Locum Consultant in the department Ophthalmology. This is a 10PA locum appointment for a Consultant in Ophthalmology with special interests in Medical Retina and Uveitis. The post will be available from July 2026 for a period of 6 months and will be based at St James. The successful applicant should hold accreditation in MBBS (or equivalent) MRCOphth/FRCOphth or equivalent qualification from the Royal College of Ophthalmology and should be on the Specialist Register or within six months of being admitted to the Register for trainees if currently in a training programme within the UK, or have references which have been authorised by the Deputy Medical Director and Clinical Director. Applicants should have established skills in Ophthalmology, excellent communication and team working skills, and a strong commitment to teaching and service development are essential. Consideration will be given to applicants who wish to work full or part time and those wishing to job share. Prospective applicants are encouraged to visit the hospital, which can be arranged by contacting Debbie Best (Deborah.best@nhs.net).
Main duties of the job
Join one of the UK’s largest and most dynamic ophthalmology services at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust for a rewarding 6‑month locum consultant opportunity in Medical Retina and Uveitis. You will play a key role in supporting the Medical Retina and Uveitis services, helping to deliver high‑quality outpatient care, treatment clinics and multidisciplinary management for complex retinal and inflammatory eye disease. The post also contributes to maintaining efficient patient pathways and supporting service delivery during a period of service development and demand management. This is an excellent opportunity to work within a collaborative, academically active department with strong links to research, teaching and subspecialty expertise. You will join a supportive team of consultants, fellows and allied professionals committed to innovation and outstanding patient care.
About us
The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is committed to delivering the highest quality and safest treatment and care to every patient, every time. Our vision is to provide the highest quality specialist and integrated care. We will do this through delivery of our multi‑year goals and strategic priorities, which you can read about on this page. Central to it all is The Leeds Way – our values and behaviours that are at the heart of everything we do.
Job responsibilities
The successful candidate will support the delivery of specialist Medical Retina and Uveitis services within a busy tertiary ophthalmology department. The role will primarily involve running outpatient clinics, assessing and managing patients with complex retinal and inflammatory eye disease, and contributing to treatment pathways including intravitreal therapy and multidisciplinary care where appropriate. You will work as part of a large, supportive consultant team within the Leeds Ophthalmology department, alongside subspecialty colleagues in medical retina, uveitis, vitreoretinal surgery and other ophthalmic disciplines. The post holder will also work closely with specialty doctors, fellows, optometrists, specialist nurses, orthoptists and imaging teams to deliver efficient, high‑quality care. The main focus of the role will be maintaining timely patient access to specialist clinics, supporting established treatment pathways, and helping manage the clinical workload within the service. The post holder will be expected to contribute to a consistent clinic schedule, manage a high‑volume outpatient caseload typical of a tertiary referral centre, and support safe and effective patient flow through clinics and treatment services. This role would suit a consultant who enjoys collaborative working in a high‑volume specialist service, is confident managing complex retinal and inflammatory conditions, and is able to contribute flexibly to service delivery during a defined six‑month period.
What you will bring to the role
Specialist Clinical Practice The post holder will manage a wide spectrum of complex retinal and inflammatory eye diseases, including age‑related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion and complex uveitis. The role includes delivering specialist interventions such as intravitreal injections, retinal laser treatments and immunomodulatory therapy management, offering a varied and clinically rewarding workload.
Work in a Major Regional Referral Centre Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust provides tertiary‑level ophthalmology services to patients across West Yorkshire and beyond, meaning the successful candidate will be involved in the management of complex cases referred from across the region. The role also contributes to urgent pathways for sight‑threatening retinal and inflammatory conditions, working closely with acute ophthalmology services.
Collaborative Multidisciplinary Environment You will work as part of a large and supportive consultant team, alongside subspecialists in medical retina, vitreoretinal surgery, glaucoma, cornea and uveitis. The role also involves close collaboration with rheumatology, immunology, primary care and other specialties to support patients with systemic inflammatory disease affecting the eye.
Teaching and Academic Opportunities As a major teaching hospital with strong links to the University of Leeds, the department is actively involved in undergraduate and postgraduate education. The post holder will contribute to training ophthalmology trainees, fellows and other healthcare professionals, and may participate in teaching linked to the medical school.
Research and Innovation The Trust has a strong commitment to clinical research and innovation, supported by partnerships with the University of Leeds and national research programmes. Consultants are encouraged to participate in clinical trials, applied health research and innovation in ophthalmology, helping to shape future patient care.
Service Development and Quality Improvement Applicants will have opportunities to contribute to service development, clinical governance, audit and quality improvement initiatives, supporting the continuous evolution of Medical Retina and Uveitis services and improving patient pathways.
Leadership and Professional Development Consultants at the Trust are recognised as clinical leaders and are supported to contribute to areas such as education, governance, research and service improvement. New consultants joining the Trust are also supported through mentoring programmes and professional development opportunities.
Sponsorship Eligibility
To comply with UK Government regulations on Skilled Worker sponsorship, Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust is unable to provide sponsorship to applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria or the salary threshold concessions set out under the Skilled Worker visa route. Please take this into consideration before submitting your application. Full guidance on these concessions, including details of who may qualify, can be found here.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
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.
We reserve the right to close this advert early if we receive a high number of suitable applications.
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