Job summary
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is seeking an enthusiastic and skilled Locum Consultant Ophthalmologist with a special interest in Paediatric Ophthalmology and Adult Strabismus to join our expanding service across Southport and Ormskirk Hospitals.

This is a new locum consultant post replacing an established Associate Specialist to continue to the delivery of a high-performing, patient-centred department.

This opportunity offers the successful candidate a chance to develop a thriving paediatric practice, including ROP screening, alongside delivering adult strabismus and general ophthalmology care, with the option to undertake adult cataract surgery. The successful candidate will be required to join the Trusts general on-call service.

Main duties of the job
You will deliver high-quality consultant-led care in:

• Paediatric Ophthalmology - including ROP screening, paediatric clinics and surgery
• Adult Strabismus
• General Ophthalmology
• Adult Cataract Surgery (optional)
• Participation in the 1:4 consultant on-call rota (non-resident; 5pm-9pm weekdays, 9am-9pm weekends)

The job plan comprises 10 PAs, including theatre, clinics, ROP activity, SPA time and supporting activities. Final job plan will be agreed with the Clinical Director upon appointment.

You will contribute to national clinical standards, CG, audit, teaching, and supervision of junior staff, with opportunities to participate in research and regional teaching programmes. You will provide consultant leadership and oversight to the orthoptic service within the S&O footprint.

About us
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 10,500 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.

Our services:

• Acute Care: Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.
• Primary Care: Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.
• Community Services: Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital is where patients needing acute hospital beds can continue rehabilitation. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre.
• Specialist Regional Services: We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.

Achievements:

• Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
• Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
• National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme.

Details
Date posted: 02 November 2026
Pay scheme: Hospital medical and dental staff
Grade: Consultant
Salary: £113,565 to £150,569 a year per annum (plus on call)
Contract: Fixed term
Duration: 12 months
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 409-S7909564-A
Closing date: 06 December 2026

Person Specification
Values (Essential):

• We are kind
• We are open
• We are inclusive

Qualifications (Essential):

• MB ChB or evidence of equivalent qualification
• Full registration with the General Medical Council (GMC), and licenced to practice
• Entered on the Specialist Register (or eligible for registration within six months of interview)
• FRCOphth or equivalent
• CCT in Ophthalmology
• Evidence of thorough and broad training and experience in all aspects of general Ophthalmology
• Competent in Surgical and Medical Paediatric ophthalmology and ROP Screening
• Competent in adult cataract surgery including training Juniors
• Able to take responsibility for delivering Paediatric ophthalmology service without direct supervision

Knowledge (Essential):

• Knowledge and experience of Ophthalmology
• Broad range of IT skills
• Knowledge of evidence-based practice
• Understanding of clinical governance and the individual responsibilities it implies
• Knowledge of the principles of clinical audit and evidence of participation
• Participation in continuing professional development (CPD) scheme and, where relevant, evidence of participation
• Interest in teaching medical, nursing, and other groups of staff
• Experience of supervising trainee doctors, clinically and surgically
• Experience of teaching clinical skills to undergraduate medical students
• Experience of clinical or lab-based research with publications in peer reviewed journals

Knowledge (Desirable):

• Publication of audit results
• Ability to supervise research

Skills (Essential):

• Ability to communicate effectively with clinical colleagues, colleagues in Ophthalmology, other specialties and support staff
• Good knowledge of, and ability to use, spoken and written English
• Ability to present effectively to an audience, using a variety of methods and to respond to questions
• Ability to develop effective working relationships on an individual and multi-disciplinary basis with all levels of staff
• Ability to be a flexible team member
• Ability to cope with and effectively organize the workload of a consultant
• Ability to practise independently as a consultant
• Ability to take responsibility and show evidence of leadership
• Ability to help manage and lead the department balancing departmental and personal objectives
• Ability to demonstrate a commitment to work within Trust policies as guided by the Clinical Director
• Have a commitment to CME / CPD

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: Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Address: Ormskirk Hospital, Dicconson Way, Wigan Road, Ormskirk, L39 2AZ, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.merseywestlancs.nhs.uk/

Contact for questions about the job:
Clinical Director: Mrs Adesuwa Garrick, adesuwa.garrick@merseywestlancs.nhs.uk, 01695656030

Apply through our website.