About this role
Job summary
Applicants are invited to join our dynamic Cardiology team and apply for the full-time post of Consultant Cardiologist in Heart Failure and Acute Cardiology at West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to a progressive and nationally recognised Heart Failure service, including our award-winning Virtual Hospital.
The successful candidate will contribute to the management of patients with acute and chronic heart failure, working across acute and ambulatory settings, with a strong emphasis on early senior decision-making, admission avoidance, and pathway optimisation.
Applicants should have a demonstrated interest in heart failure. The postholder will be responsible for delivering outpatient clinics, as well as contributing to the wider Heart Failure service within the Cardiology Department. This will include participation in Heart Failure MDT meetings, Virtual ward rounds, triaging of Heart Failure referrals, and providing supervision and support to specialist nursing staff.
The postholder will work in partnership with our team of specialist nurses and consultants, while also supporting our subspecialty services.
This post consists of 10 programmed activities
Main duties of the job
The successful applicant will help deliver a high-quality, consultant-led Heart Failure service across acute, outpatient, and community pathways, working within a multidisciplinary team.
The role combines specialist Heart Failure care with structured outpatient activity and a defined but limited component of frontline acute general cardiology assessment, supporting early senior decision-making, risk stratification, and appropriate pathway allocation.
The postholder will deliver outpatient clinics, including general cardiology and Heart Failure clinics, and
contribute to acute heart failure management through a dedicated frontline session. They will also participate in the Virtual Hospital rota, supporting admission avoidance, early discharge, and remote patient monitoring.
The role includes Heart Failure triage and supervision of specialist nursing staff, alongside close working with multidisciplinary colleagues including physiologists and community teams.
The postholder will contribute to service development, and the ongoing optimisation of Heart Failure pathways, including expansion of virtual and community-based care.
Please note there is currently no commitment to cardiology ward cover, weekend working, or General Medicine on-call duties within this role.
About us
A new hospital has been planned for Watford. A new four roomed Endoscopy Unit at St Albans has been planned with a completion date of 2026.
We are building on the success of our award-winning virtual hospital and re-imaging models of care, working ever more closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare.
Staff wellbeing and development are a priority at West Herts Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, as is the role of innovation in improving clinical care, outcomes and patient experience.
We are a flexible working employer
At West Herts we recognise the importance of a good work life balance and the ability to work flexibly. We are delighted to offer a variety of flexible working options for all staff. Please check out our web page for more information.
https://www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk/flexibleworking/
We encourage and welcome people with disabilities. If you need help, please ask.
We reserve the right to close this advert early due to the volume of applicants. Please apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
If you do not hear back within 3 weeks of your application, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.
Job description Job responsibilities
Please refer to the detailed job description and person specification.
The management responsibility of the post-holder will be to the clinical lead for Cardiology, Dr Piyush Jain who is responsible to the Divisional Director (Dr. Niall Keenan), the Medical Director (Dr Michael van der Watt) and Chief Executive and Trust Board.
Person Specification
Essential Essential
MRCP or equivalent Full registration with the GMC with a licence to practice. CCT in Cardiology (or within 6 months at time of interview) or inclusion on the Specialist Register
Desirable
MD or PhD from UK University or equivalent
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 (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Address Watford General Hospital
Watford General Hospital
Watford
WD18 0HB
United Kingdom
Employer's website http://www.westhertshospitals.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)