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CORNEAL AND EXTERNAL DISEASES FELLOW IN OPHTHALMOLOGY
This is a replacement post based at The Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre,
Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust
(City Hospital)
Job Description
TRUST PROFILE
The Trust is one of the largest teaching Trusts in the United Kingdom with a reputation for
excellent, friendly staff who provide high quality care from City Hospital in Birmingham and
Sandwell General in West Bromwich. Both are busy acute hospitals providing many specialist
services and a broad range of emergency services, including Accident & Emergency at both sites.
In addition, the Trust provides comprehensive community services to the Sandwell area, including
from Rowley Regis Community Hospital, Leasowes Intermediate Care Centre and the Lyng Centre
for Health and Social Care.
The Trust has an income of £418 million and employs around 7000 WTE staff. It has circa 900
beds and serves a population of over 500,000
The Trust is a key partner along with the local Clinical Commissioning Group, PCTs and local
authorities in the “Right Care Right Here” programme which seeks to deliver an ambitious
redevelopment of local health services. Following a very successful public consultation,
implementation of the programme is underway with a wide range of secondary care services now
being provided via new models of care in community locations. The programme includes one of
the largest investments in the UK in new facilities in both the acute and community sectors.
Included within this is a new single site acute hospital for which business case approval is currently
being sought.
The Trust has reconfigured a number of services between its acute sites so as to ensure their
quality and sustainability. This programme of change will continue over the coming period.
Alongside this, the Trust has embarked on a 5 year Transformation Plan, designed to ensure that
the quality and safety of our services can be maintained and enhanced whilst at the same time
responding to national requirements for increased efficiency. The plan takes in all of the Trust’s
key clinical and non-clinical workstreams. In the light of its strategic, operational and financial
strength the Trust is applying to become a NHS Foundation Trust, which is expected to be
achieved by April 2014. .
The Trust is a pioneer in developing new and more effective approaches to staff engagement
through its “Listening into Action” programme which harnesses the energy and ideas of front line
staff to improve services. This is the largest programme of its kind in the NHS and has received
widespread national recognition. These techniques are also increasingly used to obtain the view of
patients and carers.
The £35m Birmingham Treatment Centre on the City Hospital site provides state of the art facilities
for one-stop diagnosis and treatment. It includes an Ambulatory Surgical Unit with six theatres,
extensive imaging facilities, an integrated breast care centre and teaching accommodation.
Corneal Fellow Job Description_04Sep2012
Corneal Fellow Job Description_04Sep2012
The £18m Emergency Services Centre on the Sandwell site incorporates a comprehensive A&E
facility, Emergency Assessment Unit and Cardiac Care Unit.
The Trust hosts the Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre which is a supra-regional specialist
facility, as well as the Pan-Birmingham Gynaecological Oncology Centre, Birmingham Skin
Centre, Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia Centre and regional base of the National Poisons
Information Service.
Aside from being one of the largest providers of patient services in the Midlands, the Trust also
has a substantial teaching and research agenda with several academic departments including
rheumatology, ophthalmology, cardiology, gynaecological oncology and neurology.
BIRMINGHAM AND MIDLAND EYE CENTRE (BMEC)
The Eye Centre (formerly the Birmingham and Midland Eye Hospital founded in 1823) has been
purpose built for ophthalmology and opened in March 1996 and is based at the City Hospital site.
The Eye Centre includes the following; Academic Unit, Accident and Emergency Department, Outpatient Suites, 4 operating theatres (including one on the Day Surgery Unit), Medical Photography
(fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography, anterior segment digital photography) Visual
Function Department (visual fields, electrodiagnostics, ultrasound, HRT and OCT), Orthoptic
Department, Refraction Service (including contact lenses, low vision aids, and dispensing
services), Artificial Eye Service, Ophthalmic Ward with 10 in-patient beds, Day Surgery Unit for
adult and paediatric patients. There are 31 substantive Consultant Ophthalmologists and two
locum appointments all of whom have a commitment at the Eye Centre. The current Clinical
Director is Mr V. Sung. Subspecialty interests represented include cornea and external eye
disease; vitreo-retinal surgery; medical ophthalmology including diabetic eye disease, macular
degeneration, retinal vein occlusion; glaucoma; uveitis; neuro-ophthalmology; oculoplastic and
orbital surgery; ocular motility; paediatric ophthalmology; retinoblastoma; genetic eye disease.
THE ACADEMIC UNIT OF OPHTHALMOLOGY
The Academic Unit of Ophthalmology is a member of the Centre for Translational Inflammation
Research, part of the School of Immunity and Infection in the College of Medical and Dental
Sciences, University of Birmingham. The Unit is based at the Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre
but the majority of laboratory work is undertaken at the new Research Laboratories at the Queen
Elizabeth Hospital.
We run a substantial ophthalmology research group comprising clinicians (Professor – Philip
Murray, Senior Lecturer – Saaeha Rauz, NIHR Clinical Lecturer, University Clinical Lecturer,
Academic Clinical Fellow), research scientists (two non-clinical Senior Lecturers – Graham
Wallace, John Curnow, and a number of post Docs), research (PhD, MSc, BMedSc) students and
research associates. We have a track record of MRC/Wellcome Trust funded PhD Clinical
Training Fellowships. There is also an Immunosuppression Nurse. Our clinical and laboratory
research studies form an important part of The Birmingham and the Black Country Comprehensive
Local Research Network (BBC CLRN) and this has made possible the employment of 2 Research
