London Vet Specialists originated as a boutique small animal referral centre in Belsize Park, North London and in May 2024, relocated to a new state-of-the-art site in Hammersmith, West London. The hospital boasts an incredible location on the banks of the river Thames, nestled within the bustling and thriving Hammersmith & Fulham neighbourhood, at close proximity to Heathrow Airport and everything the city has to offer. We now have a complete compliment of specialist-led services, including orthopaedic and soft-tissue surgery, internal medicine, ophthalmology, anaesthesia & analgesia, cardiology, dermatology, diagnostic imaging, neurology & emergency and critical care.
Linnaeus is a forward-thinking partnership of highly respected primary care and referral veterinary practices across the UK and Ireland, comprising some of the best clinicians in the profession. Linnaeus invest in quality practices who put patient care at the heart of everything they do. Together we provide a growing community of like-minded veterinary professionals who are passionate about what they do
London Vet Specialists (LVS) are currently recruiting for a board-certified or board eligible (ECVO, ACVO or ANZCVS residency-trained) veterinarian in Ophthalmology to join our multi-disciplinary team, including our Head of Ophthalmology Dr Vim Kumaratunga.
Why join LVS?
- Stunning new hospital (2024): London Vet Specialists recently relocated to our purpose-built, state-of-the-art referral hospital in Hammersmith. Designed with both patients and staff in mind, it offers a bright, modern and spacious environment that supports clinical excellence and staff wellbeing.
- Multi-disciplinary expertise: You’ll be part of a collaborative team of specialists covering Anaesthesia, Cardiology, Dermatology, Diagnostic Imaging, Internal Medicine, Neurology, Oncology, Ophthalmology, Orthopaedics, Soft Tissue Surgery, and Emergency & Critical Care – ensuring you can provide the very best care for your patients with input from across disciplines.
- Advanced facilities & equipment: We are committed to delivering cutting-edge veterinary medicine. Our investment includes a Philips BlueSeal 1.5T MRI (helium-free system to support sustainability), Siemens 64-slice CT, Samsung RS-85 ultrasound, digital radiography, C-arm fluoroscopy, and Karl Storz endoscopy and bronchoscopy systems – giving you the tools to deliver world-class care. Ophthalmology specific on-site equipment include a Zeiss Visu 210/S88 operating microscope, a Bausch & Lomb Stellaris Elite phacoemulsification machine, OcuScience HMsERG Vet system, Keeler Cryomatic MK II console, Sterex SX-B Blend epilator/electrolysis unit, shared access to a Peschke PXL VELVET cross-linking unit and diode endolaser unit (both at a sister hospital).
- Dedicated ophthalmology-focussed Veterinary Nurse and Patient Care Assistant, with rotating interns regularly passing through the Ophthalmology Service to offer support and assistance
- Dedicated, separate, fully (and individually) equipped, canine and feline ophthalmology consult rooms (including a microscope for consult-side cytology)
- Our hospital sits in the heart of Hammersmith & Fulham, just steps from the River Thames with excellent transport links across London and to international airports and train stations, it’s a vibrant and convenient place to work.
- LVS is still growing and developing – meaning you’ll have the chance to play a key role in shaping services, influencing hospital culture, and helping define what outstanding specialist care looks like for patients and clients.
Benefits:
- 5 weeks annual leave + bank holidays on a pro-rata basis *
- Additional paid day off to celebrate your birthday
- Enhanced equal family leave
- Enhanced sickness policy
- RCVS & VDS fees paid
- Remuneration for specialty college fees
- CPD allowance
- Extensive learning and development programmes
- Progression opportunities
- Staff discount schemes
- Discounts with Pet Plan
- Recruitment reward scheme
- Wellness package, including;
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
- Gym membership discount
- Cycle2Work scheme
- Eye care vouchers
- Flu vaccine voucher
*Pro-rata for part-time associate
The ophthalmology out-of-hours (OOH) rota will be a 1:6 weekend cover, shared between LVS and our sister Linnaeus hospital North Downs Specialist Referrals’ Ophthalmology Service (four ophthalmologists at NDSR), for pre-existing LVS and NDSR cases and ophthalmology inpatients. New emergency ophthalmic cases are not seen OOH. All ophthalmologists on this shared OOH rota will also have to work 1-2 UK/ English bank holidays (of 8 in total) per year. Any potential candidate will have to hold/be eligible to hold a full UK driving license, in order to meet the OOH requirements.
Any further training, lecturing or research commitments will be actively encouraged and supported. The LVS Ophthalmology Service is busy, with a broad and interesting case load. Although a more experienced candidate will be preferred, there will be structured support provided for board-eligible candidates to help prepare for the board exams. There is also potential to be involved with some academic teaching and external zoo/wildlife/exotics species ophthalmology work (but no obligation to do so), if the candidate has an interest in these areas.
Please do not hesitate to contact Dr Vim Kumaratunga, directly, with any further questions specific to the LVS Ophthalmology Service: vim.kumaratunga@londonvetspecialists.vet
If you would like to apply for this role, please visit: https://www.linnaeusgroup.co.uk/careers/vacancies/ophthalmology-specialist
Or for more information, please feel free to reach out directly to Sian Emery, Talent Acquisition Partner at sian.emery@linnaeusgroup.co.uk
