The British Society of Echocardiography (BSE) is preparing to launch our new Level 3 pilot programme.
Whilst we are preparing the final details in the background, we wanted to give you some advance notice so that you can consider whether to apply to participate in the pilot.
What is the Level 3 pilot programme?
Scientist-led clinics are an increasingly common innovation across the UK. However, to date there have been no national operating standards, and no agreed definition of the necessary competence for scientists/physiologists to manage them. In many cases, where they have been set up, they are being run by people held at a Band 7.
The Level 3 pilot programme will establish twelve pilot scientist led clinics across the UK, and, using our expertise in echocardiographer accreditation, will develop an advanced accreditation pathway to establish the competency requirements for practice in the clinics.
Importantly, we will fund the upbanding of the role to a Band 8a (or above where appropriate) to reflect the true level of this activity and to ensure accurate cost efficacy data is collected. Initially we will test this process in scientist-led clinics in valve disease, heart failure and inherited cardiac conditions.
The BSE will also fund the scientist/physiologists’ participation in the Swansea University Clinical Assessment for Healthcare Scientists, which will be a compulsory element of participation in the project.
After six months of clinics, the pilots will be evaluated for clinical effectiveness, patient satisfaction and operational efficiency savings. The accreditation system and operational guidance will be evaluated to ensure that they are robust and fit for purpose.
Professor Dan Augustine, President of the BSE said, “We appreciate our members have been waiting a long time for this development. The team and I have been working hard in the background to secure the funding to do this properly. We are looking forward to inviting expressions of interest in the coming weeks and we hope that this early notice will help people prepare in advance.”
Why are the BSE doing this?
This project is looking to address several interconnected issues affecting all our members:
- Shortages in cardiologist and cardiac physiologist/clinical scientist workforces in all four UK nations need to be addressed by increasing the efficiency of the system. Scientist-led clinics will help to reduce excessive waiting times and duplication and increase cardiologist time to see new or more complex patients
- More advanced roles are urgently needed to retain experienced echocardiographers, many of whom can currently progress only by leaving for the private sector or moving to a non-clinical role. The ever-increasing demand for echo means retaining experienced specialists is crucial
- Under the current system, most stable returning patients with heart disease such as valve disease, heart failure or an inherited cardiac condition have regular reviews involving two separate appointments, one for a transthoracic echo, then a second with a cardiologist to discuss the results. This second appointment wastes the time of the majority of patients who have experienced no significant change and causes unnecessary worry while they wait for results
- Whilst scientist-led clinics exist in some centres, there is no standard model in place to define and ensure the level of competencies required for scientists to practise in this setting. Better national standardisation and agreed clinical guidance is needed to encourage the introduction of new clinics and give more assurance of an optimal patient experience
The Level 3 pilot project has been established to test a national standardisation process to define and ensure the competency needed for scientist led clinics. Through the eleven pilot clinics led by scientists across the four nations of the UK, we will collect data and monitor to ensure clinical effectiveness, patient and staff satisfaction and operational efficiency savings. The scientists leading these pilot centres (with the oversight of a cardiologist) will assist in testing and refining the new advanced accreditation methodology as it develops.
What is the ultimate goal?
The outputs from the pilots will be analysed and included in a formal evaluation report.
If this report confirms the original hypothesis of stakeholders that scientist led clinics offer a more efficient and effective patient pathway for both patients and specialists, the report will form part of an evidence package to support the promotion of adoption of the new pathway across all four UK nations.
Additional to the evaluation and evidence from the pilot, the BSE will create and provide the following resources:
- Formal accreditation programme
- Standard Operating Procedures
- Standardised job description – at NHS Band 8a or above
- Business case template to help demonstrate the patient safety, quality and financial benefits of adopting the pathway
Who else is involved?
Importantly, the BSE has the backing of a number of vital stakeholders, all of whom have given their support to the programme and will be involved in the steering group. These include
- NHS England
- British Society for Heart Failure
- British Heart Valve Society
- British Inherited Cardiac Conditions Society
- Chief Scientific Officer for Scotland
- Chief Scientific Officer for Northern Ireland
- Health Education and Improvement Wales
- National School for Healthcare Science
- Pumping Marvellous Foundation
- Heart Valve Voice
- Cardiomyopathy UK
What do you need to consider if you want to take part?
We will be inviting expressions of interest in the coming weeks. The eligibility criteria will be:
- Consultant cardiologist support for physiologist/scientist-led clinic in heart valve disease, heart failure or inherited cardiac conditions (brief supporting letter required)
- Department manager support (brief supporting letter required)
- Echo department lead support (signature on this form required)
- Capacity to establish a new clinic by September 2026
- Nominated physiologist/scientist who will run the clinics and has held BSE TTE accreditation for 5 years
- Support and allocated time committed for the nominated physiologist/scientist to attend the Swansea clinical skills course (costs supported by the BSE) on the designated dates
- Applied Pathophysiology (15 credits, level 7, online) June 2026 intake TBC*
- Clinical Assessment for HCS (30 credits, level 7, hybrid) Sept 2026 intake TBC*
If you have any questions or comments in the meantime, please email Jo Sopala on [email protected].
*Unless there is evidence of prior completion