Ophthalmology Healthcare Assistant

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

The closing date is 25 February 2026

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a motivated Band 3 healthcare assistant to join the highly skilled Ophthalmic Surgical Team. This will be a full‑time, 37.5 hour vacancy, working in The Ophthalmic Surgical Unit and Medical Retina Unit, for a fixed term of 12 months. Working hours include Monday‑Friday, 7.30 am‑7 pm, over a 4‑5 day period.

The Unit provides sight‑saving treatment for people across Lancashire/Cumbria and beyond using state‑of‑the‑art facilities designed with high‑quality patient‑focused care at the forefront.

The Ophthalmic surgical unit is a specialised department which integrates The Medical Retina Unit, macular service, two theatres, a recovery area and an ophthalmic day surgery ward offering a number of clinical settings within the unit.

The post holder will be working as a band 3 healthcare assistant within a highly specialised Ophthalmology Surgery and Clinic setting. This role involves admitting and preparing patients for Ophthalmic procedures, assessing visual acuity, preparing patients for fluorescein angiogram. There will be a requirement to continually adapt with the service as work within a nurse‑led services which includes intravitreal injecting.

You would be involved in preparing patients for procedures such as:

• Retinal detachments (PPV)
• Plastic surgery
• Biopsies
• Emergency and trauma surgery
• Due to restructuring within the unit in an attempt to grow our expanding service we require a passionate and positive individual who have pride in their work. The ideal candidate would receive full on the job training in a supportive environment with a team that values you. We also offer:
• A structured mentorship programme, supportive of individuals learning strategies and needs
• Encouragement for staff to take on projects to take the department forward, where each contribution is valued.

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is ideally situated just a forty‑five minute drive from Manchester. The Trust provides services to the 440,000 residents of Blackpool, Fylde & Wyre and North Lancashire, as well as specialist tertiary care for Cardiac and Haematology patients.

As one of the United Kingdom's largest coastal resorts, Blackpool has plenty to offer its residents – it's not just a good place to work; it's a great place to live. In addition to its bustling centre and historic seafront, the town is world famous for its many attractions, including the famous Blackpool Tower. Blackpool also offers a number of scenic cycling routes round our local parks and across the surrounding countryside, as well as boasting panoramic views of the coast on its picturesque Promenade.

Further afield, Blackpool also benefits from less than three‑hour connections via rail to Edinburgh in the north and London in the south.

To assist all members of the multi‑disciplinary team to meet individual patient needs, maintaining a safe environment, delivering high standards of care within the Ophthalmic Surgical Unit. Participate in the delivery of planned care, applying and evaluating advanced clinical skills as delegated by a registered nurse. Preparing a patient for theatre, initiating the WHO process and administering anaesthetic eye drops prior to the procedure.

To work collaboratively and co‑operatively with others to meet the needs of the patients and their families.

• Working towards NVQ level 3
• Cannulation competence

• Experience as a Health Care Assistant
• Experience of Wound Care
• Care Certificate

• Basic I.T skills
• Ability to communicate in a variety of settings with patients of varying levels of understanding.
• Ability to present information and refer questions to others where appropriate.
• Experience using Maxims PAS
• Ability to use own initiative and ability to prioirtise

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.

Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust