Consultant Ophthalmologist - Paediatric / Stabismus

NHS; Carlisle; On-site; GBP 109,000 - 146,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in North Cumbria seeks a Consultant Ophthalmologist specializing in paediatric and strabismus surgery. Responsibilities include developing innovative eye care practices and delivering comprehensive services to a regional population. The ideal candidate will have full GMC registration and a high standard of clinical expertise. This permanent position offers a competitive salary, relocation assistance, and the opportunity to work within a supportive and forward-thinking team.

Benefits

Relocation assistance may be available

Qualifications

• FRCOphth or equivalent required.
• Full GMC registration necessary.
• Operational experience in clinical ophthalmology is essential.

Responsibilities

• Develop innovative ophthalmic practices.
• Deliver safe and effective modern eye care.
• Teach undergraduate and postgraduate medical staff.

Skills

High standard of clinical skill and expertise in clinical Ophthalmology

Empathetic approach to patient needs

Ability to teach clinical skills

Experience in audit management

Education

FRCOphth or equivalent

Full GMC registration

Holder of Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT)

Job description

Job Summary

We are looking for a dynamic and forward-thinking Consultant Ophthalmologist – Paediatric / Strabismus Surgeon to complete a supportive team of specialists covering North Cumbria. Voted one of the best places to live in the UK, North Cumbria houses the Lake District, one of the country’s most outstanding places of natural beauty and the region is an attractive, largely rural area with access to good road, rail and air communications. Housing is relatively inexpensive and there are excellent state and private education establishments.

Main Duties of the Job

We are looking for candidates who are interested in developing innovative ophthalmic practice; helping to bridge the gap between acute hospital care, community and primary care. Our post offers an exciting opportunity for an ophthalmologist to help us develop a ‘whole system’ approach to delivering safe and effective modern eye care.

The successful candidate will join a team of consultant ophthalmologists, with specialist interests, who provide general ophthalmic services across North Cumbria to serve a population of approx. 360,000 with some referrals also coming from part of South West Scotland and West Northumbria.

About Us

At NCIC, we have an ambition to deliver outstanding healthcare services to the population of North Cumbria. The Trust is committed to creating a centre of excellence in providing rural and remote healthcare and provides a wide range of community and acute services throughout our county.

Our CEO, Trudie Davies, would love to hear from you to discuss your future career in North Cumbria. To arrange an informal chat, please contact Karen Dark on [e-mail]

5 Key Principles

• Being a clinically led organisation
• Quality and safety at the heart of our Trust
• A positive patient experience every time
• A great place to work
• Managing our money well

As an organisation we are serious about supporting a diverse workforce that reflects our local community and are very much focused on being an inclusive and compassionate place to work.

Across the North East and North Cumbria we are working together to deliver our ambition to be the greenest region in England by 2030. All staff are expected to support sustainability.

Details

Date posted: 26 November 2025

Pay scheme: Hospital medical and dental staff

Grade: Consultant

Salary: £109,725 to £145,478 a year PA

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full-time

Reference number: 262-A-25-6957517-C

Job locations:
Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle
Newtown Road
Carlisle
CA2 7HY

Job Responsibilities

Please see attached job description and person specification for further information regarding the role and the essential and desirable criteria required to be met by applicants.

Please note, due to changes implemented by the Government to the UK immigration policy, individuals who require a Health and Care Visa or a Skilled Worker Visa may no longer be eligible for sponsorship where the UKVI salary threshold is not met or if the occupation is not included in the updated Immigration Salary List (ISL). Applicants must check their eligibility to be employed in any role they are interested in applying for, prior to completing an application for employment. Any applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria will not be progressed.

Relocation assistance may be available for successful applicants moving to the region for certain posts. Please see our Policy for eligible vacancies.

Person Specification

Education & Qualifications

Essential

• FRCOphth or equivalent
• Full GMC registration
• Holder of Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) or within six months of award of CCT or equivalent by date of interview
• Inclusion on the Specialist Registrar in Ophthalmology (or within six months of inclusion on GMC specialist register)

Desirable

• Post CCT fellowship in applicable sub-specialty

Experience and Knowledge

Essential

• High standard of clinical skill and expertise in clinical Ophthalmology
• Clinical Governance
• Ability to offer expert clinical opinion on range of clinical Ophthalmology problems both emergency and elective and in primary care
• Ability to take full and independent responsibility for liaising with clinical staff for the clinical care of patients.

Desirable

• Experience in High Volume Cataract surgery
• ROP, infant eye screening and examination

Management and Administrative

Essential

• Ability to advise on efficient and smooth running of their chosen subspecialty service.
• Ability to cover on call

Desirable

• Experience of audit management

Teaching

Essential

• Experience of and commitment to teaching undergraduate and postgraduate medical staff
• Ability to teach clinical and personal skills required for Ophthalmic care

Desirable

• Experience of teaching basic clinical skills to undergraduates
• Teaching of non-medical health professionals
• Educational Qualification

Research, Audit and Clinical Governance

Essential

• Experience of, and commitment to, medical audit

Desirable

• Ability to supervise postgraduate research
• Publications in referred journals

Communication skills and abilities

Essential

• Empathetic and sensitive approach to patient needs
• Approachable and effective multi-disciplinary team member with excellent interpersonal skills
• Team loyalty
• Positive approach to lessons learnt
• Confident approach without being arrogant

Desirable

• IT Skills / Presentation Skills

Continued Professional / Personal Development

Essential

• Demonstrable evidence of lifelong learning
• Reflective approach to personal development with an ability to acknowledge and effectively manage poor performance
• Participation in appropriate peer review processes

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Participation in on call and emergency cover.

Desirable

• Full UK driving licence

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.

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer Details

North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust

Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle
Newtown Road
Carlisle
CA2 7HY

https://www.ncic.nhs.uk/