Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The appointee will be joining a team of ten full time in-house interventional cardiologists, and six joint appointees in intervention. This is a replacement post for an interventional consultant with an interest in coronary intervention. The interventional cardiology team currently consists of 18 interventional cardiologists, supported by imaging cardiologists, dedicated nurse specialists, cardiac and vascular surgeons. 16 of our interventional cardiologists participate in coronary intervention at LHCH. There are a number of dedicated coronary interventionalists, combined with those also undertaking structural intervention, and those in joint appointments at other hospitals around the region. We offer the full range of coronary interventions including coronary physiology, coronary imaging with IVUS and OCT, complex calcium modification with intravascular lithotripsy, rotational atherectomy and LASER atherectomy. In addition there are regular CTO lists with cases discussed through a dedicated MDT. We have both registrars training in coronary intervention, a a Fellowship training programme with our previous Fellows obtaining consultant posts in tertiary centres in the UK and abroad.

There has been a major increase in the PCI service in recent years, an increase in complex intervention in an ageing population and a PPCI service delivering 800-1000 cases per year.  There is an established ACHD programme, a high volume TAVI service, and recent commissioning for TEER, a large ASD/PFO closure practice; , septal alcohol ablation for HCM and aortic and large vessel stenting. There are currently three interventional catheter labs each with biplane Phillips flat plate imaging, integrated intravascular ultrasound, optical coherence tomography and pressure wire. The cath lab sessions are utilised flexibly with an annualised job plan.

The LHCH is one of the largest transradial PCI centres in the UK and has an innovative day case lounge model for elective patients. There is integrated working to provide the regional transfer service for ACS cases with excellent liaison between colleagues. Many ACS cases are performed as day cases. There is no formal spilt of beds for subspecialty cardiology.  Junior staff are shared between consultant teams.  There will be specific junior staff allocated at registrar level. Specialty registrars undergo modular training and the appointee would be involved in training and would have the opportunity to be an educational supervisor. Level 1 accreditation (E & D certificate and teaching course attendance) is required to be an educational supervisor. Participation in the undergraduate and junior doctor teaching programmes would be expected.

There is a Consultant of the Week structure, to which the new appointee will contribute, whereby all cardiology IP are reviewed daily. There is an MDT/heart team structure, involving several areas (revasc, high risk surgical, TAVI, mitral, structural, imaging) to which the appointee would be expected to contribute. New consultant appointments would have an appointed mentor and would receive clinical support from all senior colleagues. There are opportunities for joint lab working. We have a system of exclusive named consultant performance for the specialist procedures (eg ASD closure, HOCM ablation, complex CTO) and allocation to specific sub-specialisation interests is on the basis of interest and training, with departmental consensus.

The service is also supported by six interventional cardiologists jointly appointed with six partner hospitals in the region (Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals; University Hospital Aintree; Warrington District General Hospital; Countess of Chester Hospital, Wirral University Teaching Hospital and Whiston Hospital). All these colleagues have weekly lists and contribute to the regional ACS and PPCI services.

There is a significant commitment to research and audit and a training commitment to the SpRs in general training and those who wish to specialise. The LHCH is a national leader in PCI data handling and there has been a major development of research facilities; this is spearheaded by the research alliance with the Brompton Hospital and Imperial College London as the university academic partner. The Institute of Cardiovascular Medicine and Science was launched in September 2011.

The attached job plan represents the proposed job plan for the post.  The timetable is fairly flexible and can be adjusted to suit the needs of the appointee and any specific interests they may have. The applicant will be expected to participate in a “full slot” on the departments primary PCI on call rota.           

It is expected that secondary and tertiary referrals will predominately reflect the appointee’s special interest in intervention, but clinics are available through ‘choose and book’ and general cardiology is referred. The trust accepts referrals though ‘choose and book’ relevant to listed keywords appropriate to subspecialty interest.  Outpatient work will be either at LHCH (weekly) Clinic duties vary depending on the specialty but on average new patients are allotted 30mins, and follow up 15mins with a ratio of 4 new:8 f/u. The successful candidate will have full secretarial support, a personal computer (training available if required) and office accommodation.

The successful candidate will undergo annual appraisal and job planning.  The appointee will be expected to work flexibly on the basis of the needs of the cardiology directorate and the trust. The Trust has the required arrangements in place, as laid down by the Royal College ofPhysicians, to ensure that all doctors have an annual appraisal with a trained appraiser and supports doctors going through the revalidation process.

Regional and network working

LHCH delivers tertiary cardiology services across Cheshire and Merseyside, working closely with partner organisations to develop integrated and sustainable pathways of care. Through its membership of the University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, LHCH is leading the development of a unified cardiology service for the city. The successful applicant will be expected to engage actively in these developments, fostering strong collaborative relationships across the service and contributing to cross-site working arrangements where these support service and patient needs.

The Trust supports the provision of a mentor for newly-appointed consultants.