Job overview

Deputy Head Orthoptist

Department: Orthoptic

Band  7: £49,387 - £56,515 per annum pro rata 

Hours: 32  per week , all MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working

The opportunity is for an experienced Orthoptist to take on a key leadership role within a busy  Orthoptic service. As Deputy Head Orthoptist, you will support the Head Orthoptist in the operational management, service development, clinical governance and education of the Orthoptic team. You will combine  clinical practice with leadership responsibilities, contributing to high quality, patient centred care across a range of ophthalmic subspecialties while helping the service respond to  demand.

You are a highly skilled and experienced Orthoptist with advanced theoretical knowledge and well developed clinical expertise. You are able to independently assess, diagnose and manage complex Orthoptic conditions and provide clinical leadership and support to colleagues. You have experience of service development, supervision, and supporting education and training, and you are motivated to contribute positively to team development and service improvement.

The  Department is based in the Community Diagnostic Centre in the city centre,  five minutes away from the hospital site. The department includes dedicated orthoptic rooms, consulting rooms, optometry rooms, treatment rooms and a theatre. Supporting a wide range of ophthalmic services within a modern and well equipped environment. 

Interview date:19 August 2026

Main duties of the job

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To take the lead and manage the operational element of the Orthoptic service.
 To deputise for the Head Orthoptist in their absence for other managerial elements of the service.
To provide clinical and professional leadership to the Orthoptic service, deputising for the Head Orthoptist when necessary.
To provide Orthoptic services as an autonomous practitioner, working within professional guidelines and policies, to provide a comprehensive and competent Orthoptic service to both paediatric and adult patients within the hospital and other locations as required.
To provide assessment, diagnosis, management and treatment of patients presenting with a wide range of ophthalmic and ocular motility disorders.
Undertake one or more specialised Orthoptic clinic roles such as Stroke, Orthoptic screening lead, intravitreal injections, ECLO, biometry clinics and assessment of children with additional needs (special educational needs/ visual impairment/ specific learning difficulties)
To independently assess and manage complex neurological patients, referring on to the Consultant Ophthalmologist as required.
Participate in departmental education programme, including the training of Orthoptic undergraduate students, pre-registration Optometrists, junior doctors, Health Visitors, School Nurses and others.

Working for our organisation

Milton Keynes University Hospital, in proud partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital committed to advancing patient care through cutting-edge research and education. With a “Good” rating from the CQC and significant investment underway, this is an exciting time to join our team and grow your career.

As a medium sized general hospital, we provide a full range of general medical and surgical services, including a busy Emergency Department, Maternity, and Paediatrics. As the population of our city and surrounding areas continues to grow rapidly, we are expanding and enhancing our facilities to meet rising demand and improve access to care for all our communities.

We are also proud to offer a growing portfolio of specialist services. In January 2025 we opened our state-of-the-art Radiotherapy Centre, bringing advanced cancer treatment closer to home. Our services also include neonatology, specialist surgical care, and a wide range of diagnostics, supported by the new Community Diagnostic Centre at Whitehouse Health Centre.

Further investment is underway, including the construction of Oak Wards – a new ward block featuring two 24-bed wards – and the recently approved Women and Children’s Centre, set to open by 2030.

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