University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Fixed Term Consultant Ophthalmologist (9 months)

The closing date is 05 November 2025

Job summary

This is a fixed term job for 9 months to cover maternity leave. The Sussex Eye Hospital is a specialist eye hospital with two dedicated ophthalmic theatres (one with anaesthetic cover); one ward; outpatients department and a 24hr eye casualty service. It serves a population of approximately 750,000, through the hub at the Sussex Eye Hospital and the spoke unit at Princess Royal Hospital with plans in place to work in other locations.

The Sussex Eye Hospital has an active role in research, supported by its own research team and the trust research department.

The clinical work will be based at Sussex Eye Hospital and other local sites including Princess Royal Hospital, Hove Polyclinic and Lewes Victoria Hospital.

Clinics are generally made up of a mixture of new and follow-up patients,but this will vary depending on the nature and complexity of the clinic in question.

Cataract lists are currently booked with 6-8 patients depending on the complexity of cases and the training needs of any juniors allocated to the list in question.

Office space and secretarial support will be provided. This post will be required to take part in the consultant on-call rota (currently 1:10 with each consultant on-call for a week at a time).

The post holder accepts that they will also perform duties in occasional emergencies and unforeseen circumstances at the request of the appropriate consultant, in consultation, where practicable, with their colleagues, both senior and junior.

Main duties of the job

This fixed term job is to cover a maternity leave. The clinical duties of the post include the following:

The Sussex Eye Hospital is looking to expand its capacity in anterior segment and primary care.

General Ophthalmology

The successful applicant will be proficient in all areas of general ophthalmology.

Anterior segment services

The successful applicant will have sub-speciality fellowship training and experience of independently managing routine and complex anterior segment cases.

Eye Casualty

The successful applicant will work within the multi-disciplinary teams providing elective and emergency care for ophthalmology patients.

Cataract Surgery

The successful applicant will be expected to be an experienced and proficient cataract surgeon, able to undertake routine and complex cataract surgery in high volume cataract lists as well as supporting surgical training in the department. They will be expected to assess performance against national standards quarterly and identify areas requiring improvement and ensure that all clinical information systems are completed appropriately.

About us

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We're here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in ourWellbeing Programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.

As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.

We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.

Details

Date posted

23 October 2025

Pay scheme

Hospital medical and dental staff

Grade

Consultant

Salary

£109,725 to £145,478 a year PA

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

9 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

279-MW SEHFTCONOPTH-561

Job locations

Sussex Eye Hospital

Eastern Road

Brighton

BN2 5BF


Job description

Job responsibilities

Teaching responsibilities:

The successful postholder will be responsible for teaching and training of registrars and fellows in their clinics and theatres. They are expected to contribute to the teaching session on Friday pms and monthly grand rounds.

Research responsibilities: The successful candidate will be expected to take responsibilities in ongoing and new research project and help with ongoing projects. The candidate will get full support in setting up their own research and academic projects.

On Call Commitment: This post will be required to take part in the consultant on-call rota (currently 1:10 with each consultant on-call for a week at a time).

The post holder accepts that they will also perform duties in occasional emergencies and unforeseen circumstances at the request of the appropriate consultant, in consultation, where practicable, with their colleagues, both senior and junior. While it has been agreed between the professions that they will perform such duties, the Secretary of State stresses that additional commitments arising under this sub-section are exceptions and you should not be required to undertake work of this kind for prolonged periods or on a regular basis.

On Call Commitment: This post will be required to take part in the consultant on-call rota (currently 1:10 with each consultant on-call for a week at a time

Category

Percentage

B

1%

The post holder accepts that they will also perform duties in occasional emergencies and unforeseen circumstances at the request of the appropriate consultant, in consultation, where practicable, with their colleagues, both senior and junior. While it has been agreed between the professions that they will perform such duties, the Secretary of State stresses that additional commitments arising under this sub-section are exceptions and you should not be required to undertake work of this kind for prolonged periods or on a regular basis.

One core SPA will be provided for individuals on a 10 PA job plan and for less than full-time individuals where UHSussex is the Designated Body for revalidation and appraisal purposes (for less than full-time employees whose Designated Body is not UHSussex, this will be pro rata to minimum 0.5 core SPA). This core SPA (168 hours per year) is to provide time throughout the year for statutory and mandatory training, revalidation, personal CPD, maintaining log book, job planning and appraisal.

An additional 0.5 SPA may be negotiated between clinician and clinical director for time for departmental/consultant/SAS meetings, mandated clinical governance activity, patient safety, Serious Incidents, complaints, learning from deaths, and areas of the Clinical Effectiveness Domain (NICE, audit etc.)

Any additional non-clinical SPA is at the discretion of the Clinical Director and part of team job planning. This must be defined with agreed outputs. Examples: educational supervision (for resident doctors); leadership roles (at all levels); research; service development.

This job plan may be worked flexibly over a seven-day working week. It is anticipated that patient related administration would be performed within the confines of the DCC PAs.

The following draft timetable is intended to show the Trust's expectation of the post and the facilities to be provided. Detailed adjustments may be required in consultation with the appointee, clinical colleagues and executive colleagues (3 months). In particular, a change may be appropriate after consultation to allow the development of a special interest held by the successful candidate.

Day

Time

Type of Work

Location (Ward / Site)

DCC/SPA

Monday

am

Theatre 2 (2:4) / CAC (1:4) / SPA (1:4)

pm

A&E

Tuesday

am

Anterior Segment Clinic

pm

Theatre 2 (1:4) / SPA (3:4)

Wednesday

am

Theatre 1 (1:2) / Urgent care clinic (1:2)

pm

Urgent care clinic (1:2) / Anterior segment clinic (1:2)

Thursday

am

pm

Friday

am

Anterior segment clinic

pm

Theatre 2

Saturday

am

pm

Sunday

am

pm

Interviews are tentatively planned to take place 14 November commencing and applicants will be informed of any changes accordingly.

Interviews are tentatively planned to take place on 28 November 2025 and applicants will be informed of any changes accordingly

Job description

Job responsibilities

Teaching responsibilities:

The successful postholder will be responsible for teaching and training of registrars and fellows in their clinics and theatres. They are expected to contribute to the teaching session on Friday pms and monthly grand rounds.

Research responsibilities: The successful candidate will be expected to take responsibilities in ongoing and new research project and help with ongoing projects. The candidate will get full support in setting up their own research and academic projects.

On Call Commitment: This post will be required to take part in the consultant on-call rota (currently 1:10 with each consultant on-call for a week at a time).

The post holder accepts that they will also perform duties in occasional emergencies and unforeseen circumstances at the request of the appropriate consultant, in consultation, where practicable, with their colleagues, both senior and junior. While it has been agreed between the professions that they will perform such duties, the Secretary of State stresses that additional commitments arising under this sub-section are exceptions and you should not be required to undertake work of this kind for prolonged periods or on a regular basis.

On Call Commitment: This post will be required to take part in the consultant on-call rota (currently 1:10 with each consultant on-call for a week at a time

Category

Percentage

B

1%

The post holder accepts that they will also perform duties in occasional emergencies and unforeseen circumstances at the request of the appropriate consultant, in consultation, where practicable, with their colleagues, both senior and junior. While it has been agreed between the professions that they will perform such duties, the Secretary of State stresses that additional commitments arising under this sub-section are exceptions and you should not be required to undertake work of this kind for prolonged periods or on a regular basis.

One core SPA will be provided for individuals on a 10 PA job plan and for less than full-time individuals where UHSussex is the Designated Body for revalidation and appraisal purposes (for less than full-time employees whose Designated Body is not UHSussex, this will be pro rata to minimum 0.5 core SPA). This core SPA (168 hours per year) is to provide time throughout the year for statutory and mandatory training, revalidation, personal CPD, maintaining log book, job planning and appraisal.

An additional 0.5 SPA may be negotiated between clinician and clinical director for time for departmental/consultant/SAS meetings, mandated clinical governance activity, patient safety, Serious Incidents, complaints, learning from deaths, and areas of the Clinical Effectiveness Domain (NICE, audit etc.)

Any additional non-clinical SPA is at the discretion of the Clinical Director and part of team job planning. This must be defined with agreed outputs. Examples: educational supervision (for resident doctors); leadership roles (at all levels); research; service development.

This job plan may be worked flexibly over a seven-day working week. It is anticipated that patient related administration would be performed within the confines of the DCC PAs.

The following draft timetable is intended to show the Trust's expectation of the post and the facilities to be provided. Detailed adjustments may be required in consultation with the appointee, clinical colleagues and executive colleagues (3 months). In particular, a change may be appropriate after consultation to allow the development of a special interest held by the successful candidate.

