Locum Consultant Opthalmologist - Medical Retina & General

Job summary
We have an opportunity within the Ophthalmology Team at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for a Locum Consultant Ophthalmologist with a subspecialty interest in medical retina and general ophthalmology to commence in post as soon as possible. This post is required to provide cover for a colleague on long-term sickness absence within the Ophthalmic Directorate.

The successful candidate will join a multi-professional team based at the Victoria Hospital site. This role involves supporting the medical retina service while contributing to general ophthalmology clinics and on call duties.

Main duties of the job
The post holder will be expected to provide expert clinical care for patients with medical retina diseases, including advanced diagnostic assessment, laser treatments, and intravitreal therapies, alongside general ophthalmology, cataract surgery and on call responsibilities. The consultant is responsible for delivering high-quality patient care, leading multidisciplinary teams, contributing to service development, and participating in teaching, research, and clinical governance activities.

The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to the development of the medical retina services.

About us
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is situated on the west coast of Lancashire, with services covering the local authority areas of Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre. The Trust is part of the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System (ICS) supporting a population of around 1.6 million people.

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust serves a resident population of approximately 330,000 and the 12 million holidaymakers who visit the area every year. The Trust comprises Blackpool Victoria Hospital which is a large busy acute hospital and a smaller community/ rehabilitation hospital - Clifton Hospital. Outpatient services are also provided in Blackpool, Fleetwood and Lytham Hospital. The Trust is also responsible for the provision of a wide range of community healthcare services, including District Nursing, Community Matrons and therapy services.

The organisation provides specialist tertiary care for Cardiac and Haematology services, delivers community health services to over 445,000 residents including those in North Lancashire and hosts the National Artificial Eye Service across England. We also have specialised Cardio-thoracic Surgical and Sleep Medicine services (including polysomnography) and provide urgent and emergency care services to an estimated 18 million people who visit the seaside resort each year.

Details
Date posted: 26 October 2026
Pay scheme: Hospital medical and dental staff
Grade: Consultant
Salary: £113,565 to £150,569 a year Per annum
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 12 months
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 382-DOC122-26
Job locations: Blackpool Victoria Hospital, Whinney Heys Road, Blackpool, FY3 8NR, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
Please see detailed job description (including proposed job plan) and person specification documents attached for more details.

Person Specification
Education & Qualification

• Essential: Full GMC Registration and license to practice
• Essential: Previous experience of at least 12 years in Ophthalmology and 6 years in a relevant speciality in the speciality doctor grade
• Desirable: Possession of a post graduate qualification (FRCOphth, MRCOphth, FRCS)
• Desirable: Higher/ advanced sub-speciality training/ fellowship
• Desirable: Higher degree (eg. MD or PhD)

Experience & Knowledge

• Essential: Able to undertake independent general and sub-specialty clinics laser, sub-specialty clinical and surgical experience and ability to perform independent procedures
• Essential: Experience teaching undergraduates, postgraduates and non medical staff with demonstration of effective teaching skills
• Essential: Experience in undertaking audits and understanding of the principles of audit and research
• Desirable: Previous experience of working in the NHS / experience of NHS working practices and systems
• Desirable: Experience of supervision of other staff
• Desirable: Experience in service development and improvement in Ophthalmology

Skills and Ability

• Essential: Ability to organise and prioritise workload and to delegate responsibility and supervise staff
• Essential: Ability to motivate and inspire a multi-disciplinary team and work sensitively within teams and across organisations
• Essential: Good team player: ability to work well as a member of a team
• Essential: Agreement to live within 15 miles of the Trust or within 30 minutes travel by car. Car owner with full driving licence
• Desirable: A willingness to attend and actively participate in department meetings

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: Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Blackpool Victoria Hospital, Whinney Heys Road, Blackpool, FY3 8NR, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.blackpoolteachinghospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Ophthalmology Consultant - Head of Department, Mr R Tanawade, rajeev.tanawade@nhs.net, 01253953467

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab).