Staff Grade in Ophthalmology

The Department of Ophthalmology is the sole provider of eye care to the population of Jersey and visitors to the Island. The department is in the process of active expansion in staff and facilities. The department is a dedicated self-contained unit.

The Medical Staff currently comprises three Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeons, Mr E Zinicola (Medical & Surgical Retina), Mr G Bowler (Oculoplastic, Adnexal & Lacrimal) and Mr A Spiteri (Cornea & Ocular Surface); Two Associate Specialists and one Staff Grade (this post).

The department has its own nursing team headed by a full time Department Manager/CNS supported by a Deputy Sister/CNS and 3 Staff Nurses, 3 Assistant Practitioners and 6 Health Care Assistants.Two senior orthoptists are responsible for orthoptic services on the Island, which includes a schoolentry screening programme as well as, uniquely, screening of all stroke in-patients for visual problems. Low Vision and paediatric refraction clinics are provided in-house by visiting optometrists.Moorefields Eye Hospital provide a visiting support for prosthetic services. The Department also has an internal AP providing ECLO services once a week.

The Outpatient Department has appropriate clerical and administrative support.

All doctors in the department have Medical Secretarial Support for typing of dictated letters and other admin support.

Main duties of the job

The postholder will work within the Eye Department and closely with other hospital divisions to provide a high quality, general and specialist ophthalmic service for the island. The postholder will be expected to be competent in out-patient management of common acute and chronic eye conditions in all areas of Ophthalmology. Use of YAG-SLT and Retinal laser treatments is essential to service. Providing cross cover for the Clinical Nurse Specialists in the administration of Intravitreal injections and post op cataract clinics is essential.

Whilst there is presently no requirement for the post holder to be on-call, the coming years will see a transformation of health and community care in Jersey. As part of this transformation, on-call arrangements for this post may potentially feature in the future. In the event of any changes, the successful applicant will be consulted with and would be remunerated accordingly.

The post holder will be expected to take part in management and audit activities and represent the service at Hospital meetings, as agreed with colleagues. The eye department holds a monthly teaching meeting and regular participation in this will be encouraged and expected. The postholder will be expected to be fully involved in a Risk Management programme and support the Governance agenda. The successful candidate should be adaptable, flexible and innovative in order to meet the ongoing challenges within the service.

Health care professionals in Jersey enjoy more autonomy and the opportunity to shape the public health service in a small island on a development journey.

Jersey is a unique place to live and work and being a Doctor in Jersey is different. As a crown dependency, we are an island nation which includes our own Health Care Service and it is a service on the move with the Enid Quenault health care facility opened in 2023 and commitment to improve and invest in further healthcare facilities including a brand-new acute hospital. Our patients and health professionals are at the centre of all we do, as a doctor you have more time to care and we give more time to you, for your development and wellbeing as well as the opportunity to carry out private patient work.

Teaching and Research

Health and Care Jersey is recognised for junior doctors and active teaching is encouraged in this role. It is expected that the post holder is participating in the training of medical staff and that the candidate will ensure that the training and learning needs are identified and facilitated. This includes educational support for the clinical fellows recruited directly to Health & Care Jersey.

Opportunities for participating in research are supported when appropriate. The Health & Care Jersey has an advantageous policy for professional leave and is supportive of external duties for the good of the wider profession.

We welcome multi centre research clinical trials if approved from a body such as NHS