IAN SIMMONS

Ian Simmons first trained as a veterinary surgeon and qualified from the University of Liverpool in 1985. He developed an interest in veterinary ophthalmology and I decided to go back and re-train to be a doctor with a view to becoming an ophthalmologist.

He did his medical training in Manchester between 1985 and 1990, and then worked as a Lecturer at the University of Manchester in the anatomy department before starting his basic surgical training in ophthalmology at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital.

Ian then moved to Yorkshire for his higher surgical training on the Yorkshire Ophthalmology rotation, and spent 1999 doing a paediatric ophthalmology fellowship split between the hospital for sick children in Toronto and the Paediatric Eye Departments at Leeds General Infirmary and St. James University Hospital. During this year Ian specialised in paediatric ophthalmic oncology looking at the tumours that effect children’s eyes and also the eye problems children have when they have brain tumours.

Ian's first consultant job was in Wakefield working in Clayton Eye Centre and in June 2001moved to Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust as a Consultant where he has been ever since. 

Ian Simmon's is the lead clinician for children’s eye services in Leeds and in 2003 became the Clinical Director of the entire ophthalmology service. 

Ian has been active in trying to encourage more people to donate their eyes for corneal transplantation and has written a number of articles for the medical and general press:

Yorkshire Post
The Times
Optometry CPD net lecture
Leeds TH
British Medical Journal

Ian is very active in research and has been investigating the genetic basis for strabismus (squints) and recently co-authored two presentations at the Association for Research and Vision in Ophthalmology Congress over in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Ian is the ophthalmology advisor for the UK Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group involved in the low-grade glioma trial which is a multi-centre international trial looking at the treatment for this type of brain tumour.

With Dr Susan Picton, a Consultant in Paediatric Neuro-oncology at St. James, Ian Simmon's visited Uganda to set up a chemotherapy treatment option for children with retinoblastoma (a severe tumour of the eye). Ian climbed
Mt Kilimanjaro with his daughter in July 2009, to raise money for his work. 

Ian's secretary is Tracey Horne and she can be contacted by email: tracey.horne@spirehealthcare.com

NHS job

• Lead for paediatric eye services and adult motility(squint)
• Paediatric and adult neuro-ophthalmology
• Clinical lead for diabetic retinal screening
• Outreach clinics at Rutland Lodge and Robin Lane Surgery
• Clinical director of ophthalmology in Leeds

Private practice

Medico Legal Practice

Mr Simmons has been involved in medico legal work since 2000. Approximately 70% of his work concerns personal injury cases, particularly those involving multiply injured patients of the medical negligence work he performs, 75% is on behalf of the Claimant and 25% on behalf of the Defendant.

Mr Simmons regularly takes part in telephone conferences and meetings with Counsel. He has been to Court in a number of occasions, mainly in conjunction with children who have suffered non-accidental injury. He has been involved in two General Medical Council Fitness to Practice hearings.

For further information and a copy of Mr Simmons’ medico legal Curriculum Vitae and 2009 Terms, please contact his secretary, Tracey Horne. Her details and contact arrangements can be found on the “contact us” page.

Charity work

• Working with children with retinoblastoma (eye cancer) in Uganda
• On the board of Yorkshire Eye Research (reg charity)

Academic and teaching work

• Regional training advisor for ophthalmology in Yorkshire
• Examiner for the Royal College of Ophthalmologists

Outside interests:      

• Soul music -I was the singer in the Soul Surgeons band for over eleven years.  Currently our band is on a break as various members pursue solo careers (“I think that’s how the media put it!”)  and I am looking to start a new band in the Harrogate area where we live - go to the Harrogate Beer Festival website.
  
• Tennis - I enjoy playing tennis and playing occasional very poor rounds of golf.