Nurses, and a Data Co-ordinator.
Major clinical and research interests are based around the theme of ‘Inflammatory Mechanisms in
the Ocular Microenvironment’. We have a long an excellent track record into research on the
regulation of ocular immunity, in particular intraocular inflammation (uveitis). We are also
investigating corticosteroid biology in the context of ocular inflammation and how this interrelates
with (a) the defence mechanisms of the cornea and intraocular tissues to combat infection and
promote healing and (b) resolution and persistence of inflammation in the ocular stromal
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Corneal Fellow Job Description_04Sep2012
microenvironment. We are also evaluating pathways that lead to autoimmune conjunctival
inflammation in conditions, such as ocular mucous membrane pemphigoid.
The Directorate of Ophthalmology
The present Consultant staff include:
1. Mr A Aralikatti
2. Miss S Rauz
3. Mr P McDonnell
4. Professor S Shah
5. Mr M Quinlan
6. Mr S P Aggarwal
7. Mr I Masood
8. Mr V Sung
9. Professor P Shah
10. Mr M Nessim
11. Mr J Al-Ibrahim
12. Mr S Elsherbiny
13. Mr S Mirza
14. Mrs B Mushtaq
15. Miss Y Stavrou
16. Miss P Lip
17. Mr B Das
18. Mr M Burdon
19. Mr A Jacks
20. Mr T Matthews
21. Mr O Durrani
22. Mr Y Ghosh
23. Miss C Sullivan
24. Mr A Murray
25. Mr D Cheung
26. Miss L Butler
27. Mr J Ainsworth
28. Professor P Murray
29. Mr R Scott
30. Mr A Sharma
31. Mr K S Lett
32. Mr A Tyagi
33. Mr A Mitra
Corneal Surgery, A&E/Primary Care
Ocular Surface & Inflammatory Eye Diseases
Corneal Surgery & External Diseases
Corneal Surgery
Cornea and anterior segment
Glaucoma
Glaucoma
Glaucoma
Glaucoma
Glaucoma, A&E/Primary Care
Medical Retina & Diabetes
Medical Retina
Medical Retina, A&E/ Primary Care
Medical Retina
Medical Retina
Medical Retina
Medical Retina (Locum)
Neuro Ophthalmology
Neuro-Ophthalmology
Neuro-Ophthalmology
Oculoplastics
Oculoplastic, A&E/Primary Care
Oculoplastics
Oculoplastics
Oculoplastics
Paediatric Ophthalmology
Paediatric Ophthalmology
Uveitis and Inflammatory Eye Diseases
Vitreo-Retinal Surgery
Vitreo Retinal Surgery
Vitreo Retinal Surgery, A&E lead
Vitreo-Retinal Surgery
Vitreo-Retinal Surgery (Locum)
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE POST
This is a replacement corneal fellow training post at the Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre
offering opportunities to gain tertiary level subspecialty and research experience. It is ideally suited
to those applicants who have previous corneal and external diseases experience preferably as an
ASTO or fellow, but wish to obtain further sub-specialty experience in a tertiary referral centre and
major teaching hospital. The corneal and external diseases service comprises of Professor Sunil
Shah, Miss Saaeha Rauz (Lead clinician/ service lead), Mr Anil Aralikatti and Mr Peter McDonnell.
The service provides care not only for the general corneal disorders presenting to the unit from the
local catchment area together with out-of-hours emergency service for almost the whole of the
West Midlands Region, it excels in providing supraregional speciality support for highly complex
corneal patients that (i) require state of the art corneal surgery, (ii) have severe immune-mediated
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Corneal Fellow Job Description_04Sep2012
ocular surface diseases, or (iii) have severe ocular infections. Imaging techniques available
include Pentacam corneal topography, specular microscopy, Visante anterior segment optical
coherence tomography, high resolution anterior segment ultrasonography and anterior segment
digital photography.
PROPOSED WORK PROGRAMME
The programme includes corneal primary care/A&E work and subspecialty clinic sessions, as well
opportunities to attend specialist Theatre. The post is whole time and non-resident.
Provisional Job Plan*
AM
PM
Monday
Miss Rauz Ocular
Surface Diseases
Clinic/ A+E cover
Tuesday
Flexible clinical session
(Patient Liaison / Ward
reviews / Theatre)
Research/ Audit/
Study
Miss Rauz
Ocular Surface
Diseases and
Immunosuppression
Clinic
Wednesday
Urgent Care
Clinic (Cornea
and Anterior
Segment) in A&E
A&E
Thursday
Professor Shah
Theatre
Friday
Mr Aralikatti
Corneal Clinic
Professor Shah
Corneal Clinic
Mr Aralikatti
Theatre
* Time table subject to change
Out of Hours Commitment
The Corneal Fellow will not participate in a regular on-call rota but may be asked to provide
accident and emergency cover as required. They will be expected to help provide out of hours
care for corneal patients.
EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
Applicants should have full registration with the General Medical Council. Evidence of research
capability is expected and possession of Part 3 MRCOphth or equivalent is essential. Certificate of
Completed Training or equivalent is desirable.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Library & Information Services
The two multi-disciplinary libraries at City and Sandwell Hospitals include a large IT section, with
access to all standard databases, together with Internet access. There are also slide and video
programmes and interactive CD ROM facilities. 24-hour access is available to all medical staff.
Research
The post holder will be encouraged to undertake research projects under the supervision of the
Academic Unit and with those Consultants whose clinic sessions they attend. Clinical and
laboratory facilities and support, including statistical advice, are provided within the Trust and at
The University of Birmingham sub-units on the City Hospital Site.
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Corneal Fellow Job Description_04Sep2012
All research undertaken should conform to the rules of Good Research Governance and all
research projects involving patients or their records (including those originating elsewhere) must
have approval from the Research Ethics Committee and Research and Development Directorate.
Teaching
The post holder is expected to coordinate and participate fully in the Regional Postgraduate
Corneal Teaching including the corneal grand rounds. The fellow is required to participate in the
education and training of medical students, trainee doctors, paramedical, nursing and other
appropriate personnel.
There are modern Education Centres on the City and Sandwell Hospital sites, which are the focal
