Senior Clinical Fellow in OphthalmologyinBlackburninBlackburnPUBLISHED TUE 18 MAR 2025
Here, you’ll be more than just a clinician—you’ll be a vital part of a comprehensive service that caters to over 500,000 people. Our state-of-the-art facilities and welcoming work culture ensure you have the support you need, including access to office accommodation, secretarial assistance, and a personal mentor dedicated to your professional growth. By participating in clinical audits and contributing to ongoing research, you’ll not only improve our service but also shape the future of ophthalmology in our community.
In this role, you can look forward to working alongside a diverse mix of specialists, nurses, and allied health professionals who share your passion for care. We understand the importance of work-life balance, especially for women in the workforce, and our supportive team environment encourages your development while prioritising your well-being. If you're ready to take the next step in your career and make a meaningful impact, we invite you to apply today!
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.
Proposed Outline Job Plan for the post holder will include as a minimum 1 theatre session, 1 admin, 1 audit/study plus specialty/general clinics and laser sessions dependent on your level of competence and the subspecialty.
The successful applicant will be required to participate in medical and clinical audit arrangements in the Trust.
On Call Arrangements
The post holder will be required to participate in a 1 in 7 on call rota.
Administrative Arrangements
The successful applicant will have access to office accommodation and secretarial support.
The post holder will have a named Mentor within the Directorate.
Continuing Professional Development and Research
The post holder would be expected to develop and maintain a programme of continuing professional development in accordance with the recommendations of the NHS and the Royal College of Ophthalmology. The post holder would also be expected to contribute to the research output in the department, and support current ongoing projects during his/her research sessions.
Introduction & Background
The successful applicant will join a Consultant led clinical team covering all aspects of Ophthalmology services. This is a fixed term post for 24 months.
The Eye Unit provides a comprehensive Ophthalmology service with a catchment area of approximately 521,000 people.
The service encompasses of outpatient clinics (conducted at the Royal Blackburn and Burnley General Teaching Hospitals), an emergency eye service at Burnley General Teaching Hospital and a dedicated twin theatre suite based on the Burnley site. In addition, we have outreach clinics at Accrington, Rossendale and Clitheroe. The medical team includes Consultants, Associate Specialists, Specialty Doctors, Staff Grades and also trainees at ST 1 - 6 level. There is a subspecialty lead structure in place. The current medical staff is as follows:
Mr Bertie Fernando
Clinical Director (Eyelid, Lacrimal and Oculoplastics)
Mrs Rajitha Ajit
Consultant (Eyelid, Lacrimal and Oculoplastics)
Mr Hasan Usmani
Consultant (Glaucoma and cornea)
Ms Salwa Abugreen
Consultant (Medical Retina)
Mrs Mey Mohan
Consultant (Paediatrics)
Mr Chintan Sanghvi
Consultant (Diabetes and Medical Retina)
Mr Philip David
Consultant (Surgical Retina)
Mr Vikas Shankar
Consultant (Glaucoma)
About us
The medical team work closely with the nursing team and also with a range of technical, orthoptic and optometrist staff who offer support with visual field tests, OCT, photography, Glaucoma screening, follow up and other extended clinical roles.
Outpatient Department (RBH)
The outpatient department is a purpose built unit consisting of clinic rooms with state of the art computer and digital dictation equipment. There are dedicated rooms for visual field assessment, orthoptic assessment, OCT, FFA, Pascal, SLT and YAG Laser, Intravitreal injections and Minor Operations.
Clinics
A variety of general and specialist clinics take place. These include Cataract, Medical Retina, Cornea, Diabetic Eye Disease, Macular, Glaucoma, Paediatric Ophthalmology, Oculoplastics and Intravitreal injections. In addition there are Nurse led A&E, Cataract, Glaucoma and Intravitreal injection clinics.
The Unit also runs an emergency service based at Burnley General Teaching Hospital.
Surgery
The Unit performs around 4,686 operations a year of which a significant proportion are Phacoemulsification procedures, the vast majority of which are undertaken under topical anesthesia. In addition there is a well-established Vitreo-Retinal, Oculoplastic, Paediatric and Corneal Transplantation, Glaucoma and medical retina service.
There are two dedicated Ophthalmic theatres with modern microsurgical facilities, two Infinity Phacoemulsification machines and an constellation machine that was recently acquired for Vitreoretinal surgery.
The strategic aims of the Ophthalmology Department are:
- To provide up-to-date, friendly and efficient care in areas of general ophthalmology and to facilitate referral to specialist care as appropriate.
- To keep waiting times for outpatient and inpatient care within the Trust guidelines.
- To work with NICE, CCG, or local guidelines for the best provision of care within established financial boundaries
- To meet standards set out in government directives e.g. "Action on Cataracts", and to formulate and follow pathways formulated for such purpose .
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