Forth Valley Royal Hospital
Consultant Ophthalmologist
Full Time (10 PA, including up to 2 SPA)
Consisting of 7 PA FV only and 3PA at GJNH if required
Salary Scale - £111,430 - £148,064 per annum (Pro Rata if part time)
Permanent post
Looking for a new and exciting challenge? Then think about working in NHS Forth Valley in the heart of Scotland.
NHS Forth Valley is seeking a motivated and enthusiastic Consultant Ophthalmologist with a broad experience in General Ophthalmology and a specialist interest in Medical Retina to join our dynamic and supportive Ophthalmology Department. The applicant must also be a competent cataract surgeon as we seek to increase the average number of cases per list.
This post has arisen due to an existing vacancy within the department. The successful applicant will join the area consultant ophthalmology team and will share responsibility for providing a comprehensive clinical service in Forth Valley. Participation in the out of hours on call rota is essential (1:7).
You can look forward to a warm welcome and strong support from colleagues. Our hospital is situated in the heart of Scotland, nestled against the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, and close to vibrant towns that are richly endowed with excellent cultural and sporting facilities, offering good transport links to Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Provide high-quality, consultant-led care in general ophthalmology and medical retina.
2. Lead and develop the medical retina service, including the delivery of intravitreal injection clinics, retinal imaging (OCT, FFA, etc.), and management of conditions such as AMD, diabetic retinopathy, and vein occlusions.
3. Participate in general outpatient clinics, theatre lists, and emergency eye care provision.
4. Contribute to the departments 1 in 7 on-call rota for emergency ophthalmology services.
5. Engage in multidisciplinary team meetings and support the training and supervision of junior medical staff, specialty trainees, and allied health professionals.
6. Participate in clinical governance activities, including audit, quality improvement, and service development initiatives.
7. Maintain continued professional development and actively engage in appraisal and revalidation.
Additionally, there is an opportunity to join the GJNH Ophthalmology team (3 PA)
The Ophthalmology service at GJNH was established in 2007 as a specialist provider of high volume cataract surgery in line with the Scottish Governments commitment to the Treatment Time Guarantee. The service continues to expand and is now one of Scotlands largest ophthalmic units. Over the last 5 years, we have developed a novel out-patient pathway, allowing 24 new patients to be assessed in a single clinic per day. We have also established process to enable high-volume cataract theatre lists, achieving 9 - 12 cases on some lists.
The appointment of additional Consultant ophthalmologists is a key part of our expansion plan. We are looking for Surgeons who are committed to high quality, high volume cataract surgery, who are comfortable working with pooled waiting lists, and are willing to work collaboratively with consultant colleagues and optometrists in the management of individual patients, and to take an active part in training junior surgeons.
Teamwork
We expect all our Consultants to work constructively not only with consultant colleagues but all other members of the wider Ophthalmology team, respecting both the principles of GMC Good medical practice and the values of NHS Golden Jubilee.
Clinical Service
We expect all of our clinicians to provide high quality, reliable and efficient clinical care. Patient-centredness is a key focus, using a shared decision-making approach. You will be fully engaged with the multi-disciplinary team to deliver the best outcome for each of our patients.
Specific to this role, as consultant ophthalmologist, you will be doing a mix of outpatient clinics and theatre, on a ratio of somewhere between 1:1 and 1:3 (clinic: theatre). In clinic you will be expected to work closely with our Optometrists, who carry out the full assessment of the patient, discuss treatment options and often arrive at an agreed management plan with the patient and taking informed consent, before presenting the patient to the clinic consultant. In theatre you will be expected to operate on patients taken from the pooled waiting list in addition to those you have listed yourself. We have devised a process of selection of patients suitable for the pooled waiting list which works very well but is entirely reliant on our consultants being in agreement about the criteria used and how they are applied. Similarly, our service requires consultants to adhere to agreed departmental protocols (for example, regarding indications for the use of Toric lenses), to ensure smooth running of the service and equity of access to patients. You will be expected to give support to Optometrist and Nursing colleagues who triage post-op. calls from patients and to see a small number of review patients, as the need arises. You will also be expected to attend to clinical administration generated from your own clinical work, and on occasion on behalf of other consultant colleagues in the event of absence, through leave or illness.
The board has a comprehensive programme of clinical governance and all medical staff are expected to uphold clinical and non-clinical policies and be exemplar role models for all other medical and non-medical staff. Infection control, hand hygiene and dress code policies and guidance must be adhered to at all times. Patient safety underpins clinical practice and initiatives following the guidance of the SPSP and subsequent programmes apply to all staff. Within the Ophthalmology department we have a very robust and secure process for monitoring intra-operative complications. Every surgeon is expected to log any significant events (Posterior capsule ruptures and Vitreous loss-with or without PCR) on the Theatre Management system at the end of the theatre list; results for the department are sent to the Clinical Director monthly, and all surgeons are sent an anonymised report quarterly, allowing them to see their own results in comparison to others.
The appointee will be accountable to the Medical Director for matters relating to the GMCs guidance on Good Medical Practice and the Duties of the Director. Any concerns raised relating to GMC guidance are referred to the Medical Director.