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Cardiology Recruitment

Cardiology jobs
in the NHS

From interventional cardiology and electrophysiology to heart failure and cardiac imaging — Ava Medical connects consultant cardiologists, SAS doctors and registrars with outstanding permanent NHS posts across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Browse NHS cardiology jobs Upload your CV
Free for candidates Permanent roles only 50+ NHS trusts
Cardiology NHS Permanent Roles
Consultant salary£105,504 – £139,882
SAS / Specialty Doctor£59,175 – £95,400
Training grade (ST3+)£49,909 – £70,425
Sub-specialties8+
Free for doctors 50+ NHS trusts

About the specialty

Cardiology careers in the NHS

One of medicine's most technically demanding and intellectually stimulating disciplines, cardiology sits at the interface of acute medicine, complex procedures and long-term disease management.

Training pathway

Entry via Core Medical Training (CMT) or Internal Medicine Training (IMT), followed by competitive entry to ST3 cardiology. Training typically lasts six years to CCT, with sub-specialty credentialing available in interventional cardiology, cardiac electrophysiology, cardiac imaging (including CT and CMR), heart failure, and adult congenital heart disease.

Typical employers

Cardiology consultants are employed across large teaching hospitals and district general hospitals (DGHs), with tertiary cardiac centres carrying specialist catheter laboratory and electrophysiology programmes. SAS and specialty doctor posts are particularly common in DGHs seeking senior cardiology cover for acute take, out-patient clinics, and general ward work.

Grades we recruit

Ava Medical recruits at all senior grades: Consultant (CCT-holder or CESR), Specialty Doctor (formerly Staff Grade), and Associate Specialist. We also assist senior ST5–ST7 registrars actively job-seeking near CCT. All posts are substantive and permanent — we do not handle locum or agency work.

NHS pay scales 2025/26

Cardiology salary expectations

NHS medical pay is governed by nationally negotiated contracts. Figures below reflect England 2025/26 (Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are broadly comparable). Additional Clinical Excellence Awards (CEAs) and extra programmed activities (PAs) can materially increase take-home pay.

Grade Contract Base salary range Notes
Consultant 2003 Consultant Contract £105,504 – £139,882 10 PAs standard; additional PAs & CEAs can add £10k–£20k+
Specialty Doctor (SAS) 2021 SAS Contract £59,175 – £95,400 Enhanced pay spine introduced 2021; distinction award available
Associate Specialist Legacy / 2021 SAS £83,945 – £111,199 Closed grade; existing post-holders on protected terms
Specialty Registrar ST3–ST8 Junior Doctor Contract £49,909 – £70,425 Pay supplement for out-of-hours and on-call; London weighting applies

Salary figures are indicative and subject to annual review. Always confirm current rates with the employing trust. Source: NHS Employers 2025/26 pay circular.

Roles we recruit

Cardiology sub-specialties

We recruit across the full breadth of cardiology. Whether your practice is highly procedural or predominantly clinical and imaging-based, we match you to the right trust and department.

Interventional Cardiology

PCI, TAVI, structural heart interventions. High demand in large tertiary centres and cardiac networks seeking additional cath lab sessions and on-call cover.

Electrophysiology & Devices

Ablation, pacing, ICD and CRT implantation. Significant workforce gaps in regional cardiac centres mean strong negotiating position for experienced EPs.

Heart Failure

Inpatient and outpatient HF services, advanced heart failure, mechanical circulatory support and transplant liaison. Community HF roles increasingly available.

Cardiac Imaging

Echocardiography, cardiac MRI, cardiac CT and nuclear cardiology. A growing sub-specialty with dedicated imaging consultant posts at teaching hospitals.

Adult Congenital Heart Disease

Specialist ACHD centres in London, Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds regularly seek experienced consultants with relevant training and accreditation.

General & Acute Cardiology

DGH consultant posts combining general cardiology clinics, acute take responsibility and ward cover. SAS posts in this area are plentiful across the NHS.

