Vitreoretinal Fellow

The department offers subspecialty interests in Vitreoretinal surgery ,Medical Retina, Paediatrics, Oculoplastic, Diabetic Eye Disease, Anterior segment including corneal transplantation and Glaucoma. The Unit is supported by highly trained Nurse Practitioners and a substantial orthoptic department. There is active in-service training and monthly clinical audit meetings. The department is well equipped with Argon, YAG and SLT lasers, OCT, OCT angio and digital fundal imaging systems. The Consultants are very proactive and would make every effort to provide training in medical and surgical in the appropriate sub specialties.

Please note this post will have a start date of December 23/January 24.

We are looking for an enthusiastic clinician who has the necessary basic ophthalmic skills to support the lead clinician in both clinic and theatre management. The time table would include clinics and theatre lists related to the subspeciality they are appointed to. The post holder will be encouraged to continue to work with the wider team in the development of the integrated eye service.

The post holder will be expected to work closely with colleagues and management in developing the ability of the department to respond to operational pressures together with clinical governance and longer term service strategies.

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust was formed in 2003 from the merger of Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS Trust and the Burnley Hospitals NHS Trust. East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust provides a caring service to a population of approximately 520,000.

Services are provided from two main sites, the Royal Blackburn Hospital and Burnley General Hospital. The Royal Blackburn Hospital and Phase V at Burnley General Hospital are significant PFI developments.

In 2006 a service reconfiguration, ‘meeting patients needs’ was implemented which resulted in the Blackburn site becoming the centre for all acute services in East Lancashire. The ED at Blackburn is the only ED for East Lancashire and since 2012 has become a Trauma Unit in the Lancashire Trauma network with the trauma centre at the Royal Preston Hospital. The ED is supported by Urgent Care Centres at Blackburn and Burnley and a Minor Injuries Unit at Accrington.

Provisional Timetable

VR Clinics - 3
Theatre lists - 3

Laser clinic/Cataract theatre -1
Acute clinics - 1

Final timetable will be mutually agreed on successful recruitment to the post.

This is an ideal post for senior trainees who already have basic subspecialty training and are seeking to increase their surgical numbers and broaden their experience. The post-holder will have regular access to dedicated theatre lists and day surgery and outpatient theatres and will have the opportunity to work with other sub speciality teams.