Consultant Ophthalmologist

Job summary

Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust is an expanding and innovative Trust set in the heart of South Devon.

We are seeking to recruit an innovative, dynamic consultant to join our team. This would be an excellent opportunity for Higher Trainees who have completed their training or an established consultant seeking a career change.

You will be joining a friendly and welcoming team working full time or part time hours, and your role may include general as well as specialist clinics, and cataract surgery.

Please note there would be a 1 in 8 general on-call commitment, and there is a separate sub regional vitreoretinal on-call. Shared office space and secretarial support will be provided.

Main duties of the job

• Ability to offer expert clinical opinions on a range of ophthalmic problems, both emergency and elective.
• Independent running of operating lists and teaching cataract surgery.
• Ability to take full and independent responsibility for the clinical care of patients.
• Ability to prioritize clinical needs.
• Ability to supervise multi-disciplinary teams.
• Willingness to work according to guidelines and group decisions.
• Ability to demonstrate familiarity with and understanding of NHS structures, management, and current political issues, including awareness of national strategic plans and constraints.
• Ability to demonstrate a willingness to lead clinical teams.
• Effective specialist clinical service.

About us

Our surgical service is based in the purpose-built Eye Surgery Unit (ESU), above the Eye Clinic. The ESU provides a one-stop cataract assessment, surgical booking and admissions service. The small number of inpatients are admitted here before transfer to a ward postoperatively. Surgery is undertaken at Torbay Hospital, with potential use of the Centre of Excellence for Eyes at Nightingale Hospital, Exeter. A second ophthalmic theatre at Torbay Hospital opened in February 2024 and provides dedicated HVLC lists.

Most minor lid procedures (entropion, ectropion and lesion excision) are performed in the outpatient minor operations suite.

Clinics are held at Newton Abbot Community Hospital, with potential expansion into additional community sites.

The Trust maintains strong relationships with commissioners through regular meetings.

A provisional job plan is shown below, although please note this job plan is representative only. The final timetable will depend on current service redesign within the unit and the interests of the appointed candidate.

Morning

PA

Afternoon

PA

Monday

• SPA
• 0.5
• CLINIC
• 1

Tuesday

• ADMIN
• 1
• THEATRE/LASER
• 1

Wednesday

• SPA
• 1
• CLINIC
• 1

Thursday

• Theatre
• 1.25
• CLINIC
• 1

Friday

• CLINIC
• 1
• SPA
• 1

Job responsibilities

On call 0.25 PA

Initial split of 7.5 DCC, 2.5 SPA. Following 6 to 12 months in post (depending on previous experience), there is a baseline 1.5 SPA with a further 1 PA to be used either as SPA performing additional roles (e.g College Tutor, clinical governance, medical student supervision, etc) or DCC, according to Consultant preference.

To provide high quality consultant delivered care to patients including clinical leadership and supervision of junior medical staff, ensuring the highest standards of clinical care are provided to all patients attending the hospital.

• To be proactive in ensuring that all patients receive rapid assessment, treatment and clinical decision making, whilst ensuring our standard to deliver safe quality and performance are delivered and sustained.
• To provide teaching and training at undergraduate and postgraduate level and supervised and train the juniors and specialty doctors. To be proactive in the departments clinical governance agenda and take on leadership roles to support continuous learning and improvement, thereby abiding by the clinical and corporate governance policies of the Trust.
• To liaise with clinicians and managers within and outside the department to address any issues arising that may affect the services.
• To participate in relevant audit and quality assurance processes.
• To communicate with local GPs

Other responsibilities include:

• Junior Staff:Recruitment, appointment and educational supervision including educational contracts, regular appraisal, organisation of study leave, annual leave and rotas.
• Budget:Co-operate with the Deputy Medical Director and Divisional General Manager on budget issues.
• Communication:This will include the responsibility for and arrangement of communication and liaison with all other medical and service departments within the Trust as well as other Trusts.
• Teaching:To have an active role in the junior doctor training programme.

Eligible candidates will need to have Full GMC Registration (with licence to practice) and be on the Specialist Register by date of interview or within 6 months of CCT (Certificate of Completion of Training).We provide a very wide range of ophthalmic services including intravitreal treatments for macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, vitreo-retinal surgery, services for medical retina including uveitis, lacrimal surgery please see job description for more services.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential

• FRCOphth or equivalent
• Full GMC Registration with licence to practice
• Minimum of English Level 2 (GCSE grade C or equivalent)
• IELTS or graduate of a UK Medical School
• Name on Specialist Register by date of interview or within 6 months of CCT

Knowledge

Essential

• Ability to offer expert clinical opinion on a range of ophthalmic problems, both emergency and elective.
• Independent running of operating lists and teaching cataract surgery.
• Ability to take full and independent responsibility for clinical care of patients.
• Ability to prioritise clinical need.
• Ability to supervise multi-disciplinary teams.
• Willing to work to guidelines and group decisions.
• Ability to demonstrate familiarity with and understanding of NHS structures,management and current political issues, including awareness of national strategic plans and constraints
• Ability to demonstrate willingness to lead clinical teams.
• Experience of Audit and Management.
• Proven ability to teach clinical skills within multi-disciplinary teams and applying evidence based knowledge.
• Willingness and ability to contribute to departmental and Trust teaching Programmes.

Skills

Essential

• Good spoken and written English language skills
• Ability to communicate effectively with patients, relatives and staff
• Honesty and reliability.
• Ability to work in a team