Why Ava Medical

Why cardiologists choose Ava Medical

  • NHS-only recruitment focus. We place doctors exclusively in NHS and UK independent sector posts — no locum work, no overseas-only pipelines. Your career progression is our only agenda.
  • Cardiology pathway expertise. We understand the difference between a tertiary-centre interventional post and a DGH general cardiology role, and we match accordingly — including cath lab case-mix, on-call frequency, and research time.
  • CESR & IMG support. Overseas-trained cardiologists or those assembling CESR portfolios receive dedicated guidance on GMC application, Article 14 / CESR evidence, and interview preparation.
  • Access to unadvertised roles. Many NHS trusts approach us directly before posting externally. Your CV goes in front of clinical directors ahead of the public field.
  • Honest, unhurried advice. Jack Mann — Ava Medical's founder — handles senior cardiology searches personally, with more than ten years in NHS recruitment and thousands of doctors placed across his career. You speak to someone who knows the specialty, not a generic recruiter reading from a script.
  • Completely free for candidates. Every service — CV review, mock interview, contract negotiation support — costs you nothing. All fees are paid by the hiring NHS trust.

Pay & conditions

What you can earn

Consultant basic pay (2026/27). NHS consultants in England earn £113,565–£150,569 on the 2003 contract. Wales runs higher — up to £166,585 — and Scotland to £148,064, each on its own national scale.

Most consultants earn well above basic pay through on-call availability supplements, additional programmed activities, clinical excellence & impact awards, and the NHS Pension Scheme — one of the most valuable defined-benefit pensions in the UK. Source: BMA consultant pay scales, 2026/27.

Explore more

Related NHS roles

Browse other specialties we recruit for, or see every current vacancy on the live board.

Common questions

Cardiology recruitment FAQ

You need full GMC registration with a licence to practise, and a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) in Cardiology — or a Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration (CESR) for doctors who trained overseas or outside a GMC-approved programme. The relevant CCT is awarded after completing the Joint Royal Colleges of Physicians Training Board (JRCPTB) cardiology training pathway (ST3–ST8). Inclusion on the GMC Specialist Register in cardiology is required before taking up a consultant post.
The CESR (Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration) allows doctors who have not completed a UK training programme to demonstrate equivalence to the CCT standard. You compile a portfolio of evidence mapped to the cardiology curriculum — covering competencies such as coronary intervention, heart failure management, ECG interpretation, echocardiography, and teaching. The portfolio is assessed by the GMC. Ava Medical can advise on evidence-gathering, portfolio structure, and connecting you with CESR-experienced consultants for mentoring and sign-off.
SAS (Specialty and Associate Specialist) doctors — now formally titled Specialty Doctors — are senior NHS doctors who work alongside consultants and hold independent clinical responsibility, but without the CCT required for a consultant post. The 2021 SAS contract significantly improved pay (£59,175–£95,400) and introduced a clearer career framework. SAS cardiologists typically manage out-patient clinics, contribute to acute cardiology take, and may supervise junior colleagues. It is a substantive, well-remunerated grade that suits doctors whose training pathway differed from the UK CCT route, or those who prefer fewer management responsibilities.
Yes — the majority of NHS cardiology vacancies are in district general hospitals (DGHs) across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, not just the large academic centres. DGH consultant posts typically involve a broader general cardiology remit (acute take, general clinics, ward rounds) alongside any sub-specialty interest. Many doctors find DGH roles offer more clinical autonomy, faster consultant promotion, and better work-life balance than busier tertiary centres, without sacrificing meaningful clinical work. Ava Medical recruits across all regions, including areas that consistently struggle to fill posts.
Timelines vary. NHS consultant appointments involve a formal process — job planning, shortlisting, and interview — that typically takes 8–16 weeks from first contact to offer. SAS posts can move faster, sometimes completing within 4–6 weeks. If you are overseas and require visa sponsorship (e.g. a Skilled Worker visa), factor in an additional 4–8 weeks for Home Office processing. Ava Medical can significantly compress timelines by approaching trusts directly on your behalf and preparing you thoroughly for interview.

Ready for your next cardiology role?

Upload your CV or browse live NHS cardiology vacancies. Our service is completely free for doctors — all fees are paid by the hiring trust.

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Questions? Email jack@avamedical.co.uk or call 07814 506719