Staff Nurse - Ophthalmology | Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust

Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust; Carshalton; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A UK healthcare trust is seeking a dedicated Band 5 Staff Nurse for the Eye Unit Outpatients. The role requires prior experience in ophthalmology and emphasizes patient dignity and efficient communication. Responsibilities include supervising junior staff and delivering high-quality clinical services. This is a full-time position based in Carshalton, England, suitable for those with a passion for providing exceptional nursing care.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in ophthalmology is essential due to the specialized nature of the services.
• Ability to maintain patient dignity and privacy.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and coordinate junior staff in the unit.
• Oversee clinical activity in absence of a senior manager.
• Ensure patient-focused nursing care.

Skills

Enthusiastic

Self-motivated

Good communication skills

Job description

Overview

Staff Nurse - Eye Unit Ophthalmology Outpatients. Band 5, Full-time 37.5 hours per week.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 5 Staff Nurse to join the Eye Unit Outpatients team at Epsom and St Helier Hospitals. Previous experience in ophthalmology is essential for applicants due to the very specialized nature of the services provided. The successful candidate will need to be enthusiastic, self-motivated and have good communication skills. The post holder will ensure provision of and be accountable for, the delivery of an efficient, high quality and caring clinical service across Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, which meets service and client requirements and encompasses a wide range of specialist expertise and client groups. If providing excellent nursing care and getting the basics right are important to you, this could be the ideal role for you! Apply now because we would love to hear from you to discuss this exciting opportunity further.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for supervising and coordinating junior members of staff
• Expected to partake in clinical activity such as: eye casualty, retina, glaucoma, paediatric, minor ops and pre operative assessment, FFA, injections clinics
• Expected to oversee the clinical activity on both Epsom and St Helier sites, in the absence of senior manager
• Expected to ensure that nursing care is patient focused and that patient dignity and privacy are maintained at all times
• Taking an active role in maintaining effective communication with all disciplines, patients and relatives

Specific ophthalmic nursing duties

• Visual Acuity including distant (all types) and near vision test
• Basic knowledge of anatomy and physiology of globe and surrounding structures
• IOP using icare and ORA
• Patient education specific to compliance issues i.e. drop / ointment instillation and pre-op preparation in specific clinics
• Care of ophthalmic instruments and sterilisation issues
• Working in the clean rooms assisting clinicians with intravitreal injections and minor operations such as removal of chalazions
• Autorefraction and Focimetry
• Ocular hygiene and post-operative first dressings
• Ocular swab
• Biometry and contact/ immersion biometry
• Eye casualty triaging

See attached job description for further details, duties and responsibilities.

St George’s, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group cares for a population of four million people in South West London and North East Surrey. Our sites include St George’s Hospital, one of 11 major trauma centres in the UK and the largest healthcare provider and major teaching hospital in the area; St Helier Hospital, home to the South West Thames Renal and Transplantation Unit and Queen Mary’s Hospital for Children; and Epsom Hospital, home to the South West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre (SWLEOC).

After years of collaboration, our two Trusts became a hospitals group in 2021. While remaining as two separate Trusts, being a hospitals group will help us to collaborate more closely on research, and the development, education, and training of our 17,000-strong workforce.

Please see the attached supporting document which contains more information about the Nursing role at Epsom and St Helier.

This advert closes on Wednesday 29 Oct 2025