Cardiology

General description of the work Consultant Cardiologists undertake

The Consultant Cardiologist is a doctor specialising in cardiac or heart problems. He/She looks after patients who have had a heart attack (myocardial infarction), patients who have ischaemic heart disease and angina, patients who have heart failure, heart rhythm problems such as atrial fibrillation, heart block or ectopic beats.

The Consultant Cardiologist is the doctor in charge of patients in the Coronary Care Unit (CCU).

Most common clinical areas / procedures leading to a claim of clinical negligence

  • The management of patients who have had a heart attack, suffer from angina or heart failure or suffer from long–term ischaemic heart disease.
  • Cardiac catheterisation or pacemaker insertion.

Sub–Specialities / Alternative and Additional job titles

The Consultant Cardiologist may be known as a Consultant Physician with a special interest in Cardiology. He/She may be known as a Cardiac Consultant or a Heart Specialist.

Usual Qualifications

The Consultant Cardiologist will usually have MRCP or FRCP (Membership or Fellowship of one of the Royal Colleges of Physicians).

Academic Appointments

The Consultant Cardiologist may be a Lecturer or Professor in Medicine or in Cardiology at a Medical School. He/She may be an Examiner for one of the Royal Colleges of Physicians.