His NHS practice is with Border Health Alliance, a new organisation offering NHS cataract treatments for the local population, as well as at Hereford County Hospital.
Simon initially trained in medicine at Jesus College, Cambridge, where he graduated with a ‘Triple First’ Class Degree in 1994, having won two Cambridge Scholarships and Jesus College Cambridge’s Keller prize for academic excellence. He then moved to Magdalen College, Oxford, to complete his clinical training, graduating in 1997. While at Oxford, he won the prestigious Patrick Mallam Memorial prize for Clinical Medicine.
He initially trained in general internal medicine, achieving Membership of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP) in 2000, before training in ophthalmology. He won the Elizabeth Hunt medal for the highest mark in the Membership of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists Part II Examination in 2003-4, and later the Pfizer Ophthalmic Fellowship Award in 2007, supporting his subspecialist training in Australia in 2008. In addition to comprehensive training in cataract surgery and general ophthalmology, he undertook two Fellowships in oculoplastic, orbital and lacrimal surgery, in both Adelaide, Australia and Plymouth, UK. His qualifications are MA (Cantab.) BM BCh (Oxon.) MRCP FRCOphth.
He continues to help train the next generation of cataract & eye specialists and has been nominated as the West Midlands’ Star Trainer in eye surgery on several occasions. Simon is an examiner for the Royal College of Surgeons of Glasgow, a role which sees him travel to far-flung parts of the world to ensure that international eye surgery standards stay high.
A full, in-person cataract consultation with Simon & his team at The Wye Clinic typically takes around an hour, with multiple laser scans and high-tech measurements allowing clear advice about how best to proceed with your cataract. The extreme level of scan accuracy and precision – coupled with intraoperative image-guidance technology – allows the safe use of premium lenses, where desired. When used, such lenses can greatly reduce your need for spectacles after surgery, in many cases giving patients the best vision that they have ever had.
His work in research & development has won many national prizes, including at the Royal College of Ophthalmologists annual congress, the United Kingdom & Ireland Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons, the British Oculoplastic Surgery Society and the Royal College of Surgeons. In addition to establishing Hereford Vision Surgical Group and The Wye Clinic, he is also a founding director and co-owner of Border Health Alliance.
A cataract procedure is possibly the most important procedure that you will ever have, restoring your vision and typically reducing your dependence on spectacles. Surgery needs to be done to a high standard – with great attention to detail – and there are multiple pitfalls to avoid along the way. Don’t leave the decision of choosing the right surgeon to chance.
