Lead Clinical Perfusion Scientist

Employer Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Royal Brompton Hospital Town London Salary £61,927 - £68,676 p.a. inc HCA Salary period Yearly Closing 07/07/2025 23:59
Lead Clinical Perfusion Scientist

NHS AfC: Band 8a

Job overview

A

Clinical Perfusionist

is a vital healthcare professional who operates extracorporeal circulation equipment, such as heart-lung machines, during surgical procedures, particularly in cardiac surgeries. Their primary role is to manage the patient's circulatory and respiratory functions when the heart is temporarily stopped, ensuring that oxygenated blood continues to circulate through the body.
Main duties of the job

As an accredited clinical perfusionist you will be part of a dynamic team providing extra-corporeal circulation to all patients having cardiac surgery
The post holder is expected to carry out adult cardiopulmonary bypass without direct supervision
Provide teaching, training and supervision to unqualified trainee perfusionists whilst maintaining a safe working environment
Provide teaching, training and supervision to senior clinical perfusionists whilst maintaining a safe working environment
To be flexible in the approach to the clinical area and provide perfusion services for any area specified
Support the head of perfusion in the management of the clinical area. This will involve dealing with complex situations and having to take appropriate action on behalf of the Head of Perfusion and Perfusion department in conjunction with the theatre co-ordinator / theatre manager
To be responsible for the continuing professional development and overall performance of a particular group of staff delegated by the head of perfusion
Act as a clinical role model and leader for all members of staff and provide a high standard of care to all patients
Primarily based at the RBH but may be required to work cross-site.
Working for our organisation

Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust comprises five of the UK’s best known hospitals – Guy’s, St Thomas’, Evelina London Children’s Hospital, Royal Brompton and Harefield – as well as community services in Lambeth and Southwark, all with a long history of high quality care, clinical excellence, research and innovation.
We are among the UK’s busiest, most successful foundation trusts. We provide specialist care for patients including heart and lung, cancer and renal services as well as a full range of local hospital and community services for people in Lambeth and Southwark.
We have a long tradition of clinical and scientific achievement and – as part of King’s Health Partners – we are one of England’s eight academic health sciences centres, bringing together world-class clinical services, teaching and research. We have one of the National Institute for Health Research’s biomedical research centres, established with King’s College London in 2007, as well as dedicated clinical research facilities.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities

· Select and prepare under sterile conditions the appropriate cardiopulmonary bypass equipment according to the needs of the patient and the surgical procedure. This may involve manual handling of heavy equipment.
· Implement a perfusion strategy for an individual patient based on the pre assessment of the patient records and discussion with the relevant medical groups. This will involve close working relationships with staff in a stressful working environment.
· Initiate and maintain cardiopulmonary bypass, constantly monitoring, interpreting and manipulating multiple complex clinical parameters; taking autonomous corrective action including blood transfusion during adult, paediatric and neonatal procedures.
· Implement evidence based best practice to maximise clinical effectiveness.
· Monitor and where necessary make appropriate autonomous corrections to blood gases, electrolytes, metabolites, acid-base balance, systemic vascular resistance, cardiac output, and anticoagulation status of the patient during adult, paediatric and neonatal practice.
· Advise on and perform deep hypothermic circulatory arrest in conjunction with continuous cerebral perfusion techniques in order to preserve neurological function during complex surgery or other emergency situations where the patient’s systemic circulation may have to be temporarily suspended.
· Provide a highly skilled, reliable “out of hours” service by participation in the on-call rota. This requires autonomous practice without recourse to assistance or advice, and where highly complex, emotive decisions have to be made with regard to patient treatment and the employment or otherwise of particular treatment modalities.
· Perform paediatric and neonatal cardiopulmonary bypass with or without supervision depending upon experience. Training and supervision will be given where necessary.
· Competently perform Intra Aortic Balloon Counter Pulsation therapy in all areas of the hospital.
· Ensure that stock levels are maintained at all times.
· Ensure all equipment is maintained and decontaminated to the departmental standard.
· Be proactive in the blood conservation programme following the better transfusion policy, by providing cell salvage to all patients.
· Administer blood transfusions following the better blood transfusion policy.
· Offer a blood management service to all specialties including sealants and gels.
· Assist with the provision of a specialist ECMO service to patients and other multi-disciplinary teams including initial assembly and technical support throughout the ECMO period. Training and supervision will be given where necessary.
· To be responsible for patient parameters whilst on cardiopulmonary bypass with the administration of drugs within set guidelines.
· Familiar with all emergency procedures for equipment failure and act according to the department procedures, ensuring patient safety.
· To perform quality assurance procedures and checks. Taking the appropriate action in the event of failure.
· Accurately complete the data set requirements for the Trust.
· Assist with the provision of a near patient testing service and provide interpretation of the results.
· Deal empathetically with patients, carers and staff in difficult situations.
· Provide teaching training and support of senior clinical perfusionists and trainee clinical perfusionists whilst demonstrating teaching skills.
· Maintain accurate real time patient records with hard copies correctly stored.
Person specification

Knowledge/Qualifications

• Accredited Perfusionist registered with the Society of Clinical Perfusion Scientists of Great Britain & Ireland
• Registration with the College of Clinical Perfusion Scientists of Great Britain & Ireland
Skills

• Leadership skills
Experience

• Competent in standard cardiopulmonary bypass techniques for adult patients
• Competent in cardiopulmonary bypass techniques for paediatric patients including Neonatal, Infant & GUCH patients
• Experience of ECMO techniques
Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

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