UHSussex provides all perfusion services for adult cardiac surgery in a friendly, team‑driven environment.
Basic or Senior Clinical Perfusionist
The closing date is 01 February 2026
An exciting opportunity for a suitably experienced, accredited & registered Clinical Perfusion Scientist to join the team at the Sussex Cardiac Centre.
Candidates must hold current valid accreditation & registration with SCPS/CCPS. Applications which do not meet these criteria will not be considered.
Consideration will be given to flexible working. The department currently operates a 4‑day week (07:30‑17:30), which is under review.
We would like to appoint at senior grade, but consideration will be given to applicants at basic grade looking to gain experience.
Main duties of the job
As an experienced, accredited and registered autonomous practitioner, you will provide clinical perfusion services for adult cardiac surgery, involving the management and control of the extracorporeal circuit which temporarily replaces the patient's heart and lungs during cardiac surgery. Other duties include management of circulatory support devices (such as the intra‑aortic balloon pump & CardioHelp ECLS device), management of blood conservation equipment (such as the cell saver), to work as a vital member of a multidisciplinary team during both routine and emergency cardiac surgical procedures, and to fully participate in the provision of a 24‑hour on‑call service.
The Sussex Cardiac Centre has a successful MICS programme, and is developing a complex aortic service.
The department has recently introduced Spectrum Quantum HLMs; experience with this equipment would be advantageous but full training will be given.
About us
At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.
We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our Wellbeing Programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work‑life balance – because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.
As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.
We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.
Job responsibilities
This role is eligible for visa sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route. Sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements set by UKVI, including the relevant skill and salary thresholds, and any role‑specific criteria. For example, applicants for the Senior HCA role must be able to evidence a minimum of 2 years experience in the same role to qualify for sponsorship.
If you are applying using a Graduate visa as your right to work, you must have a minimum of 18 months remaining on your visa at time of application.
Review patient notes for relevant medical history, pathology and diagnosis making appropriate clinical decisions regarding the conduct of extracorporeal support, including perfusion technique, cannulation, type of equipment, intravenous fluid, blood products and drug additions to prime, for both routine and emergency cardiac surgical procedures.
Assemble, prime, de‑air and manage extracorporeal devices and circuitry for cardiac surgical procedures, thus maintaining life support, according to departmental perfusion procedures and protocols.
Assess, interpret and manage a wide range of highly complex and routinely conflicting clinical information on a continual basis and take appropriate autonomous action (e.g. systemic blood pressure and flow, extracorporeal circuit pressure(s), central venous pressure, anticoagulation, ECG, fluid balance and patient/blood/cardioplegia/thermocirculator water temperatures).
Assess, interpret and take appropriate autonomous action to provide adequate gas exchange and maintain homeostasis whilst on cardiopulmonary bypass, e.g. arterial and venous in‑line monitoring, arterial and venous blood gases, electrolytes, acid‑base balance, haemoglobin and derivatives and blood glucose and lactate levels.
Work as an independent practitioner, taking responsibility for managing a number of techniques during a single procedure (e.g. cardiopulmonary bypass, antegrade and retrograde blood cardioplegia, autologous cell salvage, haemoconcentration, high volume haemofiltration, deep hypothermic circulatory arrest, retrograde cerebral perfusion, selective antegrade cerebral perfusion).
Perform a range of complex myocardial preservation techniques to protect the heart from the damaging effects of ischaemia, involving the preparation and administration of blood cardioplegia into the aortic root, coronary sinus or directly into the coronary arteries, and careful control and monitoring of cardioplegia flow, pressure, dilution, temperature and final potassium concentration.
Be conversant with complex procedures and specialised perfusion techniques as deemed necessary for individual patient requirements i.e. left heart bypass, vacuum‑assisted venous drainage, femoro‑femoral cardiopulmonary bypass.
Assist with the setting up, initiation and management of complex long‑term extracorporeal circulation techniques i.e. ECMO and/or ventricular assist devices.
Seek advice from senior colleagues in order to gain experience and knowledge. Apply experience and knowledge to formulate sound clinical judgements, facilitating decision making for complex cases.
Integrate information from auditory, visual and perceptive senses on a constant basis and use this to manage the cardiopulmonary bypass procedure.
Administer drugs and fluids according to departmental protocol and as necessitated by the clinical situation i.e. priming solutions, anticoagulants, inhalational anaesthetic agents, replacement crystalloid and colloid solutions, vasoactive drugs, anti‑arrhythmic drugs, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, diuretics, sodium bicarbonate, magnesium sulphate, potassium chloride and cardioplegic solutions as detailed in the Local Agreement and Clinical Perfusion Medicines Management Protocols for Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery.
Transfuse allogeneic (donor) red blood cells during CPB guided by departmental policy.
Act and think clearly and calmly under acute time pressures and in emergency situations, to resolve potential life‑threatening situations.
Apply specialist clinical skills and knowledge to support, advise and supervise trainee Clinical Perfusionists during routine procedures/techniques.
Provide CPB and cardiac support services in other clinical areas external to the operating theatre complex such as Cardiac High Dependency Unit, Intensive Care Unit, Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory, Coronary care Unit.
Prepare equipment and disposable items to perform autologous cell salvage both intra‑ and post‑operatively. Advise on the most effective use of autologous cell salvage for high‑risk patients and on the relative contraindications for its use.
Prepare and operate the equipment necessary for the insertion of intra‑aortic balloon catheters pre-, intra- or post‑operatively, provide continuing management of the balloon pump for the duration of its use and troubleshooting where necessary. Oversee and provide reference and support for intra‑aortic balloon catheters inserted in the cardiac catheter laboratory, and on CCU post‑procedure.
Prepare and operate the equipment and disposables to perform carbon dioxide flooding of the operative field during valve repair/replacement surgery or any other open procedure.
Maintain sensitivity and the dignity of patients in emergency situations and in the event of a patient death during a procedure.
Perform daily maintenance, quality control and troubleshooting of the departmental blood‑gas analyser, to ensure accuracy of all measured and derived parameters which are crucial to the safe management of the patient throughout the whole of the peri‑operative period.
Be part of the team providing a highly skilled, reliable 24‑hour on‑call cover for cardiac surgery and other associated areas.
Please see attached job description for full details.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* MSc clinical perfusion sciences
* Accreditation with SCPS
* Registration with CCPS
* 2+ years post qualification experience for senior position
Equality Diversity and Inclusion
* Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
* Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
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.
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)
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