Visa Information
This position comes with a certificate of sponsorship for eligible international candidates. However, applicants must confirm their visa/work permit eligibility directly with the employer before applying. The United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust welcomes applications from qualified healthcare professionals worldwide who are seeking to relocate to the UK.
Job Overview
United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust is seeking a Fixed Term Consultant Ophthalmologist with a special interest in Glaucoma to join their team. This is a replacement post where the successful candidate will be required to devote substantially their whole time to the duties of the post. The position is based at Boston Pilgrim Hospital with possible commitments at other sites.
About the Role
This Fixed Term Consultant Ophthalmologist post is designed to provide sub-specialist Glaucoma and Cataract services for patients of the United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust. The job is a pan-trust appointment with duties primarily based at Boston Pilgrim Hospital. Applicants may elect to work full-time or part-time, with part-time options subject to discussion with the Trust.
About the Organisation
The United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust came into being on 1 April 2000 and brought together Lincoln and Louth NHS Trust, Pilgrim Health NHS Trust and the Grantham and District NHS Trust. The Trust is responsible for a comprehensive range of health services and currently provides some services to neighbouring authorities. Most of the local practitioners are known personally to the consultant staff and meet frequently at postgraduate and social functions. The Trust serves a population of 680,000.
Location and Facilities
The United Lincoln Hospitals Trust provides ophthalmic services to a population in excess of 750,000. The service is based in two main sites in Boston and Lincoln. Peripheral sites in Louth, Gainsborough attached to the Lincoln site and Grantham, Skegness and Spalding attached to the Boston site provide additional outpatient services. This post is currently based at Lincoln County Hospital, Lincoln with some duties in the peripheral sites attached.
Salary and Benefits
The position offers a competitive salary ranging from £109,725 to £145,478 per annum, depending on experience and qualifications. The post is available on a fixed-term contract for 1 year, with full-time working hours. Additional benefits may include a pension scheme, access to NHS discounts, and opportunities for professional development.
Main Duties
The appointee will be expected, in conjunction with colleagues, to provide a comprehensive Ophthalmic service supporting the provision of an effective countywide service and contribute towards achieving the 18-week wait across the whole eye department. They will be expected to carry out teaching duties as required and take an active part in the Postgraduate Medical Education program and in the teaching of ophthalmic trainee staff.
Clinical Responsibilities
The successful candidate will be involved in the delivery of undergraduate teaching to students from Nottingham and Leicester Medical Schools. They will also be involved in the education of nursing staff and other clinical professions as appropriate. The appointee will be expected to offer both a vitreo-retinal and general ophthalmology service, with particular emphasis on high-volume cataract surgery to ensure the trust meets its contractual obligations with respect to the 18-week wait.
Teaching and Research
The post holder will regularly attend Clinical Audit and Departmental Team meetings. They will be required to play an active part in the robust clinical audit program within the Department and participate in regional and national audits. The appointee will also be expected to contribute to the development and delivery of services and help formulate plans for its expansion.
Person Specification – Qualifications
Essential qualifications include FRCS, FRCOphth or equivalent, being on the specialist register for Ophthalmology, and full GMC Registration with a ‘Licence to Practice’. Desirable qualifications include a Fellowship in Vitreo-retinal or cataract, a relevant Higher Degree or equivalent, and a Fellowship in Glaucoma or Cataract.
Person Specification – Experience
Essential experience includes evidence of thorough and broad training and experience in Glaucoma surgery, ability to carry out high-volume cataract surgery, experience of undertaking Clinical Audit with recently presented findings, and the ability to take responsibility for delivering service without direct supervision. Desirable experience includes evidence of recently published research or case reports and a special interest complementary to the existing services.
Person Specification – Skills
Essential skills include good communication skills (both written and verbal), ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team, team leadership skills, understanding of educational needs of trainees, experience of teaching clinical skills, understanding of Clinical Governance principles, and computer literacy. A desirable skill is the ability to innovate and develop new technology and methods.
Person Specification – Special Requirements
Essential requirements include commitment to developing a quality Ophthalmic service for ULHT, maintaining education to standards set by the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, ability to develop National Care Pathways in Ophthalmology, and commitment to modernizing the service. Desirable requirements include ability to contribute to department and CMT management, ability to consolidate and organize change, and recent experience of developing a service.
On Call Commitment
The Ophthalmic Departments in Lincoln and Boston have adopted a model of cross-site cover with alternate weeks on call for the county. The post holder will participate in a 1 in 6, category A out of hours on call rota, with some weeks on call being for the whole county and some weeks being solely for the base non-take hospital. On call availability supplement will be paid at a rate of 5% of the post holder’s annual salary.
Professional Development
The appointee will be required to fully co-operate and participate with the Trust’s appraisal scheme, which identifies personal and professional development needs. They will agree plans for these needs to be met while reviewing their work and performance and considering their contribution to the quality and improvement of service delivery. On-call work taking place during public holidays will be compensated with equivalent time off in lieu.
Supporting Documents
Candidates should be prepared to submit the following documents as part of their application: CV, proof of qualifications (FRCS, FRCOphth or equivalent), GMC registration, evidence of specialist registration for Ophthalmology, and proof of ‘Licence to Practice’. Additional documents may include evidence of any higher degrees, fellowship certificates, and publications or research papers if applicable.
Application Deadline
The closing date for applications is 03 November 2025. Candidates are encouraged to submit their applications well in advance of this deadline to allow sufficient time for processing. Late applications may not be considered.
How to Apply
To apply for this position, candidates must submit their application through the NHS Jobs website. International applicants should ensure they have all necessary documentation, including proof of qualifications, GMC registration, evidence of English language proficiency if applicable, and any required visa documentation. Questions about the application process can be directed to Craig Nicholas Leverett (Service Manager) at [email protected] or 01522707401.
Certificate of Sponsorship
The employer offers a Certificate of Sponsorship to eligible candidates. International applicants should note that this does not guarantee a visa will be granted. Candidates must meet all UK visa requirements and may need to provide additional documentation, including criminal record certificates from any country where they have resided for 12 months or more in the past 10 years.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975, and 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. All candidates will be required to undergo this check as part of the recruitment process.
Contact Information
For questions about the job, contact Craig Nicholas Leverett (Service Manager) at [email protected] or 01522707401. The employer’s website is https://www.ulh.nhs.uk/ where candidates can find more information about the trust and its services. The position is based at Pilgrim Hospital, Sibsey Road, Boston, PE21 9QS.
Privacy Notice
Applicants should be aware that their personal data will be processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust’s privacy notice can be found at https://www.ulh.nhs.uk/support/privacy/ and provides further information on how your data will be used and protected.
Equal Opportunities
United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of their race, gender, disability, religion, belief, sexual orientation, or age. The Trust is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace.
