We are seeking applications for the position of Clinical Fellow in Ophthalmology for a period of 12 months (7th August 2024 until 5th August 2025).

This role aims to support the ophthalmology services while offering opportunities for training, including potential theatre and laser sessions.

The Eye Unit, known for its strong culture of training, support, and cohesive teamwork, provides substantial consultant support in specialist clinics and eye care. Ideal candidates will have experience equivalent to at least a year 2 or 3 specialist registrar in ophthalmology or have completed equivalent higher surgical training in ophthalmology.

Main duties of the job

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist in the delivery of ophthalmology services
• Participate in training opportunities, including theatre and laser sessions
• Collaborate with consultants in specialist clinics and eye care
• Participate on the on call rota
• To undertake administrative duties associated with the care of your patients.
• To respond to queries from patients, general practitioners and colleagues.

Details of the job plan and full Job Description and Person Specification are included in the application pack.

About us

#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community

We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.

The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.

Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.

We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.

With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.

We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyone's voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.

Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?

Job description
Job responsibilities

Please see job description and Personal Specification attached for full details.

THE OPHTHALMOLOGY DEPARTMENT

The Trust delivers services to patients seven days a week and aims to provide equality of treatment and outcome regardless of the day of the week. To meet these aims and changing service requirements, the Trust may need you either to work temporarily outside of your core hours or to permanently change your core working days and hours. The Trust will give you reasonable notice, where possible, of temporary changes to your days or hours of work and will consult with you and/or your staff representatives about substantial permanent changes, but ultimately, these are changes which may be required of you.

Clinic

One ophthalmic optician supports the work of the department. The clinic has full nursing and receptionist support and there are four full time secretaries. Outpatient facilities are provided in a new stand-alone clinic equipped to the highest possible standards. Equipment includes a Humphrey perimeter with the latest software, autoefractor, keratometer, YAG and new Argon laser, with additional indirect ophthalmoscopic delivery system and beam splitter/observation tube. An anterior segment camera is available within the department and fluorescein and posterior segment photography is undertaken by a medical photographer using a modern Canon fundus camera. Each examination cubicle is equipped with quartz halogen instrumentation and indirect ophthalmoscope. A fully equipped minor operations theatre is housed in the clinic suite. The clinic has its own fax, photocopier and sophisticated computer hardware and software, including scanner and colour printer. Internet and E-mail are on line in this department.

Peripheral clinics are presently conducted at Newmarket, Sudbury and Thetford with junior support.

Theatre

Currently 18 operating lists are undertaken weekly in the main operating theatre suite and Eye Treatment Centre theatres. Microsurgical instrumentation is to a very high standard.

Teaching

A weekly departmental teaching session is held and, in addition to informal teaching within the Unit, staffs are expected to attend a formalised teaching programme each month at Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, with which the West Suffolk Eye Department has extremely close links.

Regional ophthalmic meetings are held four or five times a year, rotating through the various district hospitals and where possible both junior and senior staff are expected to attend or contribute.

The Trust delivers services to patients seven days a week and aims to provide equality of treatment and outcome regardless of the day of the week. To meet these aims and changing service requirements, the Trust may need you either to work temporarily outside of your core hours or to permanently change your core working days and hours. The Trust will give you reasonable notice, where possible, of temporary changes to your days or hours of work and will consult with you and/or your staff representatives about substantial permanent changes, but ultimately, these are changes which may be required of you.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• MBBS or equivalent medical qualification
• MRCOphth or equivalent
• Full GMC registration with a licence to practise

Desirable

• Higher Degree

Motivation
Essential

• Ability to provide complete details of employment history.
• At least 2 years' experience (at SHO/ ST1) in Ophthalmology (not including Foundation modules)

Desirable

• 2 years experience in ophthalmology

Experience
Essential

• Clinical Knowledge & Expertise: Appropriate knowledge base and capacity to apply sound clinical judgement
• Evidence of at least 2 years of ophthalmic training equivalent to that recognised in UK
• Learning & Personal Development: Realistic insight into specialty.
• Demonstrates self-awareness and commitment to personal & professional development

Desirable

• Personal Attributes: Shows aptitude for practical skills, e.g. hand-eye coordination, dexterity
• Extracurricular activities / achievements relevant to ophthalmology
• Attendance at appropriate meetings and courses

Clinical Governance and Research
Essential

• Demonstrates understanding of the principles of audit and research

Desirable

• Evidence of relevant academic & research achievements , e.g. degrees, prizes, awards, distinctions, publications, other achievements
• Evidence of active participation in audit
• Presentations at local / regional / national meetings

Management Ability
Essential

• 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 which could be demonstrated by one of the following: - PLAB 1 - PLAB 2 However, if applicants believe that they have adequate communication skills but do not fit into one of the examples they need to provide evidence

Teaching/Education
Essential

• Evidence of interest and experience in teaching

Health
Essential

• Meets professional health requirements (in line with GMC standards/Good Medical Practice)
• Is up to date and fit to practise safely.

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

179-6398449-MSJ