Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Consultant Ophthalmologist Glaucoma
The closing date is 26 May 2026.
This appointment offers an exciting opportunity to join the Ophthalmology Department at a time of significant service development within the Trust. The glaucoma service delivers both face‑to‑face and virtual clinic activity, with substantial expansion of virtual capacity currently underway to support growing demand.
The post‑holder will contribute to the delivery of high‑quality glaucoma care for patients across Gloucestershire, alongside teaching and supervising resident doctors and medical students. Close collaboration with general practitioners, community optometrists and wider multidisciplinary colleagues is essential to ensure seamless, integrated patient care.
As a senior member of the Trust, the post‑holder will work in partnership with clinical, professional and managerial colleagues to uphold the highest standards of patient care. Core responsibilities include:
* Ensuring the provision of a first‑class clinical glaucoma service
* Providing effective leadership within the specialty
* Supporting and developing teaching and research activities
* Working in accordance with Trust procedures and operating policies
* Delivering clinical practice aligned with contractual requirements and the Trust's service plans
* Contributing to and maintaining confidence in service development and business plans across the specialty, Surgical Division and wider Trust
Main duties of the job
The post holder will have completed senior subspecialty fellowship training in glaucoma, providing the knowledge, clinical expertise and surgical skill necessary to practise independently within the glaucoma service. They must have experience managing the full spectrum of complex glaucoma conditions, including advanced and secondary glaucoma, and be proficient in the assessment, initiation and monitoring of medical, laser and surgical treatments.
The post holder should demonstrate expertise in interpreting glaucoma diagnostics— including OCT, visual fields, optic nerve imaging and anterior segment imaging—and have the ability to formulate and deliver safe, evidence‑based management plans. Surgical competence should include experience in traditional and minimally invasive glaucoma surgery (MIGS), with the ability to manage surgical complications and coordinate peri‑operative care.
In relation to virtual care pathways, the post holder will be expected to have experience in the set‑up, oversight and development of glaucoma virtual clinics, including risk‑stratified patient flows, quality‑assurance processes and identifying opportunities to expand and optimise virtual service delivery across the county.
About us
We provide a comprehensive suite of acute, sub‑acute and long‑term condition management services and work in close partnership with Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust, primary care colleagues and wider system partners to ensure integrated, high quality care for our community. We are committed to recruiting exceptional clinicians and professionals who share our vision of providing best care for everyone, and we take pride in the contribution of our staff, many of whom are national and international leaders in clinical care, teaching and research.
Ophthalmology sits within the Trust's Surgical Division. The Division is led by the Chief of Service, Mr David Cooper, who also practises as a Consultant Vascular Surgeon. The Divisional Director of Operations is Simon Burchfield, and the Divisional Nursing Director is Sarah Mather. The Ophthalmology Department is supported operationally by its General Manager, Laura Roberts.
The Ophthalmology Service delivers comprehensive county‑wide care across Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and Cheltenham General Hospital, supported by peripheral outpatient clinics throughout the county. The department comprises a large consultant body and multidisciplinary workforce, including orthoptic and optometric specialists, and is equipped to provide a full range of diagnostics, outpatient services and surgical care, reflecting the breadth of sub‑specialties offered across the Trust's ophthalmic services.
Job responsibilities
1. Clinical Responsibilities / Key Responsibilities
Deliver high‑quality, patient‑centred care within the Ophthalmology service, with a specific focus on Glaucoma. Provide general Ophthalmology services alongside consultant colleagues and the wider multidisciplinary team. Lead and deliver a specialist Glaucoma service across Gloucestershire Hospitals, working collaboratively with ophthalmologists, orthoptists, optometrists, nurses and wider clinical teams. Assess, diagnose and manage glaucoma patients in outpatient, inpatient, surgical and diagnostic settings, ensuring timely, evidence‑based treatment. Provide senior clinical decision‑making support and supervision to resident doctors, specialty trainees, optometrists, orthoptists and nursing colleagues. Participate in the out‑of‑hours rota in accordance with agreed departmental protocols.
2. Professional Development, Education and Training
Support high‑quality training opportunities for medical, nursing, AHP and non‑medical staff, aligned with national and local requirements. Contribute to undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, including clinical teaching, departmental meetings, tutorials and educational sessions. Act as Educational Supervisor for junior or middle‑grade medical staff where agreed, undertaking appraisal and supporting development plans. Maintain engagement with current literature and learning resources. The department has extensive journal access, strong library facilities in Gloucester and Cheltenham, and wide digital and intranet support for research and education.
3. Management and Leadership
Provide clinical leadership and specialist glaucoma expertise in service development, pathway optimisation and operational improvements. Participate in consultant and senior staff meetings, contributing to the delivery of Trust and departmental objectives. Attend relevant departmental, Divisional, Trust, regional and national meetings as required. Work in accordance with all Trust policies, procedures and governance frameworks.
4. Clinical Governance and Audit
Promote and demonstrate evidence‑based practice and comply with NICE, national glaucoma guidelines and emerging best‑practice standards. Lead and support clinical audit, quality improvement and service evaluation relating to glaucoma pathways and outcomes. Participate in risk management, incident investigation and quality assurance across the ophthalmology service. Maintain up‑to‑date knowledge and skills in accordance with RCOphth CPD requirements. Manage complaints, concerns and clinical incidents appropriately and constructively. Attend accredited courses and meetings to maintain and enhance clinical, teaching and leadership skills. Participate in the annual Job Planning Review and Trust Appraisal process. Comply with the Trust's Adverse Clinical Incident Policy and all clinical governance requirements.
5. General Working Conditions
Report professionally to the Glaucoma Lead, Specialty Director, and Divisional Lead. Engage actively in appraisal processes and take responsibility for ongoing professional development. Maintain a safe working environment, ensuring the health, safety and wellbeing of patients, visitors and colleagues.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
* Full GMC Registration and a license to practice
* Entry on the GMC Specialist Register via CCT or CESR (proposed CCT/CESR date must be within 6 months of interview)
* European Community Rights
Knowledge and Skills
* Knowledge of contemporary NHS management issues
* Knowledge of political context within which we operate
* Evidence of recent CME activity and satisfactory career progression
* Knowledge of principles of audit with evidence of participation
* Experience of supervising junior medical staff and willingness to teach students, junior medical staff and other professionals
* Proven teaching ability
* Publications in peer‑reviewed journals
* Completion of a management course or programme
Clinical Experience
* Evidence of glaucoma ophthalmology fellowship training
* Clinical training and experience in general ophthalmology equivalent to that required for a UK CCT
* Clinical training in glaucoma to Level 4 competence
* Evidence of experience with high volume cataract surgery. Fully audited complication data for last 200 cases
* Recent experience and familiarity of UK hospital systems and practices (or equivalent)
Personal Attributes
* Ability to lead a team and form effective working relationships
* Ability to communicate effectively with colleagues, patients, relatives, GP's, nurses and other agencies
* Ability to provide a role model and to inspire and develop resident medical and nursing staff
* Ability to work independently as well as part of the directorate and to balance individual requirements against those of the directorate and the Trust as a whole
* Evidence of self‑motivation and ability to organise own CME and CPD needs
* Willingness to attend outlying hospitals as required and ability to fulfil travelling requirements associated with the post
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.
Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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