Locum Consultant Ophthalmologist (Accident & Emergency)

Locum Consultant Ophthalmologist (Accident & Emergency)

We are recruiting a dedicated Locum Consultant (12 month fixed term contract) to join our busy Ophthalmic Accident & Emergency Department, which provides 24/7 emergency eye care and manages over 100,000 patient episodes annually.

This is a unique opportunity to contribute to one of the Trust’s most dynamic services, supporting patients with ocular injuries, acute vision changes, severe discomfort, and post‑operative complications.

The role includes a full 3‑session day on Thursday, a 1:6 weekend rotation, and a Direct Clinical Care element within the A&E department, 1.0 SPA and 0.25 associated admin PAs.

The timetable may change depending on the needs of the hospital and the service demands.

Supervision, teaching of junior staff, and administrative responsibilities are also required.

Applicants must hold FRCOPhth or an equivalent qualification and be registered with the General Medical Council.

Key Responsibilities

• Delivery of direct clinical care within the A&E department, including treatment of urgent cases and management of clinically complex or sight‑threatening conditions; support triage, assessment, and the Urgent Care Clinic as appropriate.
• On‑day leadership and management of the busy A&E department, supervising junior medical staff, nurse practitioners and students, and supporting operational management decisions to ensure smooth running and delivery against operational targets.
• Contribution to continuous service development and improvement, engagement in audits, and support of robust clinical governance.
• Providing appropriate training and teaching to staff, supporting their professional development.
• Collaboration with multidisciplinary teams to provide specialist advice to primary care and other services.
• Engagement in research into clinical ophthalmology to stay up to date with current research and drive continuous innovation.
• Maintenance of continuous professional development in line with Royal College of Ophthalmologists requirements.
• Detailed Duties and Responsibilities
• Provide High Quality Care to Patients
• Post holder must be medically qualified and maintain GMC specialist registration and hold a licence to practice.
• Develop and maintain competencies required to carry out the duties of the post.
• Ensure prompt attendance at agreed direct clinical care Programmed Activities.
• Ensure patients are involved in decisions about their care and respond to their views.
• Performance Management
• Work with medical, nursing and managerial colleagues to ensure high performance in clinical efficiency, quality of outcomes, financial management, and operational efficiency.
• Develop ambulatory pathways, meet infection control targets, reduce re‑attendance rates, manage locum agency spend, monitor and manage drug budgets, and ensure accuracy of clinical data.
• Support demand management and performance targets.
• Medical Staff Management
• Ensure resident doctors’ hours comply with EWTD and New Deal.
• Maintain systems to control and monitor leave for junior medical staff and ensure adequate cover, including on‑call commitments.
• Participate in recruitment, objective setting, annual appraisal, and revalidation of all doctors in training, Trust doctors, Clinical Fellows and non‑consultant grades.
• Governance
• Review clinical outcomes, identify and advise variances to Service Director.
• Participate in clinical audit, incident reporting and analysis, ensuring resulting actions are implemented.
• Engage with Directorate, Patient and Public Involvement panels on clinical and services developments.
• Ensure NICE requirements are reviewed, implemented and monitored; update clinical guidelines and protocols; keep fully informed about best practice.
• Model good practice for infection control to multidisciplinary team.
• Strategy and Business Planning
• Participate in business planning and objective setting for the directorate and Trust where appropriate.
• Represent Trust at clinical networks or other external meetings as delegated.
• Leadership and Team Working
• Demonstrate excellent leadership skills with regard to performance, clinical teams, Trust and national or local initiatives.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary team and partners.
• Chair regular specialty meetings.
• Resolve conflict and difficult situations through negotiation and discussion.
• Adhere to Trust/departmental guidelines on leave and reporting absence.
• Teaching, Research and Audit
• Take part in teaching duties for adult learners, junior and non‑training grade staff, orthoptic and optometry students, and other professional and technical staff.
• Collaborate with fellow Consultants, Specialist Registrars, Fellows, and professionals across affiliated institutions.
• Actively participate in audit meetings and research governance, ensuring all research activities are approved by Trust and ethics committees.
• Encourage distance learning medical education degrees; part‑funded PGCert level medical education available.
• Other Duties
• Continuing responsibility for care of patients in charge and proper functioning of the service, including delegation and staff training.
• Day‑to‑day management of clinic, ensuring in/out‑patient services covered during planned absences.
• Provide advice and support to clinicians in other services for patients with multiple ocular problems.
• Participate in Medical Advisory Committee and other hospital committees as required.
• Meet annual training requirements and satisfy continuous professional development for Royal College; participate in Trust appraisal scheme.
• Professional Development
• Trust provides opportunities for CME and CPD; timetable arranged to allow participation.
• Provision for at least 2 weeks paid study leave with expenses if appropriate each year; monitored by study leave committee.
• Revalidation Requirements
• Maintain portfolio of career over last 5 years to satisfy GMC Revalidation criteria.
• Bring supporting information portfolio, recent appraisals, and exit reports from prior appointments when joining the Trust.

Benefits and Support

• At Moorfields, we invest in your growth, wellbeing and future. The role offers:
• Competitive salary (including high‑cost area supplement)
• Membership of the NHS Pension Scheme
• 24/7 independent counselling support
• Career‑long learning and development opportunities
• Excellent transport connections
• Access to NHS and Blue Light discount schemes
• Full support and training to develop your skills

This advert closes on Tuesday 21 Jul 2026.

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