Medical Retina Consultant

Job summary

We are part of the North East Central Alliance. This is a formal partnership between County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (CDDFT) and South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust (STSFT).

Together, we cover a large area in the heart of the region. We provide care and services for more than 1 million people. This is just under half of the entire North East population.

Across our two Trusts there are more than 15,000 NHS staff who provide care. They look after people who need care at home, in the community, or in hospital.

Our work together as an alliance focusses on where we can bring the most benefits for patients and staff. It is about how we improve services and make them stronger.

Key to this is our workforce.

By joining us, you will help create a stronger, more resilient clinical team for the future. With this, we aim to give you a better work life balance.

You will have the chance to develop services in one of the biggest and most vibrant parts of our region and make a real difference to peoples lives.

About this post

The main base for this role is Darlington and Bishop Auckland but you may need to work in other locations to support the service and patient need.

You will help plan how patients receive care in the future, grow online and virtual services, and support one of the largest eye care services in the NHS.

You will join one of the most research active eye teams in the country.

Main duties of the job

The basic contract is for 7 programmed activities; however there will need to be a discussion with the post-holder regarding the final job plan/on-call arrangements, prior to commencement of the appointment.

This post is subject to change in relation to site working and may be impacted upon by future service transformation i.e. Better Health Programme

The post will provide ophthalmic care for residents within the catchment area of County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust. The timetable will include clinical sessions at 2 Hospitals Bishop Auckland General (BAH), and Darlington Memorial Hospital (DMH).

The Northern Ophthalmic Research and Innovation (NORI) Institute opens later this year. NORI will work with the regions new specialist eye hospital. It will use eye data to help spot early signs of other health problems like heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.

We are looking for a capable and enthusiastic colleague to join our Ophthalmologists at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust.

About us

If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager.

You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks.

We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.

We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented.

Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents.

Over reliance on AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of success.

For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.

Details

• Date posted: 28 August 2026
• Pay scheme: Hospital medical and dental staff
• Salary: £113,565 to £150,569 a year per annum pro rata
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Part-time
• Reference number: C9439-2627-957
• Job locations: Darlington Memorial Hospital NHS Trust, Hollyhurst Road, Darlington, County Durham, DL3 6HX, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

You will provide specialist Consultant Led out-patient medical retina clinics:

Macular

RVO

DMO

Stable macular virtual clinics

Support sub-speciality clinics where appropriate

Support Emergency clinics where appropriate

Uveitis

To provide teaching and education to trainees, Trust doctors, Optometrists, Orthoptists, Nurse practitioners to enhance future models of care and expansion within the specialty.

Opportunity to work with service leads to conduct service improvement, transformation and research.

Opportunity to provide emergency on-call and cataract surgery depending on experience.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).