Cardiology Consultant

The Cardiology department also undertakes a high volume of standard cardiac investigations including diagnostic coronary angiography, exercise tolerance testing, Holter monitoring, event recorders, AliveCor mobile phone app based monitoring and ambulatory BP monitoring.

Northumbria provides out-patient cardiology across three main sites, assessing the broad range of cardiology presentations, in addition to peripheral clinics across the region to improve access for patients at the edges of the catchment. We have nurse led clinics in rapid access chest pain and post-acute coronary syndrome. We have an integrated heart failure specialist nursing service across primary and secondary care providing an exceptional, patient-centred care. There is an active and well-reviewed cardiac rehabilitation service attached to the trust. These staff are supported by regular MDTs where the teams get together to plan correct management of patients in line with national guidance.

In-patient cardiology embraced a new and exciting phase with the opening of the UKs first specialist emergency care hospital, within Northumbria on a new site at Cramlington in June 2015. The Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital (NSECH) is the point of access to specialist care for our patients, and the consultant team deliver comprehensive management of these patients from their initial assessment and treatment until either early discharge, or transfer to the base hospital for further care. The 6 bed coronary care unit at NSECH allows for the optimal management of those unstable patients presenting with acute cardiology problems.

The team have a ward at Wansbeck Hospital for on-going management of more complex patients. The opening of the hospital and change in the delivery of acute cardiac care has been associated with significant improvements in outcomes for both ACS and patients with acute heart failure.

Northumbria has an active pacing service, including a commissioned service for complex devices, including Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy (CRT), and implantable cardiac defibrillators (ICDs) with regional referrals coming from Cumbria. NHCT was the first DGH service to develop standard bradycardia pacing in the early 1990s and has an excellent record in this field. The device lab is sited at NSECH to facilitate prompt in-patent pacing. There is an active specialist nurse and physiologist delivered implantable (injectable) loop recorder programme.

The post holder will be expected to work as a member of a Trust wide cardiology team working across the trust to provide excellent patient care.