Dr Leigh Katherine Simmonds

Consultant Emergency Medicine

During surgical training, I found that I was more interested in the emergencies on the ward than the surgery, so decided to change my career choice to Accident and Emergency, spending a year in Australia to do so.

Specialist training in Northern region, then Consultant in beautiful Abergergavenny in Wales for 5 years. Moved back to be closer to family.

Favourite part of job: patients the team work and examining for the College.

Least favourite: risk management but it's a huge part of the job.

Department: Emergency Departments
Speciality: Emergency Medicine
Based at Hospital site: Darlington Memorial Hospital
Qualifications: BSc (Hons) MBBS MRCS FCEM
Date added to the specialist register: 9 January 2005

'I have to compliment everyone on their pleasant persona and their expertise and knowledge. By the end of the 5 days, I did not feel as though I had been in a hospital ward and was very relaxed.'

Patient, Ward 16 Orthopaedics, University Hospital of North Durham