Job overview
Applications are invited for a 12-month fixed-term Cornea Fellowship at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust. This post holder will be at MTW, which offers a tertiary Cornea service with particular emphasis on complex Corneal cases. Operations carried out include corneal grafts, complex cataracts and anterior segment surgeries, and ocular surface diseases and surgeries.
The Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust is responsible for the provision of ophthalmology services for the people of Mid and West Kent, covering approximately a 1 million population. The large population we serve entails a wide and interesting selection of cases. General and sub-speciality ophthalmology services are provided at the Eye, Ear, and Mouth Unit (EEMU), a modern, purpose- built facility attached to Maidstone Hospital, with outpatient facilities provided at Tunbridge Wells, Medway Maritime and Sevenoaks Hospitals in a "hub and spoke" model.
Main duties of the job
To provide a high standard of care to any patient for whom you have clinical responsibility. This will include any patients you personally care for. To participate in clinical and other service activities and developments to ensure a high standard of patient care. To work in close co-operation with other medical, professional and managerial colleagues, both within and outside the speciality, to provide high-quality health care to the Trust’s patients, and to make a contribution to future thinking about the Trust’s strategic direction. To participate fully in the clinical governance activities of the speciality. To attend clinical governance half-days as in the job plan. To participate actively in departmental activities, which may be included in the work you undertake. To ensure at all times that you comply with the General Medical Council’s published guide “Good Medical Practice”, including the Duties of a Doctor. To take personal responsibility for risk management in your work and undertake to review practices and learn from mistakes. To be an active member of the risk management processes of the clinical team and care group. To ensure that you develop and maintain effective working relationships with those agencies concerned with the provision of health and social care services and those representing the interests of patients.
Working for our organisation
Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust ranks among the top 10 NHS Trusts nationwide and was named the second-best Trust to work for in the South East in the 2023 and 2024 NHS Staff Survey.
We are a large acute hospital trust in south-east England, providing general hospital services and specialist care to around 600,000 residents in West Kent and East Sussex. With a dedicated and diverse team of over 8,000 staff we are proud to offer specialised cancer services to over two million people through the Kent Oncology Centre.
Fordcombe Hospital, near Tunbridge Wells, became part of the Trust in October 2024. Specialising in planned care, it offers two operating theatres, 28 inpatient and day-care beds, diagnostic services (X-ray, MRI, CT, and endoscopy), and consultation/treatment rooms.
Looking for flexible working?
We are a flexible working-friendly organisation. Whether it’s adjusting your hours or exploring other flexible arrangements, we want to work with you to find the best solution for you, our patients, and the Trust. Talk to us about how we can accommodate your working needs.
to hear what our staff say.
Joining us includes a comprehensive benefits package:
1. Generous annual leave entitlement
2. Membership in the NHS Pension Scheme, with an employer contribution of 23.7% and life assurance benefits
3. Blue Light card eligibility
4. And more, additional benefits can be found in the benefits documents below
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To provide a high standard of care to any patient for whom you have clinical responsibility. This will include any patients cared for by you personally.
To participate in clinical and other service activities and developments to ensure a high standard of patient care.
To work in close co-operation with other medical, professional and managerial colleagues, both within and outside the speciality, to providehigh-qualityy health care to the Trust’s patients, and to make a contribution to future thinking about the Trust’s strategic direction.
To participate fully in the clinical governance activities of the speciality. To attend clinical governance half-days as in the job plan.
To participate actively in departmental audits,s which may be included in the work you undertake.
To ensure at all times that you comply with the General Medical Council’s published guide “Good MedicalPracticec,e”, including the Duties of a Doctor.
To take personal responsibility for risk management in your work and undertake to review practices and learn from mistakes. To be an active member of the risk management processes of the clinical team and care group.
To ensure that you respond promptly and efficiently to all complaints related to any patient care you have been involved with, assisting the Trust’s corporate responsibility to reply to complaints within a specified time frame.
To ensure that you develop and maintain effective working relationships with those agencies concerned with the provision of health and social care services and those representing the interests of patients.
You are required to take reasonable care for the health and safety of yourself and others who may be affected by what you do while at work. You must adhere to Trust IRMER Regulations.
The post holder will be required to also perform duties in occasional emergencies and unforeseen circumstances at the request of the Clinical Director or General Manager for Ophthalmology.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
5. Full GMC Registration FRCS or FRCOphth
6. Completed CCT register or CESR, or within 12 months of obtaining CCT
Desirable criteria
7. MD/equivalent
Experience/Knowledge
Essential criteria
8. Experience in Phaco surgery
9. Experience in cornea clinics and cornea theatre lists
10. Experience in post-operative cornea care
11. Experience in emergency eye care
12. Demonstrable experience in Clinical Audit and research
Desirable criteria
13. Research interest
14. Experience in risk management
Skills
Essential criteria
15. Ability to lead efficient, well-run clinics and theatres lits under pressure.
16. Ability to teach junior doctors and other clinical staff.
17. Ability to organise and manage clinical as well as administrative workload
Desirable criteria
18. Staff management: delegating appraisal of performance, monitoring staff