Vitreo-Retina Speciality Doctor

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW); Bristol; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent NHS healthcare trust in the UK is seeking a Vitreo-Retina Specialty Doctor for a full-time, fixed-term position. This opportunity provides advanced experience in posterior segment surgery, engaging in clinical trials and surgical skills development. The position necessitates completion of higher specialist training in Ophthalmology. Candidates must be registered with the GMC and possess a CCT or equivalent. The role supports a team of five consultants, emphasis on teamwork and professional growth is essential.

Qualifications

• Completion of higher specialist training in Ophthalmology.
• Clinical experience appropriate for advanced Vitreoretinal subspecialty training.
• Clear motivation to develop surgical and clinical skills within a fellowship environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide advanced sub-specialty experience in posterior segment surgery.
• Support team of five vitreo-retinal surgery consultants.
• Contribute to research activities including clinical trials.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Team collaboration

Teaching and educational activity

Complex surgical techniques

Education

CCT or equivalent

Full registration with GMC

Authorship in peer-reviewed publications

Job description

Go back University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW)

Vitreo-Retina Speciality Doctor

The closing date is 31 January 2026

Two Fellowships in Vitreo-Retinal Surgery

The Bristol Eye Hospital (BEH) at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston Foundation Trust (UHBW) is looking to drive an ambitious future vision of care across Bristol and Weston.

Applications are welcomed for two fixed‑term full‑time posts of Vitreo‑Retina (VR) Surgery Fellows (specialty doctor band).

The successful candidate(s) are required to start as soon as possible in February/March, with the second candidate available to start no later than April 2026.

This post provides advanced sub‑specialty experience in posterior segment surgery with an emphasis on surgical skills development.

The BEH is a highly regarded regional centre for ophthalmology and sits within the Division of Surgery at UHBW (recently rated Outstanding by the CQC). The BEH provides a tertiary referral retina surgery service and is integrated with a medical retina service. There are close links to the clinical research unit. VR surgery is carried out in two of the four ophthalmic theatres in BEH seven days per week. The posts will support the team of 5 vitreo‑retinal surgery consultants. The successful candidate is expected to play an active role in the running of the VR firms, including the management of emergencies.

There is an on‑call commitment associated with these posts.

Main duties of the job

This full‑time post is initially for a 12‑month period. It is designed to provide advanced sub‑specialty experience in posterior segment surgery and medicine.

The posts will support the team of five vitreo‑retinal surgery consultants. The successful candidate will complement existing Specialist Registrars and will be expected to play an active role in the running of the firm. The successful candidate will obtain experience in surgical retinal disorders with an emphasis on the surgical skills development. He or she will also be expected to participate in the workload of the department.

The appointee is expected to undergo ICH‑GCP training and contribute to the research activity of the department, including involvement in the recruitment and running of clinical trials during their time.

About us

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) is one of the largest acute Trusts in the country, bringing together a combined workforce of over 13,000 staff and over 100 different clinical services across 10 different sites, serving a core population of more than 500,000 people across South West England. UHBW has been rated by the CQC as ‘Good’ overall and our staff are proud to deliver excellent care to the people of Bristol, Weston and beyond. As a forward‑thinking multi‑award winning Trust and a digital exemplar committed to improving patient care, our world‑leading research and innovations are having a positive local and global impact. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer. UHBW is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

Job responsibilities

Please see the attached job description and person specification for further details of this position.

For further details please contact:

Johannes Keller, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, Tel [phone], email [e-mail]

or via the department secretaries:

Person Specification

Knowledge and Experience

• Completion of higher specialist training in Ophthalmology (or appointment in the final year of training), with demonstrable interest in Vitreoretinal disease and surgery.
• Clinical experience appropriate to entry into advanced Vitreoretinal subspecialty training, with evidence of progression and reflective learning.
• Clear motivation to develop further surgical, clinical and academic skills within a structured fellowship environment.
• Prior exposure to vitreoretinal services or fellowship‑level training environments
• Evidence of sustained engagement in departmental activity beyond routine clinical delivery (e.g. teaching, audit, service development).

Skills and Abilities

• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to work constructively and respectfully with patients, consultants, trainees, nurses, optometrists and allied health professionals.
• Demonstrated ability to work reliably within a team‑based service, including engagement with rota commitments, handover processes and shared responsibility for service delivery
• Willingness to participate fully in departmental educational activity, including teaching, audit, quality improvement and clinical governance meetings.
• Evidence of insight into personal strengths and limitations, with a commitment to supervision, feedback and progressive development.
• Demonstrated enthusiasm for learning complex surgical techniques within a supervised framework.
• Ability to balance surgical training with wider professional responsibilities, including research, audit and multidisciplinary collaboration

Qualifications and Training

• Applicants should already have CCT or equivalent by the time of the start date.
• Full registration with the General Medical Council, with a licence to practise.
• Eligibility to work in the UK.
• Authorship or contribution to peer‑reviewed publications, presentations or ongoing research projects.
• Interest in developing an academic or research portfolio alongside clinical training.

Additional and Aptitudes

• Demonstrates professionalism, reliability and integrity in clinical practice
• Resilient, adaptable and able to work productively in a high‑volume tertiary referral service.
• Alignment with Trust values, including respect, collaboration, openness to change and shared responsibility for patient care and service delivery
• Demonstrated curiosity, enthusiasm and reflective practice consistent with a clinician at an advanced training stage.

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.

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW)