Job summary
We are pleased to invite applications for our Consultant role in Ophthalmology at West Suffolk. The Consultant would be expected to be proficient in general ophthalmology, glaucoma management and day case cataract surgery. We would also welcome applications from those who have a particular specialist interest and have experience in primary care and neuro-ophthalmology.
The department was opened as an NHS Eye Treatment Centre in 2004 adjoining the Day Surgery Unit. The building was planned in close cooperation with the architect by clinicians to provide a first class environment for staff and patients. The ground floor comprises a cataract unit and a medical retina suite with nurse assessment rooms with IOL masters, an auto refractor, fundus camera and Cirrus OCT. Adjacent to the cataract unit is a large comfortable surgical waiting area leading to the ophthalmic theatre. Theatres are equipped to a high standard with Zeiss microscopes and B&L phacoemulsification machines, one with posterior vitrectomy capability; 99% of surgery including children under GA is conducted as daycase work.
Interviews to be held on Tuesday the 6th of December 2024
Please See Full Job Description attached for details
Main duties of the job
- To provide a Consultant Ophthalmology service for in-patients, day cases and out-patients, with continuing responsibility for the patients, their care and for the effective functioning of the department.
- To take part in the Consultant on call rota (1:8).
- To carry out teaching duties as required and to take an active part in the education programme of junior medical staff, nurses and AHP's.
- To provide supervision and training to junior hospital doctors.
- To participate in clinical audit, evidence - based practice and clinical governance within the department.
- To participate in regional sub-speciality audit and clinical Governance.
- To participate actively in continuing professional development (CPD).
About us
#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community
We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.
The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.
Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.
We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.
With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.
We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.
Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Ophthalmology Department serves a population of approximately 280,000 over an area of 600 square miles centred on Bury St Edmunds. Included in this area are Thetford to the north, Newmarket to the west, Sudbury to the south and Stowmarket to the east and peripheral clinics are held in Newmarket and Sudbury.
The department was opened as an NHS Eye Treatment Centre in 2004 adjoining the Day Surgery Unit. The building was planned in close cooperation with the architect by clinicians to provide a first-class environment for staff and patients. The ground floor comprises a cataract unit and a medical retina suite with nurse assessment rooms with IOL masters, an auto refractor, fundus camera and Cirrus OCT. Adjacent to the cataract unit is a large comfortable surgical waiting area leading to the ophthalmic theatre. Theatres are equipped to a high standard with Zeiss microscopes and B&L phacoemulsification machines, one with posterior vitrectomy capability; 99% of surgery including children under GA is conducted as day case work.
Excellent PA support to ensure efficient management of administrative tasks, allowing to focus on patient care and professional development, with designated office space for privacy and convenience, and working alongside with 6 knowledgeable nurse specialists with prescribing training, that offer assistance in clinic settings, addressing patient inquiries, and managing administrative tasks.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Ophthalmology Department serves a population of approximately 280,000 over an area of 600 square miles centred on Bury St Edmunds. Included in this area are Thetford to the north, Newmarket to the west, Sudbury to the south and Stowmarket to the east and peripheral clinics are held in Newmarket and Sudbury.
The department was opened as an NHS Eye Treatment Centre in 2004 adjoining the Day Surgery Unit. The building was planned in close cooperation with the architect by clinicians to provide a first-class environment for staff and patients. The ground floor comprises a cataract unit and a medical retina suite with nurse assessment rooms with IOL masters, an auto refractor, fundus camera and Cirrus OCT. Adjacent to the cataract unit is a large comfortable surgical waiting area leading to the ophthalmic theatre. Theatres are equipped to a high standard with Zeiss microscopes and B&L phacoemulsification machines, one with posterior vitrectomy capability; 99% of surgery including children under GA is conducted as day case work.
Excellent PA support to ensure efficient management of administrative tasks, allowing to focus on patient care and professional development, with designated office space for privacy and convenience, and working alongside with 6 knowledgeable nurse specialists with prescribing training, that offer assistance in clinic settings, addressing patient inquiries, and managing administrative tasks.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- MBBS or equivalent
- FRC Ophth or equivalent
- Entry on GMC Specialist Register or be eligible for entry onto the Register within six months of receipt of Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) at time of interview.
- Hold GMC Registration with a Licence to Practise
Desirable
Clinical Experience
Essential
- Proven clinical experience in diagnosis and treatment of general ophthalmic conditions, including thorough training in phacoemulsification cataract surgery.
