Locum Specialty Dr Ophthalmology

Job overview

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust is seeking a Specialty Doctor to join our Corneal Service, delivering Medical Cornea and Ocular Surface sub-specialty care across the Western Eye Hospital, Charing Cross Hospital, and the Stowe Diagnostic Centre. This is a substantive role within1 of the UK's busiest ophthalmology departments, providing over 1,800 outpatient appointments, 1,000 emergency consultations, and 100 surgical procedures each week, supported by modern diagnostics including OCT, MS39, Pentacam, and Anterion/Lenstar biometry.

The post holder will deliver high-quality patient care within the Corneal sub-specialty, contribute to the Emergency Eye Service, and work alongside 25+ consultants and a large multi-professional team. The role includes active participation in clinical governance, audit, teaching, and service improvement.

We are looking for a doctor on the GMC Register (or eligible) with FRCOphth or equivalent and at least 4 years' postgraduate training, 2 in a relevant specialty. Experience in Medical Cornea and Ocular Surface is desirable. You will bring strong clinical decision-making, excellent communication, and a commitment to our values: Kind, Collaborative, Expert, Aspirational.

In return, we offer a career in a leading academic health science centre, with a renowned Friday morning teaching programme, research opportunities via ICORG, annual job planning with scope for education and research PAs,  flexible working, and strong development pathways.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will work as a Specialty Doctor within the Corneal Service, dividing their time between sub-specialty Medical Cornea and Ocular Surface clinics, general ophthalmology clinics, and the Emergency Eye Service across the Western Eye Hospital, Charing Cross Hospital, and the Stowe Diagnostic Centre.

Clinically, the appointee will independently assess, diagnose, and manage patients with a wide spectrum of corneal and ocular surface pathology — including keratitis, corneal dystrophies and degenerations, dry eye and ocular surface disease, contact lens complications, and post-operative corneal cases — using the department's full diagnostic suite (OCT, MS39, Pentacam, anterior segment photography, and Anterion/Lenstar biometry). They will also contribute to general ophthalmology and Eye Casualty sessions, providing senior decision-making for emergency presentations referred from across London via the Trust's A&E departments, GPs, optometrists, and internal referrals. Minor in-clinic procedures (including lid procedures and botulinum toxin administration, where competent) form part of the clinical workload.

Beyond direct patient care, the post holder will contribute to clinical governance, audit, Datix incident reporting, MDT meetings, and the monthly Corneal Service meeting. They will take an active role in the department's teaching programme supervising junior doctors, medical students, and the wider multi-professional team

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

This is a full-time Specialty Doctor post in the Corneal Service, Ophthalmology, based across three sites: the Western Eye Hospital (Marylebone), Charing Cross Hospital, and the Stowe Diagnostic Centre. The role is based on a 10 PA job plan (approximately 8 PAs direct clinical care, 2 PAs supporting activities), agreed on appointment and reviewed annually.

Main duties

• Assess, diagnose, and manage patients with corneal and ocular surface conditions in outpatient clinics, using the department's full diagnostic suite (OCT, MS39, Pentacam, anterior segment imaging, Anterion/Lenstar biometry).
• Contribute to general ophthalmology and Emergency Eye Service clinics, providing senior decision-making for urgent presentations.
• Carry out minor in-clinic procedures appropriate to competency.
• Take part in clinical audit, quality improvement, Datix incident reporting, and governance processes.
• Support the weekly Friday morning teaching programme and the education of junior doctors, students, and the multi-professional team.
• Engage with research through the Imperial College Ophthalmology Research Group (ICORG).
• Work collaboratively across all three sites and role-model the Trust values: Kind, Collaborative, Expert, Aspirational.

Requirements: GMC registration with a Licence to Practise (or eligible); FRCOphth or equivalent; at least four years' postgraduate training,