Locum Specialty Doctor in Ophthalmology

Job overview

The Directorate of Ophthalmology provides an ophthalmic service to a population of around 900,000 residents of Wolverhampton, Walsall and South Staffordshire as well as the adjacent counties of Shropshire, Worcestershire and the West Midlands at New Cross Hospital, Cannock Chase Hospital and Ashmore Park Eye Centre

The team of 18 consultants specialise in a wide range of conditions including:

• Corneal and external eye diseases
• Diabetes
• Glaucoma
• Medical Retina
• Ocular Mobility
• Oculoplastics
• Paediatrics
• Vitreo Retinal
• Uveitis

The service offers state of the art imaging equipment and is supported by an excellent imaging department.  The department offers Fluroscein, Indo-cyanine Green, widefield Optos together with angiography.  A walk-in service is available in addition to booked clinic sessions.

Specialist Nurses run an Ophthalmic emergency service within the Emergency Department of the Trust with the facility to refer directly into the Eye Referral Unit which also takes urgent referrals from GP’s and Local Opticians participating in the MECS scheme.

The Ophthalmology Directorate at RWT is the Regional Centre for virtual cataract and VR surgical training.  There are active and comprehensive training and teaching activities throughout the year.

Main duties of the job

Post-holders may be assigned annual rotational timetables to provide a comprehensive development package to achieve their competencies in all Ophthalmology subspecialties.

The post holder is required to participate with on-call shifts. The candidate is expected to cover sickness and annual leave gaps on an annualised basis of payment with an adequate period of notice.

It is expected that the incumbent would be able to run independent general clinics and sessions in eye casualty. Previous experience of subspecialty clinics, minor ops, laser, or cataract surgery will be considered when formalising the weekly timetable. Time is available for study and research.  Supervised surgery is available dependent on experience.  The holder is expected to be flexible to take full advantage of the post.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

General

The post holder will be managerially accountable to the Clinical Director.

This Trust recognises and values, training needs and ambitions of all its doctors.  The post holder will have the rights and responsibilities of a CME process.  This will be under the management of the Director of Education.  It includes a named educational supervisor, an annual appraisal and assessment process and an agreed professional development plan.

All requests for annual leave and study leave must be approved by the Service Lead and then Clinical Director and Directorate Manager.  It is each doctor’s responsibility to inform the Service Lead and Clinical Director and Directorate Manager of:

(a)  Proposed date they wish to be away

(b) Who will be covering their routine and emergency work and scheduled rota work.

Leave will not be granted unless this information is provided, Failure to do so will put you in breach of contract.  It is your responsibility to swap duties with your colleagues to provide cover for your absence.

The Specialty doctor is expected to cover absence of colleagues on study leave and annual leave during daytime.

General

• In conjunction colleagues, to play a full part in the rota for the department.
• To provide cover for colleagues in respect of periods of leave.
• In conjunction with colleagues, to take part in medical audit and research as appropriate.
• In conjunction with colleagues, to ensure that the requirements of clinical governance are met.
• To ensure that there are adequate arrangements for hospital staff involved in the care of your patients to be able to contact you when necessary.

Junior Medical Staff

• In conjunction with Consultant and Senior colleagues, to play a full part in the supervision junior medical staff.

Management & Service Development

• In conjunction with colleagues, to take responsibility for the best use of departmental staffing and other resources to ensure the maximum efficiency of the department.
• To observe the Trust’s agreed policies and procedures, in relation to managing staff, and to follow the Trust’s Standing Orders and Standing Financial Instructions. These policies and procedures have been drawn up in consultation with the profession on clinical matters.

Clinical Governance

• In conjunction with colleagues, to ensure that the requirements of clinical governance are met.

Health & Safety

• To take responsibility for your own Health & Safety complying with any safe working arrangements, policies and procedures which are in place.
• To accept a duty to other staff and patients to ensure that any hazards are reported and managed appropriately