Consultant Ophthalmologist (Cataract Surgery Immersive Training Programme)

About NHS Scotland Academy

The NHS Scotland Academy is a partnership between NHS Golden Jubilee and NHS Education for Scotland funded by Scottish Government to offer accelerated training for a wide range of health and social care roles and professions. The Academy provides an opportunity for staff to improve their skills in specific areas, using mixed methods including immersion, simulation, and distance learning. It offers attractive training programmes linked to recruitment and career progression.

The Academy draws on the strengths of both parent organisations. It uses the state-of-the-art clinical, simulation facilities at NHS Golden Jubilee, and the educational expertise and technology-enabled learning offered by NHS Education for Scotland.

The Academy supports NHS Scotland to develop additional capacity and new capabilities. It adds to existing educational programmes and responds to evolving and emerging workforce needs. Since our launch in October 2021, we have established many successful training programmes including those offering immersive training experiences for residents and consultants in endoscopy and ultrasound.

As part of this partnership, the successful applicants will be employed by a host Board through a Service Level Agreement with their own board, or via a locum or bank contract with a host Board directly.

About The Cataract Surgery Immersive Training Programme

NHS Scotland Academy exists to deliver unique workforce learning opportunities on behalf of NHS Scotland. Funding has been made available to a number of Boards for increased activity to help reduce waiting times for cataract surgery, and, in parallel, NHS Scotland Academy has been funded to increase the number of immersive training opportunities for resident doctors and / or SAS doctors who are working towards the RCOpth EPA in running an independent cataract list.

The training programme is based on the positive feedback from residents and requests to expand an existing immersive programme in NHS GJUNH, as we work towards more immersive training opportunities being available throughout NHS Scotland.

Placements will be for six-months, with new placements each February and August. Each week residents will have at least 5 immersive cataract theatre sessions : when deemed competent by the trainer, resident doctors in training will operate independently with trainer working in adjacent theatre. In addition resident doctors will have clinic sessions which will be independent with support available, and RSTAC time (Research, study, teaching, audit and curriculum), including non-technical skills and change management. By the end of a six-month placement, residents will have achieved the competencies for their EPA in running an independent cataract list and will return to their home boards with this ability.

Job Role- See Job Description For Each Host Board

To deliver this programme, we are recruiting faculty who are experienced in delivering cataract surgical lists of a minimum of 8 cataracts per list, and with experience of and enthusiasm for training. The faculty will work within a Jack and Jill theatre set-up, supervising a trainee in one theatre and running a list in the other. Faculty will be appointed on a sessional basis within a National Treatment Centre in either Clydebank or Inverness – please let us know which base you prefer in your application.

Working with their host Board and as part the NHS Scotland Academy team, the post holders will contribute to providing expert training in cataract surgery and will accelerate skill acquisition of trainees, enabling them to safely run independent cataract surgery lists earlier.

Clinical governance for these roles sits within the Board where the activity takes place, and educational governance sits within NES, via NHS Scotland Academy. Reporting lines will be through the appropriate Clinical Director in each host Board.

Key Purpose and Tasks

The purpose of these roles is to support resident doctors in training to accelerate their skill acquisition and attainment of the competencies required for their EPA in running an independent cataract list.

• Commitment to delivery of cataract immersion training lists and training courses to RCOpth standards
• Fulfil clinical governance requirements by participation as full members of the Ophthalmology team in the host Board
• Support Training Programme Directors and Clinical Directors in the development and sustained delivery of cataract surgery training
• Commitment to maintaining personal cataract surgery knowledge and skills
• Assist in course planning and scheduling, development of course material
• Assist with appropriate patient selection for training opportunities
• Ensure clinical governance for the cataract procedures undertaken during training provision
• Involvement with ongoing audit and quality improvement activity related to cataracts and training

We are looking for faculty members to commit to a minimum of six months but ideally longer, in six-month blocks, from either February or August 2026. This is to ensure residents get their full placement. Flexible PA sessions are available within 6 month blocks.

If you would like to arrange to visit the eye centre please contact Caroline Handley by email to : [HIDDEN TEXT]

Interviews for this post will take place in January 2026.

NHS Golden Jubilee is open to considering flexible working options for this role.

This vacancy may close early if a high volume of applications is received so please apply early to avoid disappointment.

As a disability confident leader we are committed to ensuring our recruitment processes are inclusive and accessible to all. If you have a disability or long-term health condition covered by the Equality Act 2010 and need support for any stage of the recruitment process please refer to the job pack for more information.

NHS Golden Jubilee encourages applications from all sections of the community. We promote a culture of inclusion across the organisation and are proud of the diverse workforce we have.

Details on how to contact the Recruitment Service can be found within the Job Pack

Skills Required

Training, Ophthalmology, Quality Improvement, clinical governance , cataract surgery