Employer Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust Town Salisbury Salary £109,725 - £145,478 per annum pro rata if part time Salary period Yearly Closing 11/01/2026 23:59 Interview date 29/01/2026
Consultant Ophthalmologist - Cornea and anterior segment
Consultant
Job overview
We are pleased to offer an exciting opportunity for a Consultant Ophthalmologist with a subspecialist interest in cornea and anterior segment to join our supportive and forward-thinking team at Salisbury District Hospital. This is a substantive consultant post (6 PAs per week) designed to support and strengthen the delivery of our expanding Ophthalmology service.
Applicants will be encouraged to develop their subspecialty expertise in Cornea and Anterior Segment Ophthalmology, contribute to the adult cataract service, and play a key role in shaping and supporting the development of a leading ophthalmic consultant team.
This post offers a fantastic opportunity for an enthusiastic and motivated consultant to join a department that is innovative, patient-focused, and committed to staff development and flexible working.
Interview will take place on the 29th January 2026.
Main duties of the job
Provide high-quality care through outpatient clinics, procedures, and, where appropriate, surgical intervention.
Support the adult cataract service, contributing to the management of both routine and complex surgical cases.
Collaborate with a skilled multidisciplinary team, including specialist optometrists and ophthalmic technicians.
Join a team that has implemented innovative pathways since the COVID-19 pandemic, including imaging clinics and telephone consultations to prioritise high-risk patients while reducing delays.
Help refine and further develop these pathways, with scope to shape the service and implement positive change.
Benefit from a range of surgical and laser treatment options, now available thanks to successful business cases.
Participate in general ophthalmology clinics and the consultant on-call rota (pro-rata).
Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust (SFT) is an innovative hospital with a proud heritage and over 250 years of experience behind us. Here we’re driven to deliver an outstanding experience for everyone and have been well regarded for the quality of care and treatment we continue to provide for our patients and also our staff.
We are an acute Trust, rated “Good” by the CQC, with a track record of high performance providing regional and super regional specialist services such as: Burns, Plastics & Reconstructive Surgery, Wessex Regional Genetics Laboratory, Wessex Rehabilitation, Spires Cleft Centre and the Duke of Cornwall Spinal Treatment Centre. We have about 470 beds and employ over 4000 staff.
We support flexible working and will consider requests taking into account the needs of the service. We think working here is pretty rewarding. You can access a range of NHS discounts, receive a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme. On-site benefits include car parking (fee applies), leisure centre, day nursery and holiday play scheme.
Salisbury is an attractive place to live and work and really gives you the best of everything. With easy access to London and local airports, the city of Southampton is only a short train or car journey away or if you prefer the sea, Bournemouth is also accessible. Don’t just take our word for it, why not explore what Salisbury has to offer by visiting www.experiencesalisbury.co.uk.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Applicants will be encouraged to develop their subspecialty expertise in Corneal and Anterior segment, and contribute to the adult cataract service supporting the development of a leading ophthalmic consultant team. The sub‑specialty service is supported by specialist optometrists and ophthalmic technicians. The new post-holder will join a maturing service which has been innovative in developing pathways since the COVID pandemic to ensure those most at risk are seen Face to Face in a timely way with alternative pathways including imaging clinics and phone clinics to reduce waiting times and get patients the care they need most efficiently. With scope from the appointee to further refine and improve these pathways, shape the service to easily implement positive change. Additionally, in the last year, Salisbury is now able to offer a range of surgical and laser treatment options to patients to offer more individualised and targeted patient care.
The department actively supports staff training and development, as exampled by our involvement in pioneering Ophthalmic Practitioner Training (OPT) and with putting our ophthalmic technicians and optometrists through undergraduate and post‑graduated diplomas and degrees. We have committed to developing of CESR training, and to ensuring a sustainable work life balance exists. We have been successful at getting many junior doctors onto Ophthamic Specialist Training at both ST1 and ST3 level. The Trust is committed to flexible working and supporting less than full time contracts to allow our clinicians to develop their interests outside of work. We have a growing research portfolio with excellent links to the University of Southampton, it is possible to have dedicated time for research in the successful candidate’s job plan. As a trust, we have excelled in medical education with many of our consultant body holding regional medical education roles, including some of the eye team.
Person specification
Education and Training
* Possession, or within 6 months of possession, of a CCT in ophthalmology leading to entry onto GMC Specialist Register.
* Full GMC registration with a licence to practice.
