Job summary
We are delighted to be able to offer opportunities for highly motivated ambitious individuals to join a well-integrated team within the Department of Ophthalmology, in the post of Vitreoretinal Fellow. The post is available from November 2026 for 12 months. This post will be of interest to those who are looking to gain further experience in all areas of vitreoretinal and cataract surgery, including complex cases, advanced techniques and the use of the 3D viewing system. Candidates seeking CESR are welcome to apply and discuss their requirements.

In addition to the challenges of the role, we can offer you a commitment to teaching, education, research and audit.

Main duties of the job
For an informal discussion and further information regarding the opportunity please contact: Mr. Sandro Di Simplicio, Consultant Vitreoretinal Surgeon via email at sandro.disimplicio@nhs.net

About us
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.

With around 2 million contacts with patients every year, we deliver care from:

• Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)
• Freeman Hospital
• Newcastle Dental Hospital
• Cramlington Manor Walks
• Urgent treatment centres
• Newcastle Fertility Centre
• Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbria
• Northern Genetics Service

These include a range of flagship services which deliver cutting-edge care (supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic services in both radiology and pathology) and are a catalyst for innovation to support pioneering clinical practice in the NHS.

We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.

Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under 'Documents to download' or 'Supporting documents'.

Job responsibilities
The timetable involves all aspects of surgical retina with general medical retina, AMD and diabetic clinics. There is one general session and four to five theatre lists. There may be flexibility in some of the sessions to cover a specific training need if required.

VR on call commitment 1:2 (weekdays) and 1:4 roughly (week-ends), but no general on call.

Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential

• Primary Medical Qualification.
• Full GMC registration.

Desirable

• MD/PhD or equivalent.
• Completion of core ophthalmology training.

Clinical Skills and Knowledge
Essential

• Good history & examination skills.
• Ability to formulate a working diagnosis and order appropriate investigations.
• Independent cataract surgery with more than 300 procedures done, able to perform independent laser for retinopexy.

Desirable

• More than 3 years' experience of ophthalmology.
• Previous NHS experience.
• Previous experience of surgical retina.

Maintaining Clinical Competence
Essential

• Written evidence of satisfactory training to date e.g. workplace assessments.

Teaching
Essential

• Experience of teaching undergraduate medical students & Foundation Doctors.

Clinical Governance, Audit and Research
Essential

• Completed audit.
• Understanding of research principles.

Desirable

• Evidence of research projects.

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.

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.

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.

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

Employer: The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4LP