Vitreoretinal Fellow

Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust; Norwich; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare institution in the UK is seeking Ophthalmologists for a Vitreoretinal Fellowship. This 12-month post offers extensive surgical training in a high-volume ophthalmology department. Candidates should have completed specialist training and are encouraged to apply if they have a background in vitreoretinal surgery. The role involves leading surgical cases and participating in emergency on-call duties within a supportive team environment.

Qualifications

• Ophthalmologists who have completed, or are close to completing, higher specialist training or equivalent.
• A desire to consolidate subspecialty expertise in preparation for a substantive consultant VR appointment in a large ophthalmology centre.
• Previous experience of vitreoretinal surgery is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Conduct dedicated vitreoretinal lists with supervised cases leading to independent practice.
• Handle a broad case mix including retinal detachments, macular hole surgeries, and management of ocular trauma.
• Run pre- and postoperative VR clinics and undertake virtual triage/review.
• Participate in consultant-led on-call rota for emergency retinal detachments and increase responsibility.

Skills

Vitreoretinal surgery

Emergency management

Pre- and postoperative care

Education

Completed higher specialist training

Job description

We are delighted to invite applications for a Vitreoretinal (VR) Fellowship at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH). This hands‑on, high‑volume post offers comprehensive exposure to the full spectrum of vitreoretinal disease and surgery within one of the busiest ophthalmology departments in the East of England and tertiary centre to other ophthalmic units in Norfolk. This is a 12‑month fixed term post.

Fellows will have specialist tertiary referral clinics and dedicated VR operating sessions under close Consultant supervision, with structured opportunities to develop the skills and case numbers required for independent practice. The Fellow will be a core member of our VR service, working alongside an experienced, friendly multi‑professional team committed to teaching, mentoring and research.

The Fellowship is aimed at ophthalmologists who have completed, or are close to completing, higher specialist training or equivalent, and who wish to consolidate subspecialty expertise in preparation for a substantive consultant VR appointment in a large ophthalmology centre. Previous experience of vitreoretinal surgery is preferred.

Main duties of the job

• You will spend the majority of your week on dedicated vitreoretinal lists, with regular emergency add‑on capacity, progressing rapidly from supervised cases to leading your own under close consultant mentorship.
• The case mix is broad and high‑volume‑primary and complex retinal detachments (vitrectomy and buckle), macular hole and ERM surgery, diabetic vitrectomy (tractional and complex PDR), management of dropped lens/nucleus and IOL complications, ocular trauma and endophthalmitis‑performed on contemporary 25/27‑gauge platforms with wide‑angle viewing, chandelier illumination, endolaser and gas/oil tamponade, and access to intraoperative OCT. Surgical autonomy is graded and purposeful; the Fellowship provides a high surgical volume, with fellows typically undertaking a minimum of 500 vitrectomies annually.
• Alongside theatre, you will run pre‑ and postoperative VR clinics, contribute to combined VR/medical retina sessions, and undertake virtual triage/review, with templates tailored to case‑mix and training needs.
• You will participate in the consultant‑led on‑call rota for emergency retinal detachments and ocular trauma, taking increasing responsibility for assessment, consent, peri‑operative decision‑making and postoperative care with clear consultant backup.

Qualifications

• Ophthalmologists who have completed, or are close to completing, higher specialist training or equivalent.
• A desire to consolidate subspecialty expertise in preparation for a substantive consultant VR appointment in a large ophthalmology centre.
• Previous experience of vitreoretinal surgery is preferred.

Visa and immigration: If you are wishing to apply for this role and would require sponsorship (this includes if you are already in a sponsored post and looking to change employer), you can determine the likelihood of obtaining a Certificate of Sponsorship for this post by assessing your circumstances against criteria specified on the gov.uk website https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa/your-job.

We value equality in our team and recruit from all sections of the community. We recognise there is a wealth of talent among people who have a disability and if you meet the minimum criteria detailed in the person specification and have a disability, you may wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme by indicating this in the relevant section on your application.

We look forward to receiving your application and if you do not hear within the next four weeks this will usually mean that you have not been short‑listed. However, if you wish to confirm this please contact the person indicated on the advert.