* Evidence of specialist expertise and fellowship level of training in anterior eye / cornea.
* Knowledge and application of up to date evidence based practice.
Quality / Governance
* Experience in managing risk and knows when to seek help, able to prioritise clinical need.
* Demonstrates a thorough understanding of and a commitment to the principles of clinical governance.
* Ability to contribute to the development of the service.
Knowledge and Skills
* Evidence of wide experience and a high level of competence in ophthalmology.
* Ability to perform cataract surgery independently at reasonable volume 7+.
* Appropriate knowledge base and ability to apply sound clinical judgement to problems: demonstrates clear, logical thinking/analytical approach.
* Demonstration of ability to be a clinical leader.
* Capacity to manage/prioritise time and information effectively: capacity to organise own workload.
* Ability to perform effectively as a member of a team, including a multidisciplinary team and to motivate and develop staff.
Performance
* Ability and willingness to work within the Trust and NHS performance targets.
* Ability to balance individual requirements against those of the department/Directorate.
We offer excellent benefits that help make SDH a great place to work. Take a look at our Employee Value Proposition (EVP) for more detailed information https://www.salisbury.nhs.uk/media/2lfatov2/employee-value-proposition-document-v12-final.pdf
These include but aren't limited to:
* Holiday starting at 27 days plus Bank Holidays rising to 29 days after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years for Agenda for Change staff.
* Holiday entitlement for Medical and Dental staff starts at 27 days for Junior/Senior Clinical Fellows, Specialty Doctors and rises to 32 days after 5 years. Consultant entitlement starts at 32 days and rises to 34 days after 7 years.
* An additional day's leave to celebrate your birthday (after 12 months & non contractual) pro rata.
* Access to a career average revalued earnings pension scheme.
* Life assurance if a member of the pension scheme.
* An extensive Health and Wellbeing offer to help you deal with life's challenges.
* Exclusive deals and discounts websites saving you money on everyday purchases, treats for the family, eating out and utility bills for home.
* Cycle to work scheme.
* Uniform provided (where required).
* On site Day Nursery and Holiday Play scheme.
* On site health and fitness club.
* On site car parking (fees and restrictions apply).
* Opportunities to get on - take advantage of our ongoing learning opportunities and training, to help you achieve the job and career you want.
Please note - Due to recent changes in UK immigration and visa rules applicants who do not currently have the right to work in the UK may not be considered. Candidates requiring sponsorship (or will need sponsorship at the end of a current visa eg those with graduate visa's) should review the eligibility criteria on the gov.uk website before applying.
Please be advised that this vacancy may close earlier than stated if we receive a large number of applications. We will not accept any applications or queries via agencies, under any circumstances.
We continue to encourage and support our staff to participate in the seasonal respiratory vaccination programme in order to protect themselves, colleagues and their patients.
GETTING TO WORK
We offer parking on site at Salisbury District Hospital, a daily charge applies. We encourage our staff to utilise other green methods of getting to work such as cycling or walking where possible, and our Trust is well connected through the bus services to the city centre and other areas.
OUR COMMITMENT TO EQUALITY
We are committed to making Salisbury an inclusive and welcoming place for every single staff member, regardless of who they are and where they come from. Equality sits at the heart of everything we do, and we ensure that all employees have equal opportunity to develop, to apply for promotions and to work flexibly.
The Trust actively promotes a work environment free from harassment and discrimination and provides training for staff to ensure this happens. We also closely monitor recruitment activity, training, development and employment practices to ensure equality of practice with regard to race, colour, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, disability, martial status and age.
OTHER INFORMATION
If this job requires you to have DBS check to enable you to properly fulfil the requirements of the job, on appointment, you will be required to replay the cost of obtaining a DBS check and this amount will be reclaimed in instalments from your salary. Many staff use the DBS update service at a cost of £16 per annum but you need to sign up for this via their website.
Please read the job description and person specification carefully and ensure that your application reflects the knowledge, skills and experience required.
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Employer certification / accreditation badges
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Name Matt Wakefield Job title Consultant Ophthalmologist Email address Matthew.wakefield@nhs.net Telephone number 01722 336262 Additional information
Matt Wakefield, Consultant Ophthalmologist 01722 336262 Ext: 5385
Naeem Haq, Clinical Lead, naeem.haq1@nhs.net 01722 336262 ext 5387
Rachael East, Deputy Divisional Manager, rachael.east@nhs.net 01722 336262 ext 5012
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