Qualification
Experience
Essential criteria
- Clinical/healthcare/relevant scientific experience
Desirable criteria
- Respiratory Physiology experience
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
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Mark Unstead
- Job title
- Lead Respiratory Physiologist
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01183225111
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