Cardiographer

Lewisham Hospital, Cardiology Department is looking for full time Band 3 Cardiac Assistant Technician to work as part of the team. You will join a well-respected and established multi-disciplinary team.

You will be working in a busy diagnostic department; we are looking for enthusiastic and hardworking individuals. This post will offer training and development opportunities covering a wide range of diagnostic testing. They are well supported by a friendly team with opportunities to develop the service in which they work

The post holder must have an up to date Immediate Life Support certificate (ILS) Further ECG training will be provided and the opportunity to obtain a certificate of ECG for extended knowledge.

To perform and interpret ECGs independently for Open access GP patients, specialised clinics, Heart failure clinics, ward patients, paediatric, psychiatric patients on a daily basis. To accurately fit and remove 24 hour ECG ambulatory and bp monitors, to be able to download these devices on patients return.

To ensure the provision of a good working environment in which patients receive a high standard of patient care and dignity.

The post holder must have an up to date Immediate Life Support certificate (ILS) Further ECG training will be provided and the opportunity to obtain a certificate of ECG for extended knowledge.

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust is a community focused provider of local and acute care, providing high quality services to over one million people living across the London boroughs of Lewisham, Greenwich and Bexley. With a turnover of around £700 million, we provide services at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich, University Hospital Lewisham and a range of community settings in Lewisham. We also provide some services at Queen Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup.

As an organisation, we’ve made significant improvements for patients and staff in the last two and-a-half years. This is reflected in our most recent Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection (from February 2020), which found improvements across the organisation and gave us an improved rating of “Good” in the Well-Led and Effective domains, in addition to the rating of “Good” that we had already achieved in the Caring domain. Our staff culture change programme has been key to the Trust’s improvement journey, as we’ve stabilised our workforce by reducing vacancy rates and improving staff retention. We’ve also significantly increased the representation of minority ethnic leaders across our clinical and corporate teams.

Clinical

To record 12 lead ECGs on a daily basis for O/A GP patients, inherited cardiac patients, heart failure patients, inpatients, paediatrics and neonatal, as well as psychiatric patients.

To be able to interpret ECG, particularly conditions such as MI, AF and SVT for GP direct access service.

To assist Exercise treadmill studies, admin and fitting electrodes (ILS skills required)

To confer/alert with clinical persons in regard to test results.

To be responsible for equipment maintenance and stock maintenance

To accurately prepare and fit and download 24-hour ambulatory monitors

To accurately fit and download 24 BP ambulatory monitor.

To instruct patients in the use of Cardio memo.

To be responsible for patient’s consent and this includes manual handling.

To assist patient care in the department, (which may involve helping patients with personal care)

To ensure patient confidentiality is observed at all times and observe the requirements of the data protection act and freedom of information act.

To be able to provide flexible working hours.

To observe all local rules and the Trust’s employment policies and procedures.

To report equipment failures immediately.

To assess and adapt technique according to patients’ condition e.g. portable, patient’s ability to co-operate.

Training

To complete ECG interpretation training, and maintain competency

To attend compulsory staff training courses

To provide training and supervision to students, nurses in recording 12 lead ECGs.

To provide assistance and be involved in departmental projects and audits

To be actively involved in departmental quality groups and pro-active in the sharing of good practice.

To take every opportunity to gain knowledge to achieve competency in an area of speciality within the Cardiology department.

Communication

To instruct and inform patients, carers sensitively, communicating with other health professionals of cardiology procedures for patients’ conditions.

To inform and promote guidelines and departmental policies to other healthcare professionals

To obtain informed consent from patients prior to undertaking procedures as appropriate to individual circumstances

To ensure accurate recording on the Radiology Information System (RIS) patient information and examination details.

To promote good relations with other directorates and hospitals

Personal Development

The opportunity to obtain a