point for teaching and training. Postgraduate clinical meetings are held in the Centre on a daily
basis.
GENERAL CONDITIONS OF SERVICE
1. The post is a Trust appointment based on the General terms and conditions of the Whitley
Council.
2. The appointment is available immediately for 6 months but may be extended for a year if
satisfactory progress.
3. Salary scale will be 35,000 per annum.
4. Annual leave entitlement for the post is five weeks per annum plus Bank Holidays. Annual
leave is granted with the approval of the Supervising Consultants and Divisional Director.
Adequate corneal cover should be arranged for the leave period. A minimum notice of 8
weeks must be given before leave is approved.
5. Study leave entitlement for the post is a maximum of seven days per annum if presenting
at meetings. This is granted with the approval of the Supervising Consultants, and
Divisional Director. A minimum notice period of 8 weeks must be given before leave is
approved. Provision for funding for expenses related to study leave may be available.
There is a half day per week of regional postgraduate training programme
http://www.westmidlandsdeanery.nhs.uk/SpecialtySchools/Ophthalmology/Postgrad
uateTrainingProgramme.aspx which the fellow may wish to attend.
6. The appointment is subject to a satisfactory Occupational Health clearance and Criminal
Records Bureau check.
7. Any candidate who is unable for personal reasons to work whole time will be eligible to be
considered for the post.
8. It is the responsibility of all medical staff to ensure that they are appropriately registered
with the General Medical Council. If registration lapses employment may be terminated.
9. All employees are expected to comply with appropriate Trust Health and Safety policies.
10. Under the Statutory Instrument 778 Health and Safety Radiation Protection of Patients,
employers have an obligation to ensure that any person clinically or physically directing
medical radiation exposures have received adequate training. It is therefore, expected that
you should submit to the Medical Staffing Department a copy of your certificate or attend
an appropriate course.
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Corneal Fellow Job Description_04Sep2012
OTHER INFORMATION:
1. Single accommodation may be available for a limited period if required. Please note that
there is an accommodation charge and the Trust is unable to supply family
accommodation.
2. The hospital offers subsidised restaurants for all staff. Cash machines are available along
the main corridor at the City Hospital.
3. A parking permit will be required and the cost for this facility is currently £100 per annum.
4. The hospital operates a non-smoking policy that does not allow smoking other than in
designated areas.
CONFIDENTIALITY:
The post holder must maintain confidentiality of information relating to patients, staff and other
Health Service business.
HEALTH AND SAFETY:
Employees must be aware of the responsibilities placed on them under the Health & Safety
at Work Act (1974) and the Manual Handling Operations Regulations (1992). This ensures
that the agreed safety procedures are carried out to maintain a safe environment for
employees, patients and visitors to the Trust.
RISK MANAGEMENT:
All staff have a responsibility to report all clinical and non-clinical accidents or incidents promptly
and, when requested, to co-operate with any investigation undertaken.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES:
The trust has a clear commitment to its equal opportunities policy and it is the duty of every
employee to comply with the detail and spirit of the policy.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST:
The Trust is responsible for ensuring that the service provided for patients in its care meets the
highest standard. Equally it is responsible for ensuring that staff do not abuse their official position
for personal gain or to benefit their family or friends. The Trust’s Standing Orders require any
officer to declare any interest, direct or indirect with contracts involving the Trust. Staff are not
allowed to further their private interests in the course of their NHS duties.
WORK PERMIT:
This job is unlikely to attract a Tier 2 certificate of sponsorship (formerly a work permit).
Applications from candidates who require Tier 2 immigration status to work in the UK may not be
considered if there are a sufficient number of other suitable candidates. To apply for a Tier 2
certificate of sponsorship, employers need to demonstrate that they are unable to recruit a
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Corneal Fellow Job Description_04Sep2012
resident worker before recruiting an individual from overseas. For further information please visit
Home Office UK Border Office.
USE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY:
To undertake duties and development related to computerised information management to meet
the changing needs and priorities of the Trust, as determined by your manager and in accordance
with the grade of the post
The above duties and responsibilities are intended to represent current priorities and are not
meant to be a conclusive list. The post holder may from time to time be asked to undertake other
reasonable duties. Any changes will be made in discussion with the post holder in the light of
service needs.
VISITS TO THE TRUST AND INFORMAL ENQUIRIES ARE WELCOMED
Applicants may contact Mrs Bhajan Kaur (0121-507-6879; Bhajan.Kaur@nhs.net) to arrange an
informal visit.
Shortlisted candidates should contact Professor Shah (0121-507-6801) and Mr Aralikatti (0121507-6718) and Miss Rauz (0121-507-6849) if they wish to discuss the post further.
To apply please access the NHS Careers Website on http://www.jobs.nhs.uk/ and apply on
line. Please ensure your complete CV is included in the further information section. Postal
applications will not be accepted.
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Corneal Fellow Job Description_04Sep2012
CORNEAL FELLOW IN OPHTHALMOLOGY
Person Specification
CRITERIA FOR SELECTION
(Justifiable as necessary for safe and
effective performance)
ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS
(A clear definition for the necessary criteria)
DESIRABLE/ADDITIONAL
REQUIREMENTS
(Where available, elements that
contribute to improved/immediate
performance in the job)
Basic Qualifications:

