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Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board

Wrexham Maelor Hospital

Clinical Fellow in Ophthalmology

June 2022

Clinical Fellow Ophthalmology

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
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Contents

1. The Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board

1.1. Background
1.2. Wrexham Maelor Hospital

2. The Post, Ophthalmology Clinical Fellow

Proposed Job Plan

2.1. The Post

2.2. The Department
2.3. The Scheduled Care Directorate & HMT
2.4. Administrative Support
2.5. Audit/CPD/CME
2.6. Proposed Job plan

3. Organisational Structure

3.1. Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health Board

3.2. Chairman / CEO / Medical Directors
3.3. Postgraduate facilities
3.4. Research

4. Summary and Further Enquiries

Clinical Fellow Ophthalmology

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
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1. The Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board

The Health Board wishes to appoint a clinical fellow doctor, to be based at Wrexham Maelor
Hospital.

1.1 Background

The Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board provides all aspects of health care for the
population of North Wales, including Primary Care, Acute Care, Community Care and Mental
Health. It covers the counties of Anglesey, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd and
Wrexham.

The Health Board employs around 18,000 staff and has a budget of around £1.3 billion. It
serves a population of 695,000 and consists of 3 major DGH’s, situated in Wrexham,
Bodelwyddan (Glan Clwyd) & Bangor. Satellite surgical units are based at Llandudno and
Abergele, and there are several Community Hospitals.

1.2 Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

The Wrexham Maelor Hospital is a medium-sized District Hospital. For most specialties it
serves a population of around 300,000. It is situated on the outskirts of the town of Wrexham
(pop 42,000), which is near the Welsh/ English border. The Hospital has around 650 beds
with 180 consultants. Most major specialities and subspecialties are available on site with
the exception of cardiac, neuro and transplantation surgery. Visiting consultants provide
outpatient services for plastic surgery, neurology, neurosurgery, oncology and specialist
paediatric services. The Maelor is the sub-regional centre for upper GI surgery for South
Cheshire, Chester and North Wales.

The primary catchment area is made of the Wrexham and Flintshire unitary authorities;
however a significant number of patients do come from North Powys, Cheshire and
Shropshire.

Wrexham is the largest town in North Wales. It is a thriving, diverse industrial and market
centre; the gateway to North Wales. Although initially built on the coal and steel industry, as
these heavy industries have gone into decline, there has been the growth of light industries
including electronics, pharmaceuticals and hi-tech manufacturing.

There is easy access to the national motorway system allowing easy communication with the
whole of the country. The major cities of Liverpool and Manchester (both with International
airports) are within an hour’s travel. The close proximity of the wilds of North Wales offers a
multitude of recreational opportunities. The surrounding countryside is exceedingly
attractive; the festival town of Llangollen, the walled city of Chester, the meres of North
Shropshire are all within 15 miles of the hospital. Further afield are the National Parks of
Snowdonia and Cader Idris, and the resorts of the North Wales Coast.

All signposts and instruction leaflets are written in both Welsh and English, and although not
essential, bilingualism in these two languages would be advantageous.

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Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
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2. The Post, Clinical Fellow in Ophthalmology and Proposed Job Plan

2.1 The Post

This full time post within the Ophthalmology Department will cover a wide range of activities.

We are looking for a dedicated candidate for the post of Clinical Fellow in Ophthalmology.
Primary objectives are to obtain high quality clinical and research experience, meeting the
increasing needs of the Ophthalmology department at the Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

You will also be expected to keep up to date with general administration.

Main duties and responsibilities

 To support the Adult Ophthalmology Service including Cataract, Glaucoma, Medical

Retina, Ocular Plastics and Paediatric services at the Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

 To participate on the first on call rota (1 in 4).

 To actively participate in research, audit and teaching.

 To undertake administrative duties associated with the care of your patients.

 To respond to queries from patients, general practitioners and colleagues.

 To assist the SDM with complaint responses, when identified within the complaint.

The job description is not intended to be exhaustive and it is likely that duties may be
altered from time to time in the light of changing circumstances and after consultation
with the post-holder.

The post-holder accepts that he/she will also perform duties in occasional
emergencies and unforeseen circumstances at the request of the Ophthalmology
Clinical Director/Lead.

Clinical Fellow (Pay dependant upon on level of experience)

Job Title Fixed term 12 months – MN37 Pay Scale

Division Surgery

Specialty Ophthalmology
Hours per week: 40

Wrexham Maelor Hospital

Location:
Ophthalmology Consultants
Responsible to
Ophthalmology Clinical Lead
Accountable to

Clinical Fellow Ophthalmology

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
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2.2 The Ophthalmology Department

Key relationships

 Consultant Ophthalmologists

 Ophthalmology Senior Sister and nursing team

 Specialist Trainees

 Specialist Optometrists

 Orthoptists

 Other Clinical Fellows

 Service Delivery Manager

 Service Manager

 PCC / secretarial team (assigned secretary)

General theatres:

There are currently 11 operating theatres accommodated in 3 theatre suites. Theatre A (4

theatres) provides for general surgery, gynaecological and urological surgery. Theatre B (5
theatres) has 4 laminar flow theatres for orthopaedic implant surgery and the Emergency
(NCEPOD) theatre. There is a new Modular unit, which accommodates ENT and
Ophthalmic surgery.

An Emergency theatre is provided 24 hours a day. There is a trauma list every afternoon
and on weekend mornings. Recovery is staffed 24 hours/day.

