Personal Profile
Personal Profile
Mr Barnes is a Consultant Ophthalmologist at the Luton & Dunstable University Hospital (L&D) with a specialism in Paediatric Ophthalmology. From 2005 to 2013, his consultant post with the L&D Hospital Foundation NHS Trust was a joint post with Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Trust, and he ran the Moorfields Paediatric Eye Clinic at Northwick Park Hospital. At the L&D, he is responsible for Paediatric Ophthalmic cases (surgical procedures include squints and incision & curettage of chalazia), and his specialist interest is Retinopathy of Prematurity (screening and treatment). His clinical work includes adult general ophthalmology and adult oculomotility conditions.
He is currently also running the Retinopathy of Prematurity service at the Lister Hospital, Stevenage, with a weekly clinic for the screening of premature infants; babies requiring sight-saving laser treatment are then transferred to him at the L&D.
Jonathan was Clinical Director at the L&D for 6 years (2011-2017), expanding the services and creating sub-speciality areas. He succeeded in raising the profile of the ophthalmology department both within the surgical division of the hospital and nationally. Under his lead, the department was announced by the Royal National Institute for the Blind to have the shortest wait-times for cataract surgery in the country at only 15 days (RNIB study Feb 2017 and reported in the National Press Sep’ 2016). Moreover, he achieved the government’s 18-week target for out-patient appointments. He also spear-headed the acquisition of an ‘Eye-Si’ Cataract Surgical Simulator, paid for in total by a £98,000 donation from The Amateurs Trust; this simulator is extremely beneficial to junior staff in their surgical training in ophthalmology.
BLIND VETERANS UK
Jonathan is the Admitting Ophthalmologist for Blind Veterans UK, formerly St Dunstan's (2011 to present). Blind Veterans UK, established 1915, has helped tens of thousands of ex-Service men and women of every generation to rebuild their lives after sight loss by providing rehabilitation, training, practical advice and emotional support. Jonathan holds regular clinics to assess whether those applying for support meet the charity’s ophthalmic criteria.
PRIVATE PRACTICE
Jonathan has been in Private Practice since 2007 and currently holds private clinics at The Clementine Churchill Hospital (Sudbury Hill) and The Cobham Clinic (the private patient unit at the Luton & Dunstable University Hospital). Because the The Clementine Churchill and Bishops Wood Hospitals no longer admit children for surgery, Jonathan now carries out all his surgical procedures via The Cobham Clinic.
EDUCATION
Prior to his medical training, Jonathan gained a degree in Optometry from the University of Bradford and worked as an Optometrist for Boots Opticians. This work was his inspiration for pursuing a career in ophthalmology.
He qualified as a doctor from the University of Birmingham in 1993. He completed his Specialist Training in the North Thames Deanery, including four years as a Registrar/Fellow in General Ophthalmology at Moorfields Eye Hospital. He then completed 2 Fellowships at Moorfields in Paediatric Ophthalmology and Medical Retina.
