Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Lead Clinical Scientist in Echocardiography
The closing date is 26 November 2026

Job summary
The Lancashire Cardiac Centre is a tertiary cardiac provider for the people of Lancashire & Cumbria. The centre has well-established invasive and non-invasive services covering a wide range of diagnostic and treatment including.

This is an exciting opportunity to work at the centre as an experienced Clinical Scientist in Cardiac Physiology to take a leading role in the development and delivery of a new specialist service focused on valve disease.

The post holder will be responsible for the setup, delivery, and ongoing management of a new Scientist-led Rapid Access to Valve Assessment (RAVA) clinic. This innovative service aims to significantly reduce the time from diagnosis of severe left-sided valve disease to clinical decision-making, thereby helping to address health inequalities across the region.

We are seeking an enthusiastic, motivated echocardiographer who holds Clinical Scientist registration and demonstrates advanced expertise in cardiac physiology. The successful candidate will have:

• Excellent communication and organisational skills
• A thorough understanding of cardiac disease progression and its management
• The ability to lead service development and work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team
• A passion for improving patient pathways and outcomes

This is a key leadership role within the cardiac physiology service and offers an opportunity to shape a new, high-impact clinical pathway.

Main duties of the job
The post holder will be required to take the lead role in setting up and delivering scientist led services including bubble and contrast echo, prosthetic and native valve surveillance clinics. The job will also require the setup, delivery and maintenance of a new Scientist-led "Rapid access to valve assessment" (RAVA) clinic which aims to reduce the time from diagnosis of severe left-sided valve disease to clinical decision making, to help address health inequalities in the region. These services will reduce the requirement for separate follow-up appointments and echocardiograms therefore reducing the burden on consultant-led clinics.

About us
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is situated on the west coast of Lancashire. We have unspoilt coastline, attractive towns, quiet villages and beautiful countryside.

Motorway and rail links mean the rest of the North West is within easy reach - from Blackpool Victoria Hospital it's an 18-mile drive to Preston, 58 miles to Manchester Airport and 64 miles to Lake Windermere.

We provide health services across the Fylde coast, Lancashire and south Cumbria, area that is home to 1.6 million people. A range of hospital services is provided to the 352,000 people living on the Fylde coast and the estimated 18 million visitors who visit each year.

The Trust offers community health services to 445,000 residents of Blackpool, Fylde, Wyre and north Lancashire. We also provide specialist regional care for cardiac and haematology patients.

We employ more than 6,500 staff, with a turnover in excess of £370m in and have approximately 900 beds.

Details
Date posted: 13 November 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8a
Salary: £57,528 to £64,750 a year pro rata
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 12 months
Working pattern: Part-time
Reference number: 382-SWC172-26
Job locations: Blackpool Teaching Hospitals, Whinney Heys Road, Blackpool, FY3 8NR, United Kingdom

Job description
Job responsibilities
Providing an expert clinical and technical service in echocardiography that impacts directly upon the clinical management of the patient. This will be underpinned by highly developed specialist knowledge gained by postgraduate training and completion of relevant qualifications.

Responsible for the setup and delivery of a scientist led contrast service which includes the setup and administration of IV contrast agents a service previously performed under medical supervision. Report on bubble and contrast studies and liaise with relevant Cardiologists and Stroke physicians. Attend multi-disciplinary clinical review meetings to present own expert opinions on the results from highly complex and specialist investigations.

Additionally, the post holder will be responsible for the development of further scientist led services to improve the echocardiography department, reduce cardiology waiting times, help the trust meet national targets and enhance the patient experience.

Collaborate with other specialist teams within Cardiology including TAVI and Heart failure teams to ensure continuity of care is maintained for patients and deliver complimentary scientist and nurse led clinics in the highly specialist area of valve assessment and surveillance.

Report results from the scientist led clinics electronically with results delivered back to GP and referring clinicians following any necessary consultation with imaging consultants and other specialised staff. This will include identifying any changes in the patients condition and expediting to the supervising cardiologist if necessary. Present results in way that is appropriate to different professions and able to be understood by the patient/relatives.

Person Specification
Education and Qualification
Essential

• BSc Clinical Physiology or equivalent
• BSE Adult TTE accreditation
• HCPC registration as Clinical Scientist
• Immediate or advanced life support
• NHS management and leadership training/experience
• Level 7 Clinical Examination skills qualification

Desirable

• Management/leadership qualification
• British Heart Valve Society membership - inclusion on register of competences in valve disease

Experience and Knowledge
Essential

• Proven expertise in advanced Echocardiography with >5 years experience post-accreditation
• Evidence of continual professional development
• Experience in scientist-led services e.g bubble/contrast studies, valve surveillance clinics, exercise stress echo
• Experience of shadowing consultant-led valve clinics and rapid access to valve assessment clinics

Desirable

• Extensive knowledge of national, professional and NHS guidelines relating to service provision and quality
• Experience in service planning and development
• Good knowledge of financial management, resource allocation and procurement

Skills and Ability
Essential

• Excellent computer skills
• Cardiac clinical examination skills
• Ability to analyse complex data and present it in appropriate ways to both patients and clinicians
• Excellent communication skills

Desirable

• Personal development in areas of leadership

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see the NHS Careers website.

Employer details
Employer name: Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Employer's website: https://www.blackpoolteachinghospitals.nhs.uk/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Echocardiography Service manager Daniel Crook, d.crook@nhs.net, 01253957741

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