Job summary

Working Full time: 10 Sessions per week

Applications are invited for a 12-month fixed-term Locum Consultant Ophthalmologist at the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

This post comprises 10 Programmed Activities (PAs) per week and presents an exciting opportunity for a dynamic and motivated individual to join our established team of ophthalmic professionals.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will be expected to integrate within the existing consultant team to provide a comprehensive ophthalmology service. Sub-specialty interests will be accommodated where possible, and the post holder will support the continued development of the Ophthalmology service. The successful candidate will also participate in the general consultant on-call rota.

The on-call commitment is shared with Arrowe Park Hospital and is currently 1 in 16. The post holder will also participate in the on-duty rota, which is currently 1 in 16.

You will be joining a team of 9 Consultants, 4 Specialty Doctors, 3 Specialty Trainees and 1 Trust Grade ST1/2 Doctor, supported by an established team of Ophthalmic Nurses, Optometrists and Orthoptists.

The post will be primarily based at the Countess of Chester Hospital and will include outpatient, theatre, laser and injection-list activity in accordance with the agreed job plan.

The Countess of Chester Hospital is situated in a beautiful location on the outskirts of the historic Roman City of Chester. We are within easy access of Liverpool, Manchester Airport, North Wales and the Lake District. The Trust is committed to continued professional development and to a culture of ongoing service improvement.

For further information, informal discussion or to arrange a departmental visit, please contact Mr C Parkes, Consultant Ophthalmologist and Clinical Lead.

About us

The Trust's services are provided from three locations: o The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 473 general and acute beds. o Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 60 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility. o Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population. The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust employs 5,964 staff (headcount) to provide care and treatment to a population of over 400,000 people living in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire. The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care System. Due to its location on the border with North Wales, the Trust also works closely with the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. The Trust treats patients from England and some parts of Wales. During 2024/2025, there were approximately 643,000 patient attendances (inpatient, A&E, outpatient and diagnostic) ranging from a simple outpatient appointment to major cancer surgery

Details

Date posted

27 October 2026

Pay scheme

Hospital medical and dental staff

Grade

Consultant

Salary

£113,565 to £150,569 a year pa

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

210-2026-786

Job locations

Countess of Chester hospital

Liverpool Road

Chester

CH2 1UL

United Kingdom

Job description

Job responsibilities

See Job Description for further details.

Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values. An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page.

If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the essential criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer YES to the question: Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?

Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.

The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.

If a DBS is required for your role, you are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee applies which is payable to the DBS Service.Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costswill be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.

New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.

Applicants requiring sponsorship may wish to determine the likelihood of obtaining sponsorship for this position by assessing themselves against the criteria on the gov.uk website - https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa.

The Trust will not sponsor where the starting salary does not meet immigration rules

Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.

Good luck with your application.

Job description Job responsibilities See Job Description for further details. Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values. An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page. If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the essential criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer YES to the question: Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme? Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes. The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post. If a DBS is required for your role, you are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee applies which is payable to the DBS Service.Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costswill be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment. New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above. Applicants requiring sponsorship may wish to determine the likelihood of obtaining sponsorship for this position by assessing themselves against the criteria on the gov.uk website - https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa. The Trust will not sponsor where the starting salary does not meet immigration rules Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date. Good luck with your application.

Person Specification

Qualifications & Skills

Essential

• FRCOphth or equivalent
• On Specialist Register of the General Medical Council or within six months of anticipated CCT date on the date of interview

Desirable

• MD/PhD

Clinical Experience and Effectiveness

Essential

• Experience in cataract surgery
• Participation in on-call

Teaching & Training Experience

Essential

• Experience / interest in teaching

Desirable

• Attendance at teaching skills courses

Attendance at teaching skills courses

Essential

• Demonstrable use of Clinical Audit within a Service
• Demonstrable use of research and evidence base to practice
• Understanding of importance of management skills

Desirable

• Relevant experience in undertaking and organisation of Audit
• Attendance at relevant courses

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Ability to integrate within, motivate, and provide professional leadership in a multi-disciplinary team

Person Specification Qualifications & Skills Essential FRCOphth or equivalent On Specialist Register of the General Medical Council or within six months of anticipated CCT date on the date of interview Desirable MD/PhD Clinical Experience and Effectiveness Essential Experience in cataract surgery Participation in on-call Teaching & Training Experience Essential Experience / interest in teaching Desirable Attendance at teaching skills courses Attendance at teaching skills courses Essential Demonstrable use of Clinical Audit within a Service Demonstrable use of research and evidence base to practice Understanding of importance of management skills Desirable Relevant experience in undertaking and organisation of Audit Attendance at relevant courses Personal Attributes Essential Ability to integrate within, motivate, and provide professional leadership in a multi-disciplinary team

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information 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. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Countess of Chester hospital

Liverpool Road

Chester

CH2 1UL

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.coch.nhs.uk/working-with-us.aspx (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Countess of Chester hospital

Liverpool Road

Chester

CH2 1UL

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.coch.nhs.uk/working-with-us.aspx (Opens in a new tab)