Meet the team behind The Lazy Eye Site
A team who are seeking to reach out to create awareness of what can be done for lazy eyes/squints and treatment available on the NHS. The team are based in the Eye Treatment Centre at West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds, UK.For more information please click on their names below:
They consist of:
Anthony Vivian (Consultant Ophthalmologist),
Stuart McGill (Orthoptist)
Rachel Andrews (Ophthalmic Sister)
Jayne Heath (Deputy Head of Orthopic Department)
Janet Brown (Orthoptist)
Abi Iron (Orthoptist).
Tony Vivian
Tony Vivian is an eye surgeon who specialises in children’s eye conditions and squint surgery in both children and adults. He became a Consultant Paediatric Ophthalmlogist and Squint Surgeon in 1995 and works at Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, The Eye Treatment Centre and The Nuffield Hospital in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.
Tony started his ophthalmology training at Moorfields Eye Hospital and The London Hospital in 1986. He then moved to Southampton Eye Hospital for five years. He returned to London for specialist training. A Paediatric Ophthalmology Fellowship with David Taylor at The Hospital for Sick Children, Great Ormond Street, was followed by three further years at Moorfields Eye Hospital, including a year of specialist training in oculoplastic surgery.
In 1995 Tony returned to East Anglia where he spent his childhood, and lives with his family in a fifteenth Century farmhouse in constant need of repair.
Further information about qualifications
Stuart McGill
The Orthoptic Department in the Eye Treatment Centre at the West Suffolk Hospital has a staff of four Orthoptists. Of these four there is one full time member of staff and three part time members of staff. The head of the Orthoptic Department is Stuart McGill.
Stuart trained at Glasgow Caledonian University as one of the first Orthoptic degree students qualifying in 1994. His first job was in Windsor at the King Edward VII hospital, after a short time here he moved on to the much larger Orthoptic Department at the Royal Berkshire Hospital. Then after another 3 years he moved to another post at the Ipswich Hospital from 1997 until 2002. In 2002 he moved to the James Paget NHS Trust in Gorleston and his first head Orthoptist post - moving to the full time Head position at the West Suffolk in January 2004.
Stuart is married and lives in North Suffolk; his interests outside of work include whisky, golf and badminton although not necessarily in that order.
Rachel Andrews
Rachel qualified as a SRN/RSCN (State Registered/Registered Sick Childrens Nurse) in 1978 at Queen Marys Hospital For Children in Surrey. She was a Staff Nurse in the paediatric theatres there for 3 years and then had a 10 year break to bring up her two children.
In 1991 Rachel returned to nursing as a staff nurse for a year in the operating theatres at the BUPA hospital in Norwich,and when a suitable position became available at the West Suffolk Hospital she moved, to be nearer to home.
Since 1993 she has worked in the ophthalmic theatres at the West Suffolk Hospital graduating up to the position of sister. Within the time period of the last 11 years she has worked closely with Mr Vivian and extended her nursing experience by attending paediatric and adult squint clinics. This opportunity enables her to get alongside the patients and parents and answer their questions or concerns. Rachel's role within this area includes doing the pre-operative assessments and giving the patients their operation dates. Her professional qualifications include certificates in Ophthalmic Nursing and First Management. Rachel loves the variety in her work and especially the more extended paediatric role.
Rachel lives in Hessett with her husband, she has a son who lives in Bury St Edmunds and a married daughter who lives in Gloucester.
Jayne Heath
Jayne is the Deputy Head of the Orthoptic Department. Jayne studied at Liverpool University graduating with a BSc (Hons) Orthoptics in 1997. Jayne’s first job was at the Heartlands Hospital in Birmingham, where she worked for 2 years, before moving to Suffolk and working at the West Suffolk Hospital in 1999. Jayne enjoys being an orthoptist and loves the variety of the job.
Jayne is married and lives in Bury St Edmunds. She has two young children and now combines work and being a mum. She currently works three days a week.
Janet Brown
Janet trained as an Orthoptist in Chester “a long time ago”. Soon after qualifying she went to work in an eye hospital in Northern Nigeria for 2˝ years. A rather lengthy 'career break' took her to Liberia, Ethiopia and Cote d’Ivoire as well as further studies in the UK, before moving to Suffolk in 1999 and taking up a post at West Suffolk Hospital in January 2002. She has enjoyed getting back into Orthoptics and being part of a great team at West Suffolk Hospital.
Janet is married with three children and a lively dog. Outside interests include sailing, playing hockey, being a school governor and a member of a local church.
Abi Iron
Abi trained at the Sheffield & Leeds School of Orthoptics qualifying in 1994. Her first job was at Northampton General Hospital and later moved to a single handed post in St Albans and Hemel Hempstead. After a career break of 4 years she joined the Orthoptic Department at West Suffolk Hospital in January 2002 where she works one day a week.
Abi is single and lives in Haverhill. She divides her working life between orthoptics and her family bakery business in the town. Her interests include walking, aerobics and cats – she has two!