Job summary
We are delighted to invite applications for a Vitreoretinal (VR) Fellowship at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH). This hands-on, high-volume post offers comprehensive exposure to the full spectrum of vitreoretinal disease and surgery within one of the busiest ophthalmology departments in the East of England and tertiary centre to other ophthalmic units in Norfolk. This is a 12-month fixed term post.
Fellows will have specialist tertiary referral clinics and dedicated VR operating sessions under close Consultant supervision, with structured opportunities to develop the skills and case numbers required for independent practice. The Fellow will be a core member of our VR service, working alongside an experienced, friendly multi-professional team committed to teaching, mentoring and research.
The Fellowship is aimed at ophthalmologists who have completed, or are close to completing, higher specialist training or equivalent, and who wish to consolidate subspecialty expertise in preparation for a substantive consultant VR appointment in a large ophthalmology centre. Previous experience of vitreoretinal surgery is preferred.
Main duties of the job
This fellowship is built around operating. You will spend the majority of your week on dedicated vitreoretinal lists, with regular emergency add-on capacity, progressing rapidly from supervised cases to leading your own under close consultant mentorship. The case mix is broad and high-volume--primary and complex retinal detachments (vitrectomy and buckle), macular hole and ERM surgery, diabetic vitrectomy (tractional and complex PDR), management of dropped lens/nucleus and IOL complications, ocular trauma and endophthalmitis--performed on contemporary 25/27-gauge platforms with wide-angle viewing, chandelier illumination, endolaser and gas/oil tamponade, and access to intraoperative OCT. Surgical autonomy is graded and purposeful; the Fellowship provides a high surgical volume, with fellows typically undertaking a minimum of 500 vitrectomies annually.
Alongside theatre, you will run pre- and postoperative VR clinics, contribute to combined VR/medical retina sessions, and undertake virtual triage/review, with templates tailored to case-mix and training needs. You will participate in the consultant-led on-call rota for emergency retinal detachments and ocular trauma, taking increasing responsibility for assessment, consent, peri-operative decision-making and postoperative care with clear consultant backup.
About us
Join us at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and be part of a workforce of over 10,000 staff!
The NNUH is one of the largest NHS trusts in the UK, providing first-class acute care for around one million people, living in Norfolk and surrounding areas. We are a teaching and research hospital, at the forefront of innovation, home to state-of-the-art facilities, such as the Quadram Institute. We are pleased to work closely with the University of East Anglia, providing teaching opportunities for our staff and placement opportunities for their students. We attract some of the best and leading professionals from across the country and are proud that our workforce represents 94 countries from across the world.
We are a friendly, collaborative hospital, working with local services and home to N&N Hospitals Charity.
We can offer you the full range of NHS benefits/discounts and in addition:
- Flexible working hours
- Fast Track Staff Physiotherapy Service
- Multi Faith prayer room at NNUH Colney Lane site
- Discounted gym memberships
- Excellent pension scheme and annual leave entitlement
- Wagestream - access up to 40% of your pay as you earn it
- Free Park & Ride service direct to NNUH Colney Lane site
- Free 24-hours confidential counselling support
- On-site Nursery at NNUH Colney Lane
- On-site cafes offering staff discounts at NNUH Colney Lane
- Support in career development
- Flexible staff bank
- Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars, Cycle to Work scheme and home electronics
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached Job Description for the full details of the post and the person specification.
Full GMC with licence to practise required on application.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached Job Description for the full details of the post and the person specification.
Full GMC with licence to practise required on application.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Full GMC Registration
- Entry on the GMC Specialist Register: - - CCT - - CESR - - Level 4 VR training
Desirable
- An appropriate higher PHD/MD qualification
Aptitudes
Essential
- Good communicator.
- Capable of working in a multi-disciplinary team.
- Strong commitment to patient safety, audit and quality improvement.
- Demonstrable aptitude for microsurgical work and fine motor skills;
- Well-organised with the ability to prioritise under pressure.
Desirable
- Previous responsibility for service improvement.
- Management skills
- Enthusiasm for teaching.
Experience
Essential
- Broad ophthalmic experience with independent cataract surgery.
- Exposure to vitreoretinal surgery with competence in core steps of pars plana vitrectomy and management of common VR emergencies
- Experience running retinal clinics (pre-/post-op, urgent triage) and delivering retinal laser
Desirable
- Experience in research or published papers in area of special interest
- Audited surgical outcomes
- VR theatre logbook
Circumstances
Essential
- Flexible outlook on working hours.
- Full Driving License
- Able to work weekends and evenings
Communications and Language Skills
Essential
- Ability to communicate effectively with clinical colleagues, colleagues in pathology and support staff
- Good knowledge of, and ability to use, spoken and written English
- Ability to present effectively to an audience, using a variety of methods, and to respond to questions and queries
- Good presentation skills.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Full GMC Registration
- Entry on the GMC Specialist Register: - - CCT - - CESR - - Level 4 VR training
Desirable
- An appropriate higher PHD/MD qualification
Aptitudes
Essential
- Good communicator.
- Capable of working in a multi-disciplinary team.
- Strong commitment to patient safety, audit and quality improvement.
- Demonstrable aptitude for microsurgical work and fine motor skills;
- Well-organised with the ability to prioritise under pressure.
Desirable
- Previous responsibility for service improvement.
- Management skills
- Enthusiasm for teaching.
Experience
Essential
- Broad ophthalmic experience with independent cataract surgery.
- Exposure to vitreoretinal surgery with competence in core steps of pars plana vitrectomy and management of common VR emergencies
- Experience running retinal clinics (pre-/post-op, urgent triage) and delivering retinal laser
Desirable
- Experience in research or published papers in area of special interest
- Audited surgical outcomes
- VR theatre logbook
Circumstances
Essential
- Flexible outlook on working hours.
- Full Driving License
- Able to work weekends and evenings
Communications and Language Skills
Essential
- Ability to communicate effectively with clinical colleagues, colleagues in pathology and support staff
- Good knowledge of, and ability to use, spoken and written English
- Ability to present effectively to an audience, using a variety of methods, and to respond to questions and queries
- Good presentation skills.
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).
