Job summary
We wish to appoint a 12-month, fixed term Consultant Ophthalmologist, specialising in Oculoplastics, Lacrimal and Orbits, to cover a career break. The post will be based cross-site at Kings' College Hospital's Queen Mary's Hospital site, in Sidcup. However, the post has the potential to support any of King's sites as appropriate. The individual will be required to play an active role in the general workload of the department while having a significant commitment to teaching and training of junior staff (medical and non-medical). The post holder will work within the multi-disciplinary teams providing and further developing elective and emergency care for ophthalmology patients within the general and subspecialty services, focusing on the provision and development of the glaucoma service to King's patients.

Main duties of the job
The remit of this post is to provide specialist Consultant leadership, expertise and support to King's Oculoplastics service. The post holder will develop and provide outpatient and surgical services for Oculoplastics, Lacrimal and Orbital patients from complex to routine. There will be commitment to the lid treatment and minor operations service with involvement in development, training and supervision. In addition, the post may involve performing high volume cataract surgery.

The post holder will contribute to the strategic development of the Oculoplastics service across all King's sites in collaboration with the other King's specialists and there are regular meetings of a cross-site subspecialty group to facilitate this.

The timetable advertised, whilst indicative, is a fair representation of the needs of the service at this current time; however, reasonable adjustments will be considered. If there any aspects of the advertised job plan / timetable that you wish to discuss, please feel free to contact Danielle Moore, (daniellemoore2@nhs.net) or Bill Hartigan (william.hartigan@nhs.net).

About us
The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. Transforming Healthcare is the vision at the heart of the King's Strategy - 2026 to 2031. Together, we are pursuing six strategic ambitions: delivering high-quality patient care; being a great place to work; leading pioneering research, innovation and education; building strong and successful partnerships; providing timely and efficient care; and ensuring long-term financial sustainability. Achieving these ambitions will require all of us to work as one Team King's, united by a shared commitment to our values of being caring, collaborative, inclusive and innovative. By living these values every day, we will transform healthcare for our patients, our communities and each other.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King's is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone's contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust's carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Details
Salary: £113,565 to £150,569 a year, per annum excluding London Zone Allowance
Contract: Locum
Duration: 12 months
Working pattern: Full-time
Pay scheme: Hospital medical and dental staff
Grade: Consultant
Reference number: 213-MED-DH-8153920-A
Closing date: 08 November 2026

Job responsibilities

• Together with the other Ophthalmologists, to provide a service for Ophthalmology patients across all sites. This includes all aspects of treatment and relevant management duties for the proper functioning of the department
• Shared responsibility with the other Consultants for providing 24 hour, 7 day a week cover for the Unit on a rota basis. Responsible also for covering colleagues periods of annual leave and short-term sickness
• Provide clinical supervision of junior staff (medical and non-medical) as a shared responsibility with other consultant colleagues
• Responsible for carrying out teaching, examination and accreditation duties as required and contributing to CPD and clinical governance initiatives
• Responsible for outpatient clinic commitments in peripheral hospitals as agreed with the Divisional management team
• Contribute to departmental research interests in accordance with the Trusts R&D framework
• Contribute to the audit programmes, Morbidity and Mortality, clinical governance programs and learning from Deaths
• Take an active role in the formulation, implementation and monitoring of the departments/ Divisions Business Plan. This may include assisting with discussions regarding service plans and developments with internal and external agencies.
• Exercise professional leadership for all staff working in the specialty. This will include fostering and developing projects focused towards these ends and ensuring that the momentum of post-qualification professional education and other appropriate training is maintained
• Work in conjunction with clinical and other professional colleagues to ensure that the productivity of staff within the specialty is maintained and their job satisfaction is enhanced. This may include involvement in the appraisal process for peers and/or junior colleagues
• Undertake Divisional management duties as agreed with the Divisional/departmental Manager/Clinical Director
• Be aware of, and comply with, all Trust infection prevention and control policies, to include hand hygiene, personal hygiene, environmental and food hygiene
• Prepare for and undertake the protective interventions that you are responsible for in a manner that is consistent with evidence-based practice and maintaining patient safety.

Person Specification
Essential qualifications:

• Registerable medical qualification
• FRCOphth / MRCOphth or equivalent
• CCT in Ophthalmology or equivalent ophthalmic training (or be within 6 months of CCT date)
• Full Registration with GMC and name on Specialist Register or be within 6 months of entry
• Wide experience in all aspects of Ophthalmology, culminating in award of Certificate of Completion of Training by GMC, or award of Certificate of Eligibility for Specialty Registration (CESR) by GMC
• Fellowship in Oculoplastics or equivalent
• Competence in performing all types of oculoplastic surgery, including (but not limited to) Entropian/Ectropian repairs, Ptosis repairs, DCR, evisceration/enucleation procedures
• Experience in day-to-day organisation of Ophthalmology services in a busy Teaching Hospital
• Familiar with current structure of UK National Health Service and conversant with recent initiatives and changes
• Able to demonstrate leadership capability within multi-disciplinary teams
• Thorough understanding of principles of medical audit. Must have undertaken and completed audit projects
• Experience of clinical research
• Publication of relevant review articles or case reports
• Able to demonstrate an understanding of King's Values
• Commitment to uphold King's Values
• Experience of undergraduate and post-graduate teaching and exam preparation

Desirable

• Other higher degree or diploma (e.g., MS, MD or PhD)
• Competence in performing high volume and complex cataract surgery
• Management course and/or qualification
• Audit Publications
• Teaching skills course/qualification

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.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details
Employer name: King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Queen Mary's Hospital, Forgnal Ave, Sidcup, DA14 6LT, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.kch.nhs.uk/

For questions about the job, contact: Clinical Director / Consultant Eoin O'Sullivan, eoin.o'sullivan@nhs.net