Consultant in Ophthalmology with interest in Vitreoretinal Surgery

Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust; Ipswich; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 102,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare provider is seeking a Consultant with special interest in Vitreoretinal Surgery to join their team at Ipswich Hospital. The successful candidate will collaborate with the team to ensure high standards of patient care while also managing junior staff and participating in clinical governance. This position offers flexible working, a generous pension scheme, and opportunities for professional development. The role is to commence in August 2026.

Benefits

Generous pension scheme

27 days annual leave

Training and development opportunities

NHS discounts

Qualifications

• Must have a medical degree and be on the GMC specialist register.
• Experience in Vitreoretinal Surgery is essential.
• Ability to work collaboratively with a multi-disciplinary team.

Responsibilities

• Provide consultant-led services for patient care in VR.
• Contribute to the development of care pathways.
• Teach and train junior staff and undergraduates.

Skills

Leadership

Collaboration

Clinical Governance

Patient Care

Education

Medical Degree

Specialization in Ophthalmology

Job description

A Vacancy at East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust.

We are inviting applications for a Consultant with special interest in Vitreoretinal Surgery to join our team at Ipswich Hospital within Ophthalmology.

The successful applicant will be the second VR consultant appointed to the hospital. The VR on call will alternate weekly between the two consultants and cross site cover is expected when there is annual leave. A comprehensive surgical service is offered.

This post is to start August 2026.

All consultants in the department have a continuing and individual responsibility for the care of patients in their charge and a general responsibility to provide, in conjunction with their colleagues, an effective service to meet the needs of the local population, within the resources available.

The post-holder will:

• Work with colleagues to provide a consultant-led service with the highest standard of care
• Work with the multi-professional team to develop care pathways and clinical guidelines
• Develop and maintain good working practices within wards, outpatients and A&E
• Collaborate and promote close working links with colleagues in tertiary centres, community services and primary care
• Offer support and leadership to junior medical colleagues, nursing colleagues and other members of the multi-disciplinary team

We are ESNEFT and we provide hospital and community health services to almost one million people across east Suffolk and north Essex. Our dedicated staff deliver care from acute hospitals in Colchester and Ipswich, community hospitals, surgeries, community clinics and in patients’ own homes.

We are one of the largest NHS organisation in England, employing more than 12,000 staff.

We pride ourselves on supporting our staff. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities, as well as flexible working options.

Along with supporting you to achieve your career goals we offer a generous pension scheme, unsocial hours payments (where applicable), 27 days annual leave on commencement (pro rata) and access to a range of NHS discounts. Our Staff Health and Wellbeing programme offer a variety of services.

Our philosophy is thatTime Mattersto everyone. Across the Trust, we concentrate on improving the things we do and removing those which cause time delays for our staff and patients.

We are investing in our commitment to Time Matters with a partnership with leading electronic patient record (EPR) supplier Epic. This digital transformation will bring what’s widely regarded as the world’s best EPR system to ESNEFT, transforming life in hospital for staff and patients.

If you are passionate about patient care and want to develop your skills and knowledge, then we want to hear from you.

Find out about living and working here -www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkPu7HphU8A

The key duties and responsibilities are:

• Take his/her share of the consultant clinical responsibilities within the Department, including managing junior doctors within the Acute Referral department and the continued expansion of the VR service. The precise allocation of session time will be agreed with consultant colleagues, but it is envisaged that there will be 7 clinical sessions of direct clinical care 8.5 DCC and 1.5 SPA for professional development and appraisal (10 PA total)
• Provide cover for colleagues during leave and other authorised absences.
• Join the consultant on call rota in a two tier on call supporting the registrar who is first on call.
• Join the VR on call 1:2 to provide emergency VR cover throughout the year
• Clinical and other administration as required by agreement
• Teaching and training of junior staff and undergraduates
• Participation in Clinical Governance

This advert closes on Wednesday 14 Jan 2026