Working Conditions

Criteria Description
Physical Patient examination frequently requires working in uncomfortable
working positions e.g. leaning forward, kneeling, squatting whilst
maintaining an awkward posture (especially with babies in buggies,
persons in wheelchairs) whilst manipulating clinical equipment with
both hands.
Manual Handling is regularly required, e.g. movement of patients
(from wheelchairs to examination chairs), movement of equipment,
visual field machines and moving wheelchairs.
Emotional Frequently patients and their carers/relatives can be emotional and
distressed. In these situations the orthoptist a high level of mental
effort is required to deal with the emotional situation but at the same
time remain focussed on performing an accurate orthoptic
assessment.
Working Working conditions may be unpleasant with exposure to fleas, lice,
Conditions HIV, MRSA, colds & coughs, childhood illnesses (such as chickenpox

Clinical Fellow Ophthalmology

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
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and measles) and body fluids

Mental It is necessary to maintain concentration despite regular interruptions
during the clinical sessions. These include – clinical enquiries from
other colleagues, disruptive behaviour from patients &or their
relatives, telephone calls and assisting or advising a colleague in an
emergency situation.

2.3 The Scheduled Care Directorate & Hospital Management Team

A Clinical Director and Directorate Manager, supported by Specialty Clinical Leads, run the
Scheduled Care Directorate. Within this directorate, there are a number of specialities.

2.4 Administrative Support

There is currently 6 secretaries supporting the doctors within the department including
receptionists and booking clerks.

2.5 Medical Audit/CME/CPD

The post-holder will be expected to participate in the Clinical Governance and mandatory
training sessions. There will be encouragement and support to maintain CPD/CME
activities. Appraisal and Revalidation are computer based and training will be provided in
the use of these web based programmes. An annual appraisal is expected as part of the
Revalidation process.

2.6 Proposed Job Plan will be agreed with the successful applicant

Provisional Timetable: Clinical Fellow - Ophthalmology

MON TUES WED THUR FRI

AM
Session

PM
Session

Person Specification

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Essential Desirable

GMC registration and Higher degree or Ophthalmology fellowship

Qualification
ophthalmology experience
and knowledge
Good Clinical Practice (GCP) training

Previous participation in clinical trials

Working in a busy Eye department Prior research experience
Experience / on-call rotation Publications in peer reviewed journals
Experience with management of ocular
trauma (surgical) and acute emergencies

Working in multidisciplinary teams

Training junior doctors and allied
healthcare professionals
Skills Clinical governance including
audit
Communication
IT Skills

Record Clear legible clinical record Experience with using paperless electronic
keeping keeping patient records

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Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
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3. Organisational Structure

3.1 Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health Board (BCUHB)

Health services in North Wales are managed by the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health
Board. This is led by the Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer supported by Executive
and Non-Executive Directors including the Executive Medical Director, Chief Operating
Officer and Secondary Care Services Director.

Each hospital site is run by a Medical Director, Site Manager and Lead Nurse. Budgetary
responsibility is held at this level. Clinical Directors and Clinical Leads for individual
departments are accountable to the Site Management team.

3.2 Chairman / Chief Executive / Medical Directors / Site Management Team

Chairman

Mr Peter Higson

Chief Executive

Mrs Jo Whitehead

Medical Directors

Executive Medical Director (BCUHB) Prof Arpan Guha

Medical Director (Wrexham) Dr Steve Stanaway
Medical Director (Glan Clwyd) Dr Emma Hosking
Medical Director (Bangor) Dr Karen Mottart
Medical Director Secondary Care Dr Kate Clarke

Site Management Team

Site Manager Mr Ian Donelly

Director of Nursing Mrs Gill Harris

Clinical Director Secondary Care Mr Andrew Baker

Scheduled Care Manager Ms Keeley Twigg

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Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
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3.3 Postgraduate facilities

The Wrexham Medical Institute is the hospital’s Postgraduate centre. It is adjacent to the
hospital and attracts considerable inward investment. It is a joint venture between the
Organisation, the Health Authority and Glyndwr University. The centre is equipped with state
of the art technological support. There is a 126-seat lecture theatre and 7 seminar rooms.
The library has first class facilities, including an evidence room and two fully equipped
computer rooms. There are three librarians. Other facilities within the postgraduate centre
include a pathology museum.

The Organisation has excellent training facilities including a skills laboratory in the Medical
Institute and a Clinical Training Unit, complete with simulation suite on the north side of the
campus. The Organisation hosts a number of key courses including the North Wales Basic
Surgical Skills Course, ATLS and other life support courses.

3.4 Research

Research and audit flourish in the Organisation. They are supported by a full-time Audit /
Research Officer based at the Wrexham Medical Institute. Each directorate has its own audit
resources, and research grants and statistical support are available to aid with project
management. Plans are in place for the development of a Clinical Research Department.

Clinical Fellow Ophthalmology

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
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4. Summary and further enquiries

The contract for the post will be as per the Welsh Consultant Contract, National Terms and
Conditions of Service of Hospital Medical and Dental Staff and the General Whitley Council
Conditions of Service.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health Board is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health Board is a non-smoking site which covers all
buildings and grounds including residences.

Applicants are welcome to visit Wrexham Maelor Hospital and meet the Clinical Director,
Clinical Lead and other Consultant staff.

For further information or to arrange an informal visit to the Department, please contact:

Mrs Mandy Thomas Speciality Manager Ophthalmology

Can be contacted via:

Miss Emma Hughes Lead Rota Coordinator

Tel. 03000 857911
Emma.Hughes3@wales.nhs.uk

Clinical Fellow Ophthalmology

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board