- Ability to deal with Ophthalmic emergencies.
- Ability to take full and independent responsibility for clinical care of patients.
Desirable
- Subspecialty expertise complementary to the departmental needs. Neuro-ophthalmology and Primary Care particularly welcome
Management and Administrative Experience
Essential
- Ability to provide leadership in developing clinical services and to ensure their quality.
- Evidence of participation in clinical audit activities.
- Understanding of mechanisms required when dealing with concerns about professional practice.
- Ability to manage teams.
Desirable
- Attendance on management course
- Willingness to be ophthalmology College Tutor.
- Willingness to be lead clinician in rotation with colleagues.
Personality Teaching Experience
Essential
- Experience of and interest in supervision and training of junior medical staff (FY1, FY2, ST1/2, SpRs)
- Experience of teaching healthcare professionals
- Ability to teach clinical skills.
Desirable
- Attendance at a course on presentation and teaching skills - "teaching the teachers" or similar
Research Experience
Essential
- Ability to apply research outcomes to clinical problems.
- Publications in peer-reviewed journals
Other Attributes
Essential
- Ability to work in a team.
- Good interpersonal skills
- Enquiring, critical approach to work
- Caring attitude to patients
- Ability to communicate effectively with patients, relatives, all grades of Health Care professionals and other agencies.
- Commitment to CPD and the requirements of Clinical Governance and Audit
- Willingness to undertake additional professional responsibilities at local, regional, or national levels.
- Able to meet the travel requirements of the post.
Desirable
- Have access to car/current UK driving licence. Candidates with disabilities who able to meet this requirement by other means, or following reasonable adjustments to the job description, will be considered.
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- All applicants to have demonstrable skills in written and spoken English that are adequate to enable effective communication about medical topics with patients and colleagues which could be demonstrated by one of the following:- PLAB 1 PLAB 2 If applicants believe that they have adequate communication skills, but do not fit into one of the examples they need to provide evidence.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- MBBS or equivalent
- FRC Ophth or equivalent
- Entry on GMC Specialist Register or be eligible for entry onto the Register within six months of receipt of Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) at time of interview.
- Hold GMC Registration with a Licence to Practise
Desirable
Clinical Experience
Essential
- Proven clinical experience in diagnosis and treatment of general ophthalmic conditions, including thorough training in phacoemulsification cataract surgery.
- Ability to deal with Ophthalmic emergencies.
- Ability to take full and independent responsibility for clinical care of patients.
Desirable
- Subspecialty expertise complementary to the departmental needs. Neuro-ophthalmology and Primary Care particularly welcome
Management and Administrative Experience
Essential
- Ability to provide leadership in developing clinical services and to ensure their quality.
- Evidence of participation in clinical audit activities.
- Understanding of mechanisms required when dealing with concerns about professional practice.
- Ability to manage teams.
Desirable
- Attendance on management course
- Willingness to be ophthalmology College Tutor.
- Willingness to be lead clinician in rotation with colleagues.
Personality Teaching Experience
Essential
- Experience of and interest in supervision and training of junior medical staff (FY1, FY2, ST1/2, SpRs)
- Experience of teaching healthcare professionals
- Ability to teach clinical skills.
Desirable
- Attendance at a course on presentation and teaching skills - "teaching the teachers" or similar
Research Experience
Essential
- Ability to apply research outcomes to clinical problems.
- Publications in peer-reviewed journals
Other Attributes
Essential
- Ability to work in a team.
- Good interpersonal skills
- Enquiring, critical approach to work
- Caring attitude to patients
- Ability to communicate effectively with patients, relatives, all grades of Health Care professionals and other agencies.
- Commitment to CPD and the requirements of Clinical Governance and Audit
- Willingness to undertake additional professional responsibilities at local, regional, or national levels.
- Able to meet the travel requirements of the post.
Desirable
- Have access to car/current UK driving licence. Candidates with disabilities who able to meet this requirement by other means, or following reasonable adjustments to the job description, will be considered.
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- All applicants to have demonstrable skills in written and spoken English that are adequate to enable effective communication about medical topics with patients and colleagues which could be demonstrated by one of the following:- PLAB 1 PLAB 2 If applicants believe that they have adequate communication skills, but do not fit into one of the examples they need to provide evidence.
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
