Corneal Fellow

Job description

Job responsibilities

Research

The Laser and Retinal Research Unit was established in 2002. Its research focus is macular disease, in particular age-related macular degeneration and diabetic maculopathy, including various clinical trials both investigator-led and sponsored by industry. Basic science research is carried out in various different laboratories. It is envisaged that the post holder will participate actively in these research projects and will be encouraged to pursue a higher research degree if he or she does not hold one already. The unit is part of Kings Health Partners, the UKs largest academic health sciences centre. The surgical retinal unit has a highly active research portfolio with access to cutting edge technologies and large commercial and non-commercial clinical trials.

Teaching, Audit, Governance

The post holder will be expected to contribute and participate in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching. Departmental meetings are held every Friday afternoon and include consultation clinic, audit sessions and journal clubs. There are 4 regional meetings throughout the South East Region.

The post holder will be expected to contribute and participate in the Departments ongoing clinical audit programme, and will carry out all necessary administrative duties associated with the care of their patients.

The post holder will be expected to produce clinical papers during their attachment and be involved in ongoing clinical trials. The post holder also has a general duty of care for the health, safety and well-being of work colleagues, visitors and patients within the hospital, in addition to any specific risk management or clinical governance accountabilities associated with this post.

Study and Annual Leave

Study leave may be requested in accordance with the Trusts Policy for Continuing Medical Education. Annual leave may be taken in accordance with the Trusts Guidelines on Leave Arrangements for Medical and Dental Staff. To ensure the smooth running of the service the post holder will ensure that, in conjunction with colleagues, adequate arrangements are made to cover planned absences.

Job Summary

This post is based at Kings College Hospital Denmark Hill. Clinical duties include the management of patients with a wide variety of anterior segment conditions, with particular emphasis on those amenable to corneal grafting. The post holder will be fully involved in preoperative and postoperative management. Depending on previous experience an initial period of assisting will lead to performance of elements of the surgical procedures under supervision to ultimately to performing complete procedures. The post holder will be involved in crosslinking for keratoconus. The job plan includes participation in the on-call rota, and involvement in the acute management of acute anterior segment conditions, particularly corneal infections and trauma. In addition to clinical duties the post holder will be expected to be actively involved in research projects, with a view to peer reviewed publication.

Tenure of the post is 1 year, renewable for one year by mutual consent. Applicants must have MRCOphth or equivalent. Previous anterior segment experience, including competence in complex cataract surgery, is preferred. Ability to perform high volume unsupervised routine cataract surgery is essential.

Informal enquiries or a visit to the Unit are encouraged for shortlisted candidates.

On call

The post holder will be expected to take part in the on-call rota at Kings College

Hospital, which may include provision of ophthalmic care to patients of Lewisham, Sidcup and Farnborough. Urgent general referrals from General Practitioners, Optometrists, and the Accident & Emergency Departments of Kings College, Lewisham, Sidcup and Princess Royal Hospitals are usually managed within the booked appointment system of the Kings Rapid Eye Service (KRES) at Denmark Hill or the Rapid Access Unit (RAU) at Queen Marys Hospital but patients may be referred to the on-call team for emergency management. Emergency referrals, particularly outside normal working hours, are handled directly by the on-call team. There is a first on-call rota is resident until 10pm each day. After 10pm there is an overnight on-call rota which is non resident, although attendance may be required. The on-call doctor is required to see, and discuss with the on-call Consultant, any emergency patients requiring admission or surgery.

Indicative experience

The Corneal department performs approximately 250 corneal procedures per year including descemets membrane endothelial transplantation, descemets stripping endothelial keratoplasty, penetrating and deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty, pterygium excision with autograft, amniotic membrane transplantation, trauma surgery and anterior segment revision.

The successful candidate will be involved in research on endothelial keratoplasty with the likelihood of publication of papers. We have an extensive database with 15 years follow up of DSEK and DMEK cases which the successful candidate will use to present audit data and for research purposes.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Years experience
• Corneal experience

Corneal experience

Essential

• NHS Experience
• Corneal experience

Desirable

• Achieved grade

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).

Employer details

Employer name

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Denmark Hill

London

SE5 9RS

Employer's website

https://www.kch.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)