Cardiac physiologists are involved in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with heart disease. They set up equipment, carry out procedures and record and analyse the results.

The Work

You could be:

• monitoring blood pressure and heartbeat rate to decide if it is safe for a patient to undergo tests
• carrying out procedures such as echocardiographs (ECG) (using ultrasound to obtain pictures of the heart's structure or valves) and cardiac catheterisation (passing a rod, or catheter, through blood vessels or heart chambers and injecting them with dye to show on an x-ray)
• using specialised and complex equipment, such as cardiac ultrasound scanners and intra aortic balloon pumps
• carrying out exercise tolerance tests on patients, using ECG equipment to monitor heart rate while they exercise on a treadmill
• during exercise tolerance testing, advising if it is safe for patients to continue with the test
• selecting a suitable pacemaker for a surgeon to insert in a patient
• adjusting and fine-tuning the pacemaker once it has been inserted
• analysing and interpreting data and supplying physiological reports to the cardiologist or surgeon who has to make decisions about treatment
• working as part of a team with cardiographers, doctors and nurses.

Pay

Cardiac physiologists who work for the NHS are on Agenda for Change pay scales. The current pay scales are from April 2018. They are generally on Band 5, £23,113 to £29,905 a year.

Specialist cardiac physiologists are paid on Band 6, £27,635 to £37,000 a year. Team managers are on Band 7, £32,974 to £43,471 a year.

Experienced cardiac physiologists can earn over £40,000 in private healthcare establishments.

Conditions

• You work in the cardiology department of a hospital, in the outpatient clinics, wards or operating theatre.
• Working hours are normally regular, but you may have to work some weekends and evenings, or be on call for emergencies.
• You would usually wear a uniform.
• There might be some lifting of heavy equipment.

Getting In

• You need a degree in clinical physiology with a specialism in cardiology. You need 3-4 Highers for entry – check with individual institutions for exact requirements.
• Usually you train in a hospital while studying through day or block release for the degree.
• There is a list of accredited courses on the website of the Registered Council for Clinical Physiologists (RCCP).
• Glasgow Caledonian University offer an RCCP-accredited part time BSc degree in Clinical Physiology, in partnership with Glasgow Kelvin College.
• You require 3-4 Highers at BBC or BCCC. Employment in an NHS Clinical Physiology department is also an entry requirement for this degree.
• Both trainee and qualified posts are advertised in local press, the NHS jobs websites, the Society for Cardiological Science and Technology (SCST) website or the Cardiac Output website.
• You would require a satisfactory PVG (Protecting Vulnerable Groups) check to show you are suitable for this type of work. Contact Disclosure Scotland for details.

Job Outlook Scotland

Job Outlook Scotland and UK

  Scotland

2018

2475

2.2 %

RISE

2023

2530

  United Kingdom

2018

34766

2.2 %

RISE

2023

35538

LMI data powered by EMSI UK

What Does it Take?

You should be:

• interested in anatomy and physiology
• good at science and maths
• able to concentrate for long periods
• good at analysing information
• good at following instructions.

You should have:

• high levels of accuracy and attention to detail
• good hand to eye co-ordination and manual dexterity
• good communication skills
• a calm, confident and caring manner
• good skills with technology.

Training

• The degree programme involves block release while employed as a practitioner-level trainee with the NHS. This is usually 2 days a week (term time) academic contact and the rest of the time in post.
• The programme lasts 4 years.
• Under the supervision of senior staff, trainees gain experience in more complex procedures while keeping a logbook. They can join the SCST as student members and become associate members when they graduate.
• The RCCP runs a voluntary register for cardiac physiologists. It is recommended that you do register. Check the RCCP website for up to date information.

Getting On

• Job prospects are good as there is a shortage of qualified staff in the UK.
• Qualified cardiac physiologists can move on to supervisory or managerial posts.
• There are also openings in research.
• You can study at postgraduate level. Promotion is easier with postgraduate qualifications.

Contacts

The following organisations may be able to provide further information.