Day

Time

Type of Work

Location (Ward / Site)

DCC/SPA

Monday

am

Theatre 2 (2:4) / CAC (1:4) / SPA (1:4)

pm

A&E

Tuesday

am

Anterior Segment Clinic

pm

Theatre 2 (1:4) / SPA (3:4)

Wednesday

am

Theatre 1 (1:2) / Urgent care clinic (1:2)

pm

Urgent care clinic (1:2) / Anterior segment clinic (1:2)

Thursday

am

pm

Friday

am

Anterior segment clinic

pm

Theatre 2

Saturday

am

pm

Sunday

am

pm

Interviews are tentatively planned to take place 14 November commencing and applicants will be informed of any changes accordingly.

Interviews are tentatively planned to take place on 28 November 2025 and applicants will be informed of any changes accordingly

Person Specification

Clinical Skills & Experience

Essential

  • oHigh level of clinical experience in all aspects of Ophthalmology

Desirable

  • oHigh competencies in trauma management out of hours
  • oEvidence of working constructively with other subspeciality colleagues for complex patient's needs (such as glaucoma and oculoplastic

Knowledge

Desirable

  • oBreadth of experience in and outside specialty

Organisation & Planning

Essential

  • oExperience and ability to work in multi-professional teams
  • oUnderstanding of: NHS / Clinical governance / Resource constraints

Desirable

  • oEvidence of managerial skills: Achievements / Course attended

Teaching Skills

Essential

  • oEvidence of an interest and commitment to teaching

Desirable

  • oRecognised teaching qualification

Academic & Research

Essential

  • oEvidence of participation in audit

Desirable

  • oResearch experience
  • Publications
  • Prizes and Honours

Career Progression and Personal Attributes

Essential

  • oAppropriate progression of career to date
  • oEvidence of:- Good communication skills both oral and written

Experience

Essential

  • FRCOphth or recognised equivalent
  • oFull and specialist registration (with a licence to practise) with the GMC or be eligible for registration within six months of the interview. o If you trained in the UK, you must also have a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) in Ophthalmology] or be within six months of receiving it by the interview date. o If you trained outside the UK, you must provide evidence that your qualifications are equivalent to the UK CCT. (Equivalence must be confirmed by GMC by date of AAC)
  • oBasic medical degree

Desirable

  • Higher Degree
  • MD or PHD
Person Specification

Clinical Skills & Experience

Essential

  • oHigh level of clinical experience in all aspects of Ophthalmology

Desirable

  • oHigh competencies in trauma management out of hours
  • oEvidence of working constructively with other subspeciality colleagues for complex patient's needs (such as glaucoma and oculoplastic

Knowledge

Desirable

  • oBreadth of experience in and outside specialty

Organisation & Planning

Essential

  • oExperience and ability to work in multi-professional teams
  • oUnderstanding of: NHS / Clinical governance / Resource constraints

Desirable

  • oEvidence of managerial skills: Achievements / Course attended

Teaching Skills

Essential

  • oEvidence of an interest and commitment to teaching

Desirable

  • oRecognised teaching qualification

Academic & Research

Essential

  • oEvidence of participation in audit

Desirable

  • oResearch experience
  • Publications
  • Prizes and Honours

Career Progression and Personal Attributes

Essential

  • oAppropriate progression of career to date
  • oEvidence of:- Good communication skills both oral and written

Experience

Essential

  • FRCOphth or recognised equivalent
  • oFull and specialist registration (with a licence to practise) with the GMC or be eligible for registration within six months of the interview. o If you trained in the UK, you must also have a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) in Ophthalmology] or be within six months of receiving it by the interview date. o If you trained outside the UK, you must provide evidence that your qualifications are equivalent to the UK CCT. (Equivalence must be confirmed by GMC by date of AAC)
  • oBasic medical degree

Desirable

  • Higher Degree
  • MD or PHD

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Address

Sussex Eye Hospital

Eastern Road

Brighton

BN2 5BF


Employer's website

https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)

Address

Sussex Eye Hospital

Eastern Road

Brighton

BN2 5BF


Employer's website

https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Consultant

Mayank Nanavaty

mayank.nanavaty@nhs.net

01273696955

Details

Date posted

23 October 2025

Pay scheme

Hospital medical and dental staff

Grade

Consultant

Salary

£109,725 to £145,478 a year PA

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

9 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

279-MW SEHFTCONOPTH-561

Job locations

Sussex Eye Hospital

Eastern Road

Brighton

BN2 5BF


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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