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Job summary

Main area
Ophthalmology
Grade
NHS Medical & Dental: Consultant
Contract
Fixed term: 12 months (N/A)
Hours
Full time - 40 hours per week (Oncall)
Job ref
193-MS2289PCG
Employer
Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Royal Berkshire Hospital
Town
Reading
Salary
£113,565 - £150,569 Per anum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
23/10/2026 08:00

Employer heading

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust logo

Locum Ophthalmology Consultant

NHS Medical & Dental: Consultant

At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust we put our patients at the heart of every element of health and care that we provide. The Trust works together as a community to deliver its vision which is “Working together to provide outstanding care for our community.”

Royal Berkshire Hospital are pleased to announce that following our CQC inspection we have been rated ‘Good’ with inspectors reporting that we have made significant improvements.  The Trust’s overall rating has also improved to ‘good’.  

We are Compassionate in our thoughts, words and actions

We are Aspirational and have a true desire to be dynamic and to innovate

We are Resourceful and responsible in the way we work and live

We are Excellent in our development, fairness and sharing best practice

At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, we value candidates who bring their unique personalities, skills, and experiences to the Trust. When completing your application, we encourage you to highlight your individual achievements and strengths, showing us how they align with the requirements outlined in the job description and person specification. While we recognise that some applicants may use AI tools during the process, please be mindful that AI-generated responses can often lack the personal detail and relevance needed to demonstrate your suitability for the role. AI generated content is discouraged by the Trust and may diminish the candidates chances of success.

Amazing things happen at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust; delivered by amazing people so why don’t you come and join us.  We offer a range of learning and development for all employees may you be clinical or non-clinical.  

Please note: all vacancies automatically close when 50 applications have been received.

Job overview

We are seeking an enthusiastic and motivated Locum Consultant Ophthalmologist to join the Ophthalmology team at Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust on a 12-month fixed-term basis. This is an exciting opportunity to join a dynamic and forward-thinking department providing specialist ophthalmic services across the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Prince Charles Eye Unit, and West Berkshire Community Hospital.

 

The successful candidate will play a key role in delivering high-quality Urgent Eye Care services. The role offers a varied and rewarding job plan including urgent eye care clinics, acute primary care clinics, cataract surgery, on-call commitments, and participation in clinical governance, teaching, and service development.

 

Our Ophthalmology Department is one of the largest in the region, delivering approximately 100,000 outpatient attendances, 20,000 eye casualty attendances, and 7,000 day-case procedures annually, serving a population of around 1 million people. With modern facilities, dedicated ophthalmic theatres, advanced diagnostic equipment, and integrated digital systems, the department is well equipped to provide high-quality patient care and support service innovation.

 

This role is ideal for a consultant with strong experience in acute ophthalmology and urgent eye care, who is passionate about service development, multidisciplinary working, education, and delivering excellent patient-centred care.

Main duties of the job

The postholder will provide high-quality specialist ophthalmology care, with a focus on Ocu-plastcics across both outpatient and inpatient settings. They will be responsible for assessing, diagnosing, and managing a wide range of acute ophthalmic conditions, while contributing to the delivery of safe, effective, and compassionate care.

The role includes delivering high-volume ocuplastic surgery, participating in the ophthalmology on-call rota, and supervising junior medical staff while supporting the teaching and development of trainees, nursing staff, and allied health professionals.

 

Working for our organisation

Diversity makes us interesting… Inclusion is what will make us outstanding.

Inequality exists and the journey to eliminate it is not easy. Every step we take will be a purposeful step forward to deliver a truly inclusive culture where all our people are enabled to deliver outstanding care, where background is no barrier, and where everyone can be their authentic self and we truly represent our patient community.

We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics. Reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled applicants where possible. All applicants who have a disability and meet the minimum criteria for the post can opt for a guaranteed interview.

If you need additional help with your application please get in touch by calling the recruitment team on 0118 322 6997 or 0118 322 5342.

Our primary method of communication will be via email. However, if you would prefer to be contacted through a different method, please inform the recruitment team.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The postholder will also be expected to contribute to clinical governance, audit, and quality improvement activities, ensuring compliance with national standards and helping to identify opportunities for service development. Active participation in consultant meetings, departmental planning, and education programmes will be essential.

 

We are looking for a candidate with excellent clinical leadership, strong decision-making skills, and the ability to work effectively within a busy multidisciplinary environment. The ideal applicant will demonstrate a commitment to patient safety, service improvement, and teaching, alongside excellent communication, organisational skills, and a collaborative approach to care.

 

 

Person specification

Eductional

Essential criteria
  • OPD Experience
Desirable criteria
  • Surgical Experience

N/A

Essential criteria
  • General
  • A&E
Desirable criteria
  • Years experience
  • Relevant qualification

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyCare quality commission - GoodArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Disability confident employerStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Florence Nightingale FoundationNational Preceptorship for Nursing Quality Mark 2024

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Shreya Halder
Job title
Clinical lead Ophthalmology
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01183227169
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