Main area Ophthalmology Grade NHS Medical & Dental: Consultant Contract Fixed term: 6 months (View to becoming permanent in future.) Hours
* Full time
* Part time
10 sessions per week (On-call)
Job ref 388-7800956-M&D
Employer Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Torbay Hospital Town Torquay Salary £109,725 - £145,478 per annum Salary period Yearly Closing 02/04/2026 23:59
Consultant Ophthalmologist
NHS Medical & Dental: Consultant
Job overview
Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust is an expanding and innovative Trust set in the heart of South Devon.
We are seeking to recruit an innovative, dynamic consultant to join our team. This would be an excellent opportunity for Higher Trainees who have completed their training or an established consultant seeking a career change.
You will be joining a friendly and welcoming team working full time or part time hours, and your role may include general as well as specialist Glaucoma clinics, and cataract surgery.
Please note there would be a 1 in 8 general on-call commitment, and there is a separate sub regional vitreoretinal on-call. Shared office space and secretarial support will be provided.
Main duties of the job
* Ability to offer expert clinical opinions 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 the clinical care of patients.
* Ability to prioritize clinical needs.
* Ability to supervise multi-disciplinary teams.
* Willingness to work according 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 a willingness to lead clinical teams.
* Effective specialist clinical service.
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.
Our surgical service is run from the purpose-built Eye Surgery Unit (ESU) just upstairs from the Eye Clinic. From here we offer a one stop cataract assessment service, surgical booking service and admissions area. Our very few inpatients are admitted here and go to a ward postoperatively. Operating lists are conducted at Torbay Hospital, as well as the potential for use of the Centre of Excellence for Eyes at Nightingale Hospital in Exeter. Our second ophthalmic theatre on the Torbay Hospital site was opened in February 2024 and has dedicated HVLC lists.
Currently the majority of minor lid operations (entropion, ectropion, lesion excision etc) takes place in our minor operations suite in the outpatients’ department.
We have integrated image viewing software and use Medisoft EPR for our medical retinal, macula, eye casualty, VR and cataract surgery services. The hospital plans to start using EPIC in 2026.
We hold clinics at Newton Abbot community hospital and there is potential that we will be expanding our service into further community sites.
The Trust has a good working relationship with our commissioners and the Department has regular meetings with the commissioning bodies.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
A provisional job plan is shown below, although 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
Clinic
1
SPA/Clinic
1
Tuesday
Admin
1
Clinic/Laser
1
Clinic/Theatre*
1
Clinic/Theatre*
1
Thursday
SPA
1
Clinic
1
Friday
Clinic
1
SPA
1
* Theatre to replace clinic on a flexible weekly basis (contributing perhaps 30-40 additional theatre sessions per year).
On call 0.25 PA
Initial split of 7.5 DCC, 2.5 SPA. Following 6 to 12 months in post (depending on previous experience), 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.
Eligible candidates 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.
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.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
* We reserve the right to close vacancies early if we receive a high volume of applications. Therefore, we encourage you to apply promptly.
* Please read the job description carefully and tailor your application to reflect the requirements of the role.
* Applicants who identify in their application form they are a part of the Armed Forces community will be guaranteed an interview, provided they meet the minimum essential criteria outlined in the job description and person specification for the role. Step into Health guidance can be found on our NHS Employers website.
* Correspondence will be sent via Trac, text, and email. Please ensure you 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 ensure the timely receipt of appropriate references.
The Trust is committed to preventing discrimination, valuing diversity and achieving equality of opportunity. No person (staff, patient or public) will receive less favourable treatment on the grounds of the nine protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. If you require support you can obtain this from our Equality Business Forum which has representatives from all protected groups.
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.
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