Job summary
- Main area
- Ophthalmology
- Grade
- NHS Medical & Dental: Consultant
- Contract
- Locum: 12 months
- Hours
- Full time - 10 sessions per week (On call commitment)
- Job ref
- 249-7545677
- Employer
- Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Town
- Swindon
- Salary
- £109,725 - £145,478 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 04/11/2025 23:59
Employer heading

Locum Consultant - General Ophthalmology
NHS Medical & Dental: Consultant
Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is a unique organisation, serving as the sole integrated provider in the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire system. Our scope extends beyond boundaries as we oversee adult community services in Swindon and provide acute care from the Great Western Hospital.
Our 5,500 staff have 1.2m patient contacts a year, with 13,000 operations carried out in our Theatres, around 4,000 babies born, and our emergency attendances are now well over 100,000 per year. Those numbers only tell part of our story about what an exciting time it is to join Great Western Hospitals.
We are cultivating a culture that fosters our ambitions, prioritising equality, diversion, inclusion, wellbeing, and leadership. We aim to create an environment where every member of our team can truly thrive.
The Trust is a Disability Confident Employer; all applicants who have a disability can opt to be considered under the guaranteed interview scheme, which means that, providing they meet the minimum essential criteria for the post, they will be offered an interview. We are also proudly accredited as a Veteran Aware organisation and have signed The Armed Forces Covenant.
If we receive a high volume of applications, we may close adverts prior to the published closing date. Therefore, we advise you to complete and submit your application as soon as possible.
Job overview
We have an exciting opportunity at The Great Western Hospitals (GWH) NHS Foundation Trust for a Locum Consultant in General Ophthalmology. A strong interest cataract surgery is required and all complimentary ophthalmic subspecialty interests are welcomed. The post is advertised as a Locum Consultant for a 12 month fixed term contract.
The post holder will be expected to contribute to the general ophthalmology and cataract service, and is required to meet the department's service commitment to delivery of efficient, safe and high-quality patient care. The post is full time (10PAs) and includes participation in the consultant on-call rota.
The successful candidate will lead the general ophthalmology service in the department. Complementary subspecialty is welcomed but the candidate should have the necessary expertise to run such subspecialty efficiently and to able to drive a high volume cataract service. There is also regular commitment to theatre lists. For further details please see the attached job description.
At GWH, we are focused on providing the best possible, personalized care to the people of Swindon, Wiltshire and the surrounding areas. We believe in treating patients as quickly as possible, helping them to get better faster by offering a range of outpatient clinics, day case procedures and in-patient surgery across the whole Ophthalmology arena.
Main duties of the job
The Duties outlined below are not definitive and may be changed in accordance with the needs of the service.
Clinical Duties:
- Providing evidence-based care for patients in a multidisciplinary setting
- Continuing responsibility for the care of patients in your charge, including all administrative duties associated with patient care (with secretarial support)
- Multidisciplinary team working is key component of the working within the Trust and involves regular MDT discussions with colleagues
- Carrying out teaching, examination and accreditation duties as well as contributing to undergraduate and post-graduate and continuing medical education activity
- Providing cover for Consultant colleagues’ periods of leave in accordance with arrangements agreed within Trust policy.
- Participating in clinical audit and in continuing medical education
- Conducting suitable duties in cases of emergencies and unforeseen circumstances
- Participating in an out of hours Consultant on-call rota
Working for our organisation
Our STAR values are at the heart of everything we do. You can expect to see them in the way we act and the way we treat each other. Our values make us who we are. We will expect your values and behaviours to reflect the STAR Values of the organisation:
Service We will put our patients first
Teamwork We will work together
Ambition We will aspire to provide the best service
Respect We will act with integrity
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
GMC Registration with a license to practice is essential. Candidates must hold CCT (or equivalent) and entry on the Specialist Register or be within six months of obtaining CCT by the interview date.
Management and Leadership Responsibilities:
All staff in each Division are managerially accountable through their Lead Clinician to the Associate Medical Director, who has overall responsibility for the services within the Division. Consultants are key members of the Division and are accountable and responsible for leading changes to service that will improve the patient experience.
- To support the Clinical Lead in policy and strategy development as a senior member of the Division Management Team.
- To contribute to the leadership and development of Services under the direction of the Clinical Lead and Associate Medical Director and in line with the Trust’s business plans.
- The post holder will ensure effective communication and involvement of staff across the Division including support to the Divisional Director to achieve their objectives.
- Work in partnership with colleagues in other Divisions within the Trust.
- As part of the Division Management Team, assist in the cost-effective utilisation of resources, including pay and non-pay items such as equipment and drugs, within budgets.
- Work within the Trust’s framework for Clinical Governance and Risk, including the development of clinical policies and adherence to standing orders, standing financial instructions and financial procedures.
- Undertake direct supervision of junior colleagues and participate in departmental/trust wide teaching programmes.
- Undertake investigations and report writing for incidents and participate in clinical risk management
- Appointed candidates will embody the STAR values and use the principles of the NHS Constitution for England to guide decisions.
Further details can be found on the attached Job Description
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Fully registered with the GMC
- CCT (or equivalent for non-UK applicants of equivalent status), or be accredited (or equivalent), upon applying for the substantive role and be on the GMC Specialist Register in the specialty appropriate for this consultant post at the time of taking up the consultant appointment. Alternatively, candidates can hold or be within 6 months of their CCT or CAESR at interview.
- MRCOphth (UK) or equivalent
Experience
Essential criteria
- Clinical training/experience equivalent to that required for gaining UK CCT
- Expertise in full range of General Ophthalmology conditions
- Ability to lead a multi-professional team and take full and independent responsibility for clinical care of patients
- Sub-speciality interests will be supported
- Ability to manage high volume cataract lists
- Preferable to have sub-speciality experience that fits in with Division needs
Management Administration
Essential criteria
- Demonstrable ability to manage priorities
- Demonstrable multi-disciplinary team leadership skills
- Experience of audit and management
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Mohamed El Ashry
- Job title
- Ophthalmology Clinical Lead
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01793 604857
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