MBBS or equivalent
 Intercalated BMedSc or equivalent
Higher Qualifications:

Parts 3 MRCOphth, Part 2 FRCOphth (or
equivalent international qualification)
 MSc, MD, MPhil, PhD

Completed core curriculum training in
ophthalmology in the UK (or equivalent
international qualification)
 Previous advanced sub-specialty
training opportunity or fellowship in
corneal and external diseases

Previous corneal and external diseases training

Able to take a detailed medical history, carry out
a full medical examination and arrive at a
differential diagnosis

Able to manage common medical and eye
emergencies

Surgical and laser experience
Professional and Multi-disciplinary
team working:

Ability to work well with colleagues/within a team
Management and Administrative
Experience:
 Ability to organise and prioritise workload
effectively
Clinical Effectiveness:
 Experience of taking part in clinical audit
Teaching and Training experience:
 Some experience of teaching
Research Experience:

Understands principles and value of research

Participate in papers, presentations or posters

Energy and enthusiasm and the ability to work
under pressure

An enquiring and critical approach to work

Caring attitude to patients

Ability to communicate effectively with
colleagues, patients, relatives, GPs, nurses,
other staff and agencies.

Commitment to Continuing Medical Education
and Professional Development
Clinical Experience:
Personal Attributes:
Other Requirements:
 Full GMC Registration

Appropriate Immigration Status (where
appropriate)
 CCT or equivalent international
qualification

MSc, MD, MPhil, PhD
 An understanding of the current
NHS environment, particularly in
relation to reforms, initiatives and
issues.
Approved by: ..........................................…................. (name) ................…............ (date)
Clinical Director
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