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Detailed job description and main responsibilities

We are searching for a dynamic, highly motivated, hardworking and enthusiastic individual to join our team. The successful candidates after two years of training will become fully conversant with perfusion techniques involving adult, paediatric and neonatal patients. These techniques include cardiopulmonary bypass, cell salvage, Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation, Ventricular Assist Devices, Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump, Liver Perfusion, Xvivo Donor Heart Perfusion Retrievals and various point of care testing techniques including thromboelastography.

Job Purpose

• As an autonomous practitioner a Clinical Perfusionist should offer a comprehensive specialist clinical and technical service during both routine and emergency procedures as a vital member of the multidisciplinary team during cardiac surgery. Train to become competent in all aspects of neonatal and paediatric perfusion. Participate in the emergency on-call rota. The clinical perfusionist will also participate in the education of trainee perfusionists and contribute to departmental research.
• Safely perform a range of highly specialised perfusion techniques on adult patients during routine and emergency cardiopulmonary bypass.
• Construct, prime and operate the cardiopulmonary bypass machine to maintain CAR/PTB/CAR/FRM/149g “life support” for the period of cardiopulmonary bypass according to local and occupational clinical policies and protocols.
• Assess the patient’s relevant medical history, pathology and diagnosis and make appropriate decisions concerning conduct of the procedure.
• Administer drugs including colloid/ crystalloid fluids, vasoactive drugs, cardioplegia solutions, potassium, anticoagulants, haemostatic drugs, sodium bicarbonate and osmotic diuretics as clinically indicated.
• Prepare and deliver cardioplegic solutions to arrest the heart and give a still bloodless field in which the surgeon can perform heart surgery. Deliver multiple doses of antegrade and/or retrograde cardioplegic solutions to optimise myocardial preservation during open heart surgery.
• Maintain patient’s blood pressure at adequate level whilst on cardiopulmonary bypass, by mechanical and pharmalogical means.
• Maintain adequate levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in patients’ bloodstream using an artificial lung (Membrane Oxygenator)
• Manipulate on a second-to-second basis the patient’s cardiovascular system whilst on cardiopulmonary bypass.
• Monitor a wide range of highly complex and routinely conflicting clinical information on a minute to minute basis such as blood oximetry, cardiac output, systemic vascular resistance, ventilation and anticoagulation whilst observing renal status and blood glucose levels and take appropriate autonomous action.
• Undertake, analyse and interpret arterial/venous blood gases and coagulation status.
• Take where appropriate, delegated responsibility for the delivery of a highly specialist perfusion service, ensuring the service is effective and well-coordinated.
• Advise clinicians on the suitability of equipment and persuade clinicians on appropriate course of action.
• Determine the requirements for and perform where clinically indicated, haemofiltration and blood transfusion during cardiopulmonary bypass.
• Set up and manage, where appropriate; antegrade/retrograde cerebral perfusion, deep hypothermic circulatory arrest and mechanical support devices.
• Assist senior clinical perfusionist in construction and management of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (long term cardiopulmonary bypass)
• Undertake retrieval and preservation of donor organs (heart and/or lungs) from hospitals in our retrieval sector
• Ensure quality control, calibration and maintenance of complex medical equipment in Clinical Perfusion and their safe use incompliance with Near-Patient testing Policies.
• Assisting when necessary with education of trainee clinical perfusionists.
• Training of nursing and medical personnel in use of blood gas analysers
• Participating in Clinical Perfusion 24hr emergency on-call rota as second on-call.

Please note it is a requirement of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust that all successful candidates who require a DBS for the post they have been offered pay for their DBS certificate. The method of payment is a salary deduction from your first month’s pay.

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.