Ophthalmic Consultant

Full time 10 PA's per week. Permanent post.

The Consultant role is required to provide outpatient clinics, operating sessions, and on-call cover as part of a rota. The role is to work independently and autonomously, whilst also working as part of the wider Ophthalmology team with Consultant and Specialist colleagues, nursing, AHP, and admin staff.

Main duties of the job

The candidate is expected to carry out independent outpatient clinics based on appropriate skills and experience. Clinics will likely include acute referral clinic (ARC), medical retina clinics, and some virtual review if appropriate for service needs.

The candidate is expected to support the second on-call rota, as part of the fair and consistent distribution of duties between staff.

The number of elective sessions will be negotiated with the successful candidate.

About us

Ophthalmology is a large department with an outpatient area, two operating theatres, a glaucoma assessment suite, fully equipped imaging suite, busy optometry and orthoptic departments, and a ward. The team is made up of Consultants, Associate Specialists / Specialists, Trainee Doctors, Nurses, Technicians, Optometrists, Orthoptists, and Admin staff. The successful candidate would be joining a highly respected Eye Unit and a caring, passionate team.

Job responsibilities

The candidate is expected to carry out independent outpatient clinics based on appropriate skills and experience. Clinics will likely include acute referral clinic (ARC), medical retina clinics, and some virtual review if appropriate for service needs.

The number of clinics will be negotiated with the successful candidate.

Multiple clinics run at the same time in the Ophthalmology Unit with an MDT approach from Nurses, Doctors, ANPs, Optometrists, Technicians and Orthoptists.

The unit uses Open Eyes (Electronic Patient Record) to store, report and record all activity.

Provide clinical supervision of junior medical staff / trainees (ST1 to 8) as a shared responsibility with other senior medical colleagues.

To participate in the provision of cover on a shared basis with colleagues when unforeseen short notice absences occur.

The Doctor may be required to cover from time to time for absent colleagues, and exceptionally to perform additional duties in occasional emergencies and unforeseen circumstances to ensure the safe running of the Department.

It is expected that all administrative work is completed to a high standard and in a timely fashion.

All Ophthalmic elective procedures are done as day case with hardly any admissions for overnight stay. There are some occasions where inpatient management is needed for emergency cases or patients who present with acute medical condition requiring overnight stay.

On-Call Rota

The candidate is expected to support the second on-call rota, as part of the fair and consistent distribution of duties between staff.

Elective

The number of elective sessions will be negotiated with the successful candidate. For elective surgery the appointee is expected to;

Provide support to Trainees for dedicated surgical lists.

Have overall accountability for the patients they operate on.

Participate in the pre and post op management of patients they operate on.

Participate in any national data collection requirement for surgical procedures performed.

Audit

Meetings are held quarterly and the appointee will be required to attend and encouraged to contribute in audits and presentations. The appointee will also be expected to support the governance and quality improvement activities on the unit.

Person Specification Qualifications

• Full GMC registration with a license to practice
• CCST or CESR completion
• Medical retinal fellowship or evidence of medical retina subspecialist training
• FRCS/FRCOpth
• Higher degree e.g. MSc, MD or other higher degree
• Other relevant diplomas

Experience

• Significant medical work (either a continuous period or in aggregate) since obtaining a primary medical qualification which is acceptable to the GMC
• Relevant experience in Ophthalmology
• Specialism in Medical Retina
• Expereince of on-call and ability to deal with emergencies
• Experience working in the NHS
• Evidence of participation of audit
• Expereince in other specialisms outside of Medical Retina
• Experience of teaching junior staff

Skills

• Excellent written and spoken communication in English
• Empathy and sensitivity: capacity to listen and take in others' perspectives
• Able to prioritise workload
• Willingness to be flexible and adaptable
• Clear and accurate record keeping
• Teaching skills
• Good team player
• Able to work in a multidisciplinary team
• Strong leadership skills
• Leadership in audit or Quallity Improvement

Knowledge

• Up to date on latest development of national guidance from RCOphth
• Understanding of clinical governance and quality issues

Other

• Ability to be part of the second on call rota
• Compassionate and motivated clinician
• Evidence of commitment to team building

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.