Consultant Ophthalmologist

Job overview

Interested applicants are encouraged to contact the department to discuss the post and the possibilities for development once in the role.

Applicants 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.

Torbay has an excellent reputation for delivering quality medical education and we regularly have students join our department from Plymouth and Exeter Medical Schools as well as teaching Physician Associate, BSc students, Paramedics and Nursing students.

Main duties of the job

This is a full-time post and will include general, urgent care, cataract clinics and cataract surgery. There would be a 1 in 9 general on-call commitment. There is a separate sub regional vitreoretinal on-call. Shared office space and secretarial support will be provided for the period of the post.

Patient safety, dignity and care are the highest priority and at the centre of all that we do.

Working for our organisation

We are a forward thinking, very well equipped and well supported department. We provide a very wide range of ophthalmic services including vitreo-retinal surgery, medical retina including uveitis, oculoplastics including lacrimal surgery and specialist thyroid clinics, glaucoma, corneal services including PK, DALK, DSAEK and DMEK, paediatric services, adult motility and of course cataract surgery.

We have a talented and enthusiastic body of nurses, orthoptists and optometrists in the department trained to work in urgent care, glaucoma, paediatrics, cornea, diabetic and macular clinics. Our skilled nurses can independently perform botox injections, minor operations on the eyelids, give intravitreal injections and provide sub-tenon blocks for cataract surgery.

Operating lists are conducted at both Torbay Hospital, a commissioned high street theatre in Newton Abbot, as well as the Nightingale theatre in Exeter. Our second ophthalmic theatre on the Torbay Hospital site was opened in February 2024 and has dedicated HVLC lists.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Detailed job description and responsibilities

A provisional job plan is shown below: 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

1. 5

CLINIC

1

Tuesday

ADMIN

1

THEATRE/LASER

1

Wednesday

SPA

1

CLINIC

1

Thursday

1. 25

CLINIC

1

Friday

CLINIC

1

SPA

1

(Initial split of 7.5 DCC, 2.5 SPA. Following 12 months in post, 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 department’s 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.

Person specification

Qualifications

• 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

• 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

• 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.

You will be joining the organisation at an exciting time. As the first fully integrated care organisation in England, we are working to improve the way we deliver safe, high-quality health and social care. We have a positive and vibrant working atmosphere, we are proud of our investment in our staff both in terms of developing potential career skills and valuing people.

If you provide support to a family member or friend with health or care needs, we aim to be a Carer-friendly employer. We have a ‘Staff Carers’ policy which includes flexible working where possible and a Carer’s Passport scheme that links you into support and discounts.

• We reserve the right to close vacancies early if we receive a high volume of applications. Please apply promptly
• Please read the job description and tailor your application to reflect the role
• Correspondence will be via Trac, text and email. Please check your email and Trac account regularly.
• Applicants with no previous NHS experience will ordinarily be appointed to the minimum of the band
• If you have not received an invitation to interview within 28 days of the closing date, please assume that your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion
• It is your responsibility to assist us in the timely receipt of appropriate references

If you require support you can obtain this from our Equality Business Forum which has representatives from all protected groups.