Ophthalmology
If Ophthalmology is your passion, the East Midlands is a great place to train. Offering superb facilities, a popular and well-structured training programme and a range of academic opportunities you'll develop your career under the supervision of some nationally regarded experts.
The East Midlands also offers a great work/life balance. With geographically convenient rotations, affordable house prices and superb transport links you'll be based in one of the UK's most vibrant and thriving regions.
Keep reading to learn more about Ophthalmology training in the East Midlands.
A well structured programme, highly rated by trainees
The popular Ophthalmology training programme in the East Midlands is highly rated by trainees. Weekly sessions are arranged a year in advance and four to six Regional Training Days mean you not only benefit from focused teaching but also from the opportunity to get to know your peers. Quarterly guest speakers also help you to develop your knowledge and skills.
"I have had excellent training to date in the East Midlands. I started my training at the district hospitals where I had great surgical exposure to cataract surgery and have now moved on to the teaching hospital where I am gaining experience in more complex ophthalmic cases and surgeries. There is a good regional teaching programme as part of the training scheme and plenty of opportunities to be had" - Alex Brent, Trainee
You'll benefit from specific neuro-radiology teaching with input from neuro-ophthalmology and oculoplastics as well as electrophysiology case presentations. Wet labs are held three times a year in glaucoma, cornea and oculoplastics and the region also boasts College approved TSC’s in oculoplastics, paediatric and neuro-ophthalmology, medical retina and uveitis, glaucoma, cornea and vitreo-retinal surgery. This means that you will have the opportunity for subspecialty training in your chosen subspecialty in the final year of training.
You'll also benefit from excellent opportunities for research especially in neuro-ophthalmology. Leicester Royal Infirmary is linked to the University of Leicester - one of the UK's top 25 universities - and there are openings both for an Academic Clinical Fellow at ST1 level and Academic Clinical Lecturer at ST3 level. Several trainees in the past ten years have also been on an 'out of programme' experience in order to complete a PhD.
High quality facilities help you to develop your career
Your training programme is organised so that you spend the first three years rotating through the district general hospitals where you will get exposure, training and experience in the major subspecialties. Rotations are designed to be as convenient as possible and the unique geography of the region means that you won't face a lengthy commute or the prospect of moving home.
When you join the Ophthalmology training programme in the East Midlands you'll benefit from facilities including a cataract simulator prior to and during cataract surgical training. The region also boasts a very well equipped simulation centre which offers clinical scenario simulation in addition to surgical simulation.
Cataract surgical training is one of the strengths of the region and Lincoln County Hospital is the flagship hospital for cataract surgical training. In recent years, it is not unusual for ST1 trainees to have completed in excess of 80 complete cataract operations at the end of their first year.
The East Midlands is a vibrant, thriving region
With major cities including Derby, Nottingham, Leicester and Lincoln the East Midlands is one of the country's most vibrant regions. London and Birmingham are around an hour away by train and a superb road and rail network mean reaching the rest of the UK is easy.
"...A great place to live as it is in the middle of England and other major cities are easily reachable by train or road. Furthermore, the furthest district hospital in the rotation only takes about an hour to reach by car and this means that you do not have to relocate your home frequently. I would strongly recommend the East Midlands as your choice to pursue your Ophthalmology training" - Ch'ng Soon, Trainee
Nottingham has a thriving music scene and a large student population while Leicester hosts the UK's oldest comedy festival and the biggest Diwali celebrations outside India. Derby is the gateway to the Peak District and if you like the outdoors you can also enjoy Sherwood Forest, Rutland Water and the Lincolnshire coast.
For more information, email one of our Training Programme Directors:
Ophthalmology South Mr Somnath Banerjee - somnath.banerjee@uhl-tr.nhs.uk
Ophthalmology North Mr Pankaj Puri - pankaj.puri@nhs.net