Observership Programme

Moorfields Eye Hospital welcomes ophthalmology healthcare professionals from around the world to observe and learn from our world-leading consultants.

Please be informed that in order to apply for an observership, you must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 (i.e. received both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine). The second Covid-19 vaccination must be at least two weeks prior to the start of your observership.

Moorfields UK

Visiting ophthalmologists will have the opportunity to observe Moorfields' consultants in action, examine patients with slit lamps and ophthalmoscopes, and attend surgical operations.

Observerships are available for a minimum of one week and a maximum of four weeks. Due to the high level of demand for our observerships, it is not possible to observe for longer than four weeks.

We offer the chance to focus your observership on a particular service or to undertake a 'mixed' observership, where sessions are timetabled across a range of services. Please note that an obervership which is focused on one service may still include a number of sessions in other services, due to timetabling constraints. Please discuss your preferences with our team at the point of booking. A timetable will be sent to you before your observership commences. Changes to your timetable after your observership has begun may not be possible.

Moorfields Dubai New!

Our Dubai location offers a bespoke service, tailoring the observership to one or more areas of interest and offering dates throughout the year. Observerships can be arranged for a minimum of one week. Discounted rates apply for additional weeks. Please contact Education@moorfields.ae for more information and let us create the perfect observership experience for you.

Students and Foundation Doctors

We offer a medical electives programme for international undergraduate medical students and those from other UK Medical Schools who have completed a minuimum of 3 years of a medical degree programme. Foundation Doctors are also welcome to spend a week on this programme. For more information please click here.

Fees

Moorfields charges a fee of £500 per week (Monday to Friday) for a clinical observership. An observership comprises at least 8 timetabled sessions (morning or afternoon) per week. Teaching sessions may also be included. The full fee is payable in advance.

Please note that the fee does not include food, accommodation or any other expenses.

Applications

Applications should be made by email to Moorfields.Observers@nhs.net stating your preferred dates (flexibility is highly advantageous) and the service(s) that you would like to observe. You will need to submit:

• Your current CV
• A letter of recommendation from your hospital or institution
• Proof of your Covid-19 vaccination status.
• A copy of your current passport

It is your responsibility to submit these documents to us and no observership will be arranged without them. It also your responsibilty to apply for a visa if required by Home Ofice regulations for your visit. You will be required to submit a copy of your visa once received. Please ensure you allow sufficient time as the processing time for UK visas remains longer than usual.

For those with SOE/EBO grants please also send a copy of the SOE/EBO grant acceptance letter.

Please note that places on our observerships are limited and prority is given to applications from trainee and qualified ophthalmolgists. Observerships cannot always be confirmed immediately. You may be placed on a waiting list and, unfortunately, you may not be successful if we already have a high number of applications for the dates or service(s) requested.

If you are accepted onto our observership programme, you will need to make payment in full and sign and return a memorandum of agreement prior to attending the hospital.

Cancellations and refunds

We operate a strict policy regarding cancellations and refunds. Cancellations must be made by email and will not be accepted by any other means. Please note that receipt of notification of cancellation will be confirmed. If you do not receive confirmation of cancellation, please try to contact us again. No refund will be made for non-attendance of an observership without prior notice of cancellation. Please refer to our booking terms and condtions for further information.

For further support, please send an email to Moorfields.Observers@nhs.net.

To find out more about the services within which you can observe please click the categories displayed below.