Job overview

If you’re an experienced Specialist Optometrist keen to expand your scope of practice, the prestigious Bristol Eye Hospital is seeking Medical Optometrists to support our expanding services.

At our research-active teaching hospital, you will deliver advanced, highly specialised, non-routine care in an inspiring, multidisciplinary environment known for clinical innovation. Working collaboratively alongside our Consultant Ophthalmology and experienced optometry teams, you will support the medical and surgical management of sight-threatening eye disease. With significant evidence of autonomous practice, you will evaluate highly complex and potentially conflicting ‘high stakes’ cases, determining the most appropriate treatment options for patient-centred care.

You should hold post-graduate professional qualifications or demonstrable training & experience in subspecialty clinics. Skills should be on par with the level of sub-specialty trained Ophthalmologists, though access to additional training can be provided. You should possess clear evidence of leadership and extended clinical responsibility to support the teaching and supervision of trainees as part of our commitment to the professional and personal development of our staff.

Arrange an informal visit to see the exceptional care at BEH or find out more about the team: See yourself at Bristol Eye Hospital

Candidates not meeting the post-graduate qualification level could be considered for a Band 7 Specialist Optometrist role.

Main duties of the job

As a Medical Optometrist you will: 

• plan and deliver advanced specialist clinical examinations tailored to individual patient requirements;
• utilise highly developed physical skills for complex medical procedures ;
• analyse, interpret and act upon highly complex multifactorial and potentially conflicting patient-related information for the purpose of ‘high stakes’ clinical decision making, in order to determine the most appropriate action where multiple clinical management options exist;
• work in a fast paced and changing clinical environment without compromising clinical care;
• be responsible for autonomous independent prescribing or supply of topical investigational drugs and where appropriate, to seek guidance from Consultant Ophthalmologists with respect to the requirement for ocular surgery, or where medical management requirements may be unclear;  
• communicate and interact effectively, routinely discussing the risks and benefits of management options, explaining highly complex, multi-stranded and potentially conflicting information in a manner that enables patients to make informed choices; 
• communicate highly sensitive prognostic and emotionally distressing information about loss of sight and risk of further loss of sight; 
• keep full and complete patient records, of each patient’s examination results, diagnosis and management/treatment and to verify successful data entry of ancillary clinical information entered by supporting technical staff. 

Working for our organisation

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) is one of the largest acute Trusts in the country, bringing together a combined workforce of over 13,000 staff across 10 hospital sites, delivering over 100 clinical services to more than 500,000 people in the South-west. 

UHBW has been rated by the CQC as ‘Good’ overall, and our staff are proud to deliver excellent care to the people of Bristol, Weston, and beyond. As a forward-thinking multi-award-winning Trust and digital exemplar committed to improving patient outcomes, our world-leading research and innovation have a positive local and global impact. 

With hospitals based in both vibrant Bristol and coastal Weston-super-Mare, we offer the best of city and seaside living with easy access to countryside, national parks, and the wider Southwest. 

UHBW is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. As an equal opportunities employer working towards a diverse workforce, we aim to recruit and retain staff that reflect the communities we serve, and we actively support inclusive recruitment and working practices.