Consultant Ophthalmologist with interest in Uveitis

NHS; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Newcastle upon Tyne is seeking a Consultant Ophthalmologist specializing in uveitis to join their team. The successful candidate will manage complex uveitis cases and participate in research and clinical trials. The role offers a supportive working environment with a commitment to flexible working arrangements. Candidates should possess a primary medical qualification and FRCOphth or equivalent, along with experience in ophthalmology.

Benefits

Flexible working arrangements

Professional development opportunities

Competitive salary

Qualifications

• Full GMC Registration is required.
• Entry onto the GMC Specialist Register within 6 months.
• Experience in managing uveitis is essential.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical expertise in uveitis and medical retina work.
• Manage the patient care and internal referrals.
• Participate in the ophthalmology consultant on call rota.

Skills

Ophthalmology expertise

Ability to lead clinical trials

Experience with virtual imaging

Management of complex uveitis cases

Ability to work under pressure

Education

Primary Medical Qualification

FRCOphth or equivalent

Higher Degree

Tools

Electronic medical records

Job description

Consultant Ophthalmologist with interest in Uveitis

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 17 October 2025

We are delighted to be able to offer an opportunity for a highly motivated, ambitious individual to join our well-integrated team. The post is to support the uveitis service which is the tertiary referral centre in the North East. The post is a proleptic appointment as our main uveitis specialist is due to retire.

Being involved in and leading clinical trials would be encouraged. The post is suitable for a doctor with a certificate of training in either surgical ophthalmology with an interest in uveitis and another sub specialty or those who have completed medical ophthalmology training.

Management of complex uveitis cases would be expected. We have a close working relationship with other medical specialties including rheumatology to provide support with management of systemic conditions associated with uveitis.

Main duties of the job

The post is to work in and develop the uveitis and medical retina service. There is a 1:21 on call commitment.

This post will be based at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, but may involve clinics and operating at outreach sites. All routine cataract surgery takes place at the Newcastle Westgate Cataract Centre which is a mile from the RVI. The department provides all specialities.

About us

As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.

Our staff oversee over 6,500 patient contacts every day, delivering high standards of healthcare from the following sites:

• Freeman Hospital
• Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)
• Health Innovation Neighbourhood (on the former Newcastle General Hospital and Centre for Ageing and Vitality site)
• Newcastle Dental Hospital
• Newcastle Fertility Centre
• Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria
• Northern Genetics Service
• Cramlington Manor Walks

These include a range of flagship services which deliver cutting-edge care (supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic services in both radiology and pathology) and are a catalyst for innovation to support pioneering clinical practice in the NHS.

We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.

Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under 'Documents to download' or 'Supporting documents'.

For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Job responsibilities

To provide clinical expertise in line with agreed job plan. This will include specialist uveitis and medical retina work in clinic and laser. You will be responsible for the patients under your care which includes those being seen by your team. The post will include working with the whole team and the wider department and being available for internal as well as external referrals. The post will include virtual imaging review on medical retina patients and may involve a more general session such as a general clinic or eye emergency department session depending on job plan and training route. There might be a need to cover other sessions on an ad hoc basis depending on the needs of the department. The post will include being involved in the ophthalmology consultant on call rota for emergencies, again depending on job plan, this includes being overall responsible for the patients coming through the eye emergency department on that day. You would also triage general referrals on that day. There is a requirement to keep up to date with ophthalmic practice.

The post holder will be expected to abide by the GMC good medical practice guidelines.

Administrative:

Person Specification

Education, Qualifications and Specialist Skills

• Primary Medical Qualification.
• Full GMC Registration
• FRCOphth or equivalent
• Entry onto the GMC Specialist Register (within 6 months from the date of the AAC).
• Higher Degree.
• Medical retina fellowship or specialist training.
• NHS experience
• Medical ophthalmology training

Clinical Experience

• Evidence of extensive experience in general ophthalmology and sub-specialty experience in medical retina.
• Able to do retinal laser and intravitreal injections.
• Evidence of experience in the management uveitis.
• Evidence of a substantial commitment to the specialty.
• Ability to offer an expert clinical opinion within the speciality.
• Ability to take independent responsibility for the clinical care of patients referred to a tertiary centre.
• Able to take responsibility for delivering service without direct supervision
• Experience of Virtual imaging clinics.
• Know how to use an electronic medical record.

Management and Administration Experience

• Involvement with management and project leadership within the specialty.
• Ability to take on responsibility and show evidence of leadership.
• Ability to work under pressure and cope with setbacks.
• Ability to cope with and effectively organise the workload of a consultant.
• An understanding of Clinical Governance.
• Proven management and administrative experience and understanding of management goals.
• Evidence of leadership / project management.
• Evidence of having implemented change.
• Experience in developing and implementing new technologies.
• Ability to undertake additional professional responsibilities at local, regional or national levels.

Teaching

• Experience of supervising junior medical staff.
• Experience of participation in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching.
• Ability to teach clinical / technical / practical skills.
• Knowledge of teaching to a multidisciplinary team.
• Attendance at courses to develop teaching skills.
• Postgraduate qualification in medical education.
• Evidence of experience in training of non-medical practitioners

Research

• Evidence of involvement in and understanding of research methodology and publication of findings.
• Research/critical review of literature.
• Publications in the last five years.

Audit

• Evidence of participation in audit.
• Evidence of having changed practice as a result of audit.
• Evidence of having revisited the audit to assess improvement.

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.

The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust