County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
Specialty Doctor in Ophthalmology, Trustwide
The closing date is 10 February 2026
We are looking for a Specialty Doctor of Ophthalmology to help support the Ophthalmology directorate in delivering a safe, effective, and joint up‑eye care service to our patients; supporting the CDDFT Ophthalmic Service growth strategies. This is a critical time of growth for the services as the service looks to tackle the elective care backlog and maintain capacity to meet demand through teamwork and commitment to an excellent standard of care for our patients. Our service is structured in such a way that you should expect to feel part of a strong team, supporting and being supported. Our department places equal importance on the team and the individual, whether self, colleague or patient. We recognise that the demand for Ophthalmic services continues to increase, and over the last few years, we have successfully structured the service to develop and meet this demand.
As a group, we feel that the very best colleagues have an understanding of how a District General Hospital Ophthalmology service works and thrives, and would want to keep their general ophthalmology skills current, accepting the benefits of being on‑call all the while, supported by the whole team.
The successful appointee to this role would be expected and supported to enhance their portfolio of skills and experience via supporting the delivery of care.
The Trust has the required arrangements in place, as laid down by the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, to ensure that all doctors have an annual appraisal with a trained appraiser and support doctors going through the revalidation process.
The post holder will have communications and working relationships with a wide variety of individual types throughout the execution of their work. Courteous, professional and kind communication is expected unwaveringly.
A key list of relationships this post will have
* Consultants
* Ophthalmology Medical Peers
* More Junior Doctors
* Matron
* Nurse Specialists
* Clinical Support Staff, such as HCAs
* Administrative and Clerical Staff
About Us
We provide hospital services from two acute sites—Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester‑le‑Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale, as well as over 80 other community‑based settings and providing care in patients' homes.
We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under‑represented.
Job Responsibilities
CDDFT: The Trust has five Care Groups—Surgery, Acute & Emergency Care, Integrated Adults, Family Health, and Clinical Specialist Services. Ophthalmology sits within the Surgical Care Group.
The Ophthalmology department works across two sites providing outpatient clinics in Darlington Memorial Hospital (DMH) and Bishop Auckland Hospital (BAH), with day‑case treatment currently at DMH and BAH. Emergency Ophthalmic opinion also covers University Hospital North Durham (UHNS). The Urgent Eye Care Clinic at DMH is staffed 7 days a week and is the hub for emergency ophthalmology opinion in County Durham and Darlington. The department provides surgery at both DMH and BAH sites.
Person Specification
Special Requirements
* Ability to recognise own limitations
* Ability to cope with stressful situations
* Motivated and trustworthy
* Works well as part of a team
* Ability to organise and prioritise own workload
* Able to work out of hours as rostered on emergency service rota
Special Skills & Knowledge
* Knowledge of current NHS issues and strategies to tackle the elective care backlog
* All applicants to have demonstrable skills in written and spoken English that are adequate to enable effective communication about medical topics with patients and colleagues
* Understand the principles of audit/research
Qualifications
* MRC Ophth or equivalent
* Experience at Registrar level or equivalent
* Evidence of guideline experience
* Evidence of Audit relevant to specialty
Experience
* Evidence of achievement of Foundation competencies in line with GMC standards in Good Medical Practice including:
* Good clinical care
* Maintaining good medical practice
* Good relationships and communications with patients
* Good working relations with colleagues
* Good teaching and training
* Professional behaviour and probity
* Delivery of good clinical care.
* Demonstrable evidence of management of eye disorders in children and babies.
* Applicants should have evidence of ST2 competencies or equivalent in Ophthalmology
* Previous experience on on‑call rota
Statutory Registration
* Eligible for full GMC registration with licence to practise as start of appointment
* Membership of the RCOphth
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.
County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
£61,542 to £99,216 a year (MC75 Payscale per annum pro rata)
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