Locum Consultant in Medical Retina: Sponsorship Available

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust

Job summary

Love Life, Love Bristol Eye Hospital. The Bristol Eye Hospital (BEH) at Bristol NHS Foundation Trust (BFT) is looking to grow its talented team of consultants to drive an ambitious future vision of care across Bristol and Weston.

Applications are warmly welcomed for this full-time post of Locum Consultant in Medical Retina ideally commencing within 3 months to cover maternity leave for a period of 10 – 13 months, dependent upon start date. The post itself is designed to provide sub-specialist medical retina services at (BEH) and Weston General Hospital (WGH). Innovation is at our core at BEH. Most recently we were commended for our use of the NHS Nightingale Hospital Bristol, created to treat Covid-patients, as a high-volume eye diagnostic assessment hub for medical retina patients during the pandemic.

The BEH is a highly regarded Regional Centre for Ophthalmology which sits within the Division of Surgery at UHBW. BEH provides a tertiary referral retina service with an integrated medical retina and uveitis for adults and children, and a vitreo-retinal service closely linked to an excellent Clinical Research Unit (Recognising Success Awards 2019). The new Retinal Unit Outpatients Department is supported by an excellent medical imaging department and ocular inflammation nurses. Flexible working opportunities (working from home) and involvements in clinical research trial are available.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will be expected to play an active role in the running of the service. They will also be expected to participate in the workload of the hospital and to be capable of running clinics independently and to work to a flexible timetable that may include provision of services across both sites (BEH & WGH).

Person Specification

Qualifications and Training

Essential

  • Full and specialist registration with the General Medical Council (GMC)
  • Holder of Certificate of Completion of Training in Ophthalmology (CCT), or evidence of within six months of award of CCT or equivalent by date of interview
  • Eligible for specialist registration within six months of interview

Desirable

  • Higher academic qualification e.g. MD, PhD or equivalent

Experience

Essential

  • Evidence of thorough and broad training and experience in general ophthalmology and sub-specialty experience in medical retina and uveitis.
  • Able to take responsibility for delivering service without direct supervision

Desirable

  • Evidence of a special interest and expertise that complements those of other consultants in the department and is consistent with the Trust’s service strategy

Clinical Knowledge and Skills

Essential

  • Up to date knowledge and experience of medical retina and uveitis
  • Skills in general ophthalmology and medical retina including intra-vitreal injections/FFA review
  • Knowledge of NHS priorities with reference to specialty

Desirable

  • Broad range of IT skills

Clinical Governance and Audit

Essential

  • Up to date knowledge and experience of relevant specialty
  • Knowledge of NHS priorities with reference to specialty
  • Skills in general ophthalmology and cataract. Able to operate Independently covering a comprehensive range of cataract surgical procedures

Research

Essential

  • Knowledge of the principles involved in research
  • Evidence of involvement in research
  • Evidence of publication of peer reviewed academic papers

Desirable

  • Additional academic experience and qualifications e.g. PhD

Teaching and Training

Essential

  • Experience of teaching medical students and AHP’s
  • Experience of supervising trainees.
  • Knowledge of teaching to a multidisciplinary team

Desirable

  • Formal teaching/ education qualification.
  • Educational Supervisor training completed

Management and Leadership

Essential

  • Evidence of management training and evidence of learning from it
  • Ability to organise efficient and smooth running of a specialist service
  • Ability to cope with and effectively organise the workload of a consultant
  • Ability to practice independently as a consultant
  • Ability to take on responsibility and show evidence of leadership
  • Ability to work under pressure and cope with setbacks

Desirable

  • Evidence of management/leadership experience and/or qualifications and courses

Interpersonal, Communication and Team Working Skills

Essential

  • Ability to communicate effectively with patients, relatives, clinical colleagues, support staff and other colleagues.
  • Good knowledge of, and ability to use, spoken and written English.
  • Ability to present effectively to an audience, using a variety of methods, and to respond to questions and queries
  • Ability to develop effective working relationships on an individual and multi-professional basis with all levels of staff both within and across divisions
  • Ability to be a flexible team member

Other

Essential

  • Ability to adapt and respond to changing circumstances
  • Awareness of personal limitations
  • Meets professional health requirements
  • Agreement to travel to and work in other Bristol NHS Foundation Trust sites necessitated by the role

Desirable

  • Additional professional responsibilities at local, regional or national levels

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Closing Date: 29 November 2026

To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.