Consultant-Ophthalmologist – Medical Retinal Specialist

North Cumbria Integrated Care • Cumberland Infirmary

Closing on: 24 Oct 2024

VerifiedOphthalmology

Job Highlights

Expected Salary

£93,666 - £126,281

Location

Carlisle, United Kingdom

Specialisation

Ophthalmology

Job Summary

We are looking for a dynamic and forward-thinking Consultant Ophthalmologist to complete a supportive team of specialists covering North Cumbria. The Directorate would equally welcome applications from existing and newly trained Consultants.
This replacement post is based in the Eye Department at the Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle (CIC) and West Cumberland Hospital, Whitehaven (WCH). The Department consists of 8 WTE Consultant Ophthalmologists, 1 part time Associate Specialist, 3 Specialty Doctors, 4 part time GPwSIs, 1 Specialty Trainee (ST2), 1 FY2 doctor, 1 GP trainee, 3 Orthoptists, 1 full time and 3 part time Optometrists, 2 Medical Photographers, 3 Nurse Specialists and ophthalmic trained nurses as well as general nurses and HCAs, and supported by our 4 GPwSIs in the community. All the consultants are required to work across site on a rotational basis at the Cumberland Infirmary and West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven (WCH). Clinics are also run at Workington, Penrith and Keswick.
Applicants will be encouraged to develop their subspecialty expertise and to support the development of a leading ophthalmic consultant team. The Ophthalmology service offers general ophthalmic care and a high volume cataract service as well as medical and surgical retina, oculoplastic surgery, glaucoma care, corneal surgery and paediatric and strabismus surgery.
The Ophthalmology team includes Mr Ainsworth, Mr Zaheen, Mr Davey plus 1 WTE locum consultants and our Associate Specialist Mr Shetty. They work as a team across both sites. We are looking to recruit up to full consultant compliment.
There is provision for remote access to Trust IT systems and working from home can be arranged on occasions with agreement from the Clinical Director. The on-call commitment is on a 1:6 second on call basis for general ophthalmic cover. It is expected that the appointee will contribute equally to the out-of-hours-work and on-call rota.
Voted one of the best places to live in the UK, North Cumbria houses the Lake District, one of the country’s most outstanding places of natural beauty and the region is an attractive, largely rural area with access to good road, rail and air communications. Housing is relatively inexpensive and there are excellent state and private education establishments.
North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust is committed to assisting all employees to achieve a work-life balance, regardless of their personal circumstances. Any applicant who is unable, for personal reasons, to work full-time, will be eligible to be considered for the post. If such a person is appointed, modification of the job content will be discussed on a personal basis in consultation with consultant colleagues.

Job Overview

The two ophthalmology departments of the West Cumberland Hospital and the Cumberland Infirmary united to form one unit when the North Cumbria Hospitals Trust formed in 2001. This allowed cross cover and further subspecialisation within the Eye Department.

Subspecialties currently offered include corneal surgery, oculoplastic surgery, glaucoma treatments plants, Medical Retina and strabismus surgery.

It is anticipated that the post holder will develop an area of interest which will complement the existing team within North Cumbria.

The main base for Ophthalmology is at the Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle (CIC) which is the hub for all major emergency and elective ophthalmic surgery. A newly rebuilt hospital at the West Cumberland Hospital site, Whitehaven (WCH), has allowed us to have a self- contained eye unit built and it is crucial for ambulatory activity and short-stay surgery. The successful candidate will perform day case surgery and outpatients clinics at both the Cumberland Infirmary and the West Cumberland Hospital.

Successful candidate will join a team of consultant ophthalmologists, with specialist interests, who provide general ophthalmic services across North Cumbria to serve a population of approx. 360,000 with some referrals also coming from part of South West Scotland and West Northumbria.

There are currently four whole time equivalent consultant posts, and 2 whole time locum consultants. The current consultants are, Mr Ainsworth (corneal and glaucoma), Mr Zaheen (oculoplastics), Mr Mikhail (vitreo-Retinal), Mr Davey (Starbismus) A consultant Glaucoma surgeon will be joining the team in 2021.

The successful applicant will need to be competent in their subspeciality and be a skilled cataract surgeon. A sub-speciality interest in medical ophthalmology or oculoplastics and high volume cataract surgery would be particularly welcomed.

The Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle and the West Cumberland Hospital, Whitehaven are one Trust with cross-site clinics occurring in all ophthalmic subspecialties. Clinics are also held in satellite centres at Workington, Penrith and Keswick with Humphrey Field Perimetry at all sites and GDX at Penrith and OCT at Workington. Both main hospital sites have OCT scanning, B scanners and fluorescein angiography facilities and experienced photographers.

A small number of in-patient beds are available at, and out of hours work is directed to, the Cumberland Infirmary site. We have a dedicated eye theatre on each main site both with ceiling mounted Zeiss microscopes and Infiniti phacoemulsification machines. Each hospital ophthalmic unit has a day case suite and purpose built out-patients.

Job Plan

All doctors should be familiar with the GMC requirements governing good medical practice, which is supported by the Trust.

The Full-time working week will consist of 10 Programmed Activities (PA’s), separated into: 7 Direct Clinical Care PAs

1.0 Direct Clinical Care /Admin

1.5 Teaching / Supporting Professional Activities

Weekly timetable of fixed commitments: The agreed number of SPA’s will be delivered flexibly.

Requirements

Job Overview

Subspecialties currently offered include corneal surgery, oculoplastic surgery, glaucoma treatments plants, Medical Retina and strabismus surgery.

It is anticipated that the post holder will develop an area of interest which will complement the existing team within North Cumbria.

Job Plan

All doctors should be familiar with the GMC requirements governing good medical practice, which is supported by the Trust.

The Full-time working week will consist of 10 Programmed Activities (PA’s), separated into: 7 Direct Clinical Care PAs

1.0 Direct Clinical Care /Admin

1.5 Teaching / Supporting Professional Activities

Weekly timetable of fixed commitments: The agreed number of SPA’s will be delivered flexibly.

Requirements

About Cumberland Infirmary

University Hospital

Cumberland Infirmary, located in Carlisle, Cumbria, is the primary healthcare facility managed by the North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust. Established to serve the community with excellence in medical care, the infirmary boasts a comprehensive range of services including emergency care, general and specialized surgeries, maternity services, and various outpatient clinics. With a dedicated team of healthcare professionals, the hospital is committed to providing high-quality patient care and advanced medical treatments. Equipped with modern facilities and technology, Cumberland Infirmary also plays a pivotal role in medical education and clinical research, fostering continuous improvement and innovation in healthcare. Easily accessible and deeply integrated into the community, the hospital remains a cornerstone of health and wellbeing in the region.

Location of Hospital

Carlisle, United Kingdom

Know more about the location

About North Cumbria Integrated Care

4000 Employees

3 Hospitals

The trust provide hospital and community health services to a half a million people. They are responsible for delivering over 70 services across 15 main locations and we employ over 6500 members of staff., Their core values of kindness, respect, ambition and collaboration drives them to provide safe, high-quality care every time., NCIC is part of North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care System (ICS), which is a partnership of organisations including local councils, voluntary and community services that provide health and care across our region., Led by the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) they work collectively, join up resources and expertise to provide the best health and care for the local communities.