Bank Optometrist

NHS; Welwyn Garden City; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading eye care provider in Welwyn Garden City is looking for a part-time Bank Optometrist. Candidates should be fully qualified with a mandatory optometry degree and current registration with the General Optical Council. The role involves clinical diagnostics, patient consultations, and ensuring high standards of care. This is an excellent opportunity for personal development in a supportive environment, with compensation of up to £425 per day based on experience.

Qualifications

• Fully qualified optometrist with a relevant degree.
• Experience in a high-volume clinical setting, seeing 20-22 patients a day.
• Strong communication skills and able to empathize with patients.

Responsibilities

• Perform comprehensive diagnostics and clinical assessments.
• Analyze/test and interpret specialist diagnostic results.
• Advise patients on eye care and treatment options.

Skills

Empathy

Analytical thinking

Team player

Communication skills

Diagnostic testing

Education

MCOptom specialist optometry degree or equivalent

Current registration with the General Optical Council

Additional postgraduate specialist experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

Complex diagnostic equipment

Job description

We are looking for a new Bank Optometrist to join our Hertfordshire site.

Optometrists play a vital role at Newmedica. They run both the pre and post operative clinics and triage patients. They operate a full range of diagnostic equipment to make clinical assessments and will analyse and interpret specialist diagnostic test results including identifying new or deteriorating eye conditions.

They provide advice to patients as well as explaining procedures. The thought of eye surgery can be a daunting prospect for patients to deal with, so our Optometrists need to be empathetic and friendly and able to put patients at ease.

The Optometrist role at Newmedica offers a modern hospital-based environment with opportunities for clinical learning. Our patients have a variety of interesting clinical cases which offer more complex decision-making scenarios. This is therefore a great role for a qualified Optometrist looking for personal development and to expand their professional horizons.

Main duties of the job

You need to be a fully qualified optometrist (aMCOptomspecialist optometry degree, or BSc(hons) in Ophthalmic Optics or Optometry or equivalent qualification is essential) and you need a current registration with the General Optical Council.

Alongside the mandatory qualifications the following things will be advantageous:

• Previous hospital eye service or private eye clinic experience
• Knowledge of clinical practice and aware of current developments in Optometry
• Capable of working in a high-volume clinical setting, seeing circa 18-22 patients per day
• Experience of delivering consistently high standards of specialist optometric diagnostic tests using complex equipment.
• The training and coaching of others
• The desire for and commitment to continuous professional development
• A competent user of computer systems and programmes
• An excellent grasp of the English language both verbally and in written format
• A good team player happy to jump in and support others when required

About us

Newmedica are one of the leading providers of NHS ophthalmology services in England, providing outpatients appointments, diagnostictestingand eye surgery. We aim to change lives through better sight and eye health.

We care for thousands of NHS and private patients a year in our specialist eye clinics across the country.

We are thrilled to say that following an independently conducted survey of Newmedica colleagues to tell us what it's like to work here, we have been certified as a Great Place to Work for the third-year running. The feedback has directly contributed to Newmedica being listed among the UKs top 50 Best Workplaces for 2025.

Job responsibilities

ROLE SUMMARY

The Optometrist provides the primary clinical review and diagnosis for patients seen in a clinic. They recommend an appropriate course of treatment based on best practice.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Clinical Duties and Responsibilities

To perform a comprehensive range of diagnostic procedures and clinical assessments, working autonomously and making clinical decisions using own judgement and initiative.

To analyse and interpret specialist diagnostic test results.

To identify new or deteriorating conditions and carry out relevant tests and refer to a Consultant or Non-Consultant Doctor, as appropriate.

To advise patients on the appropriate care for their eye conditions.

To explain the implications of eye conditions, treatment options, medication and possible side effects to patients, some of which may be distressed or confused.

To ensure that patient confidentiality is maintained at all times.

To ensure that evidence based clinical standards of care to patients are achieved.

To ensure the delivery of agreed quality standards, taking any necessary action to remedy shortcomings in services that contribute to patient care.

To be responsible for ensuring the safe use of specialist equipment.

Administrative Duties

To keep accurate patient health records, including archiving and other requirements of record keeping, and write to GPs and other professionals regarding patient progress and outcomes.

To support senior staff in the investigation of complaints and clinical incidents, ensuring that any investigations are thorough and that action plans are completed to enable lessons to be learned and shared.

To ensure that infection risks are identified and acted on.

To assist in the management of other clinic staff, including improvement of poor performers and discipline of staff, as required and in line with Newmedica's policies.

To participate in staff recruitment, induction and appraisal of staff, as required and in line with Newmedica's policies.

Professional Duties

To work within the requirements of the code of practice and standard of the College of Optometrists and General Optical Council.

To be responsible for and demonstrate commitment to Continuing Professional Development and Clinical Governance.

To participate in training and development of clinical and other groups of staff.

To actively participate in the appraisal process.

To participate in clinical audit and research projects, as required.

Person Specification

Personal Attributes

• Enjoys the routine and rhythm of a process driven environment.
• Able to balance working independently with appropriate escalation and delegation.
• Committed to deliver consistently high standards of specialist optometric diagnostic tests using complex equipment.
• Applies analytical and logical thinking to verify expected outcomes.
• Seeks continuous professional development.
• Self-motivated to provide an excellent level of communication and individual care for patients.
• Comfortable making a significant contribution, including teaching and training, in a small multi-disciplinary team.

Experience

• Knowledge of clinical practice and demonstrable knowledge of developments in Optometry required.
• Experience of and commitment to medical audit.
• Comfortable with Microsoft Office products and using computerised systems for data input/output and review.
• Capable of seeing 20-22 patients during a clinic day.

Qualifications

• MCOptom specialist optometry degree, or BSc(Hons) in Ophthalmic Optics or Optometry or equivalent qualification essential.
• Additional postgraduate specialist or equivalent experience required i.e. Higher Certificate in Glaucoma
• Current registration with General Optical Council essential.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Newmedica Eye Clinic - Welwyn Garden City

Depending on experienceup to £425 per day depending on experience

Contract

Bank

Working pattern

Part‑time

Reference number

E0325-25-0060

Job locations

Newmedica Eye Clinic - Welwyn Garden City