Mr Simon Howarth

Mr Simon Howarth is a Consultant Adult and Paediatric Neurosurgeon and expert witness at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, where he has held his consultant post since 2014. He specialises in the assessment and surgical management of complex cranial and spinal conditions, with particular expertise in epilepsy surgery, paediatric cranial tumour surgery, cerebrospinal fluid diversion procedures, neuro-endoscopy, complex spinal surgery, neuro-oncology and head injuries affecting both adults and children.

His clinical practice spans the full breadth of adult and paediatric neurosurgery, with a particular focus on patients requiring highly specialised treatment for complex neurological disorders. He has extensive experience managing cranial and spinal tumours, degenerative spinal disease, cervical and lumbar spine pathology, intraventricular and pineal lesions, and traumatic brain injury. His work encompasses both elective and emergency neurosurgical care, delivering advanced operative management alongside comprehensive multidisciplinary assessment and follow-up.

Alongside his clinical practice, Mr Howarth holds several national educational and professional leadership roles, including Training Programme Director for East Midlands Neurosurgery, Clinical Lead for the Part 1 JCIE Neurosurgery Exit Examination and Member of the Court of Examiners for the FRCS in Neurosurgery. These appointments reflect his recognised standing within the specialty and his commitment to maintaining high standards in neurosurgical training and practice.

Mr Simon Howarth has been undertaking medico-legal work since 2017, providing independent expert opinion in clinical negligence claims. He accepts instructions on behalf of both claimants and defendants and prepares reports addressing breach of duty, causation, and condition and prognosis. His medico-legal practice reflects his specialist expertise in both adult and paediatric neurosurgery, enabling him to advise on a broad range of complex cranial and spinal conditions. He is regularly instructed in cases involving head injuries, cranial and spinal tumours, degenerative spinal disease, cervical and lumbar spine pathology, epilepsy surgery, neuro-endoscopy and paediatric neurosurgical conditions. Drawing on his current consultant practice, Mr Howarth provides clear, balanced and evidence-based opinions on the diagnosis, investigation, surgical management and outcomes of complex neurosurgical conditions affecting patients of all ages.

Mr Howarth's clinical practice centres on the assessment and surgical management of complex cranial and spinal disorders affecting both adults and children. A significant proportion of his work involves treating patients with brain and spinal tumours, degenerative cervical and lumbar spine disease, epilepsy requiring surgical intervention, traumatic head injuries and conditions affecting the ventricular system, including those requiring cerebrospinal fluid diversion procedures.

He has particular expertise in paediatric neurosurgery, managing children with cranial tumours, hydrocephalus and other complex neurological conditions requiring specialist operative care. His practice also includes advanced neuro-endoscopic techniques and the treatment of intraventricular and pineal pathology, alongside complex spinal surgery for degenerative and neoplastic disease. In addition to performing highly specialised neurosurgical procedures, he is involved in the comprehensive assessment, investigation and ongoing management of patients with complex neurological disorders, working within multidisciplinary teams to deliver coordinated care. His broad clinical practice across both adult and paediatric populations provides extensive experience in managing challenging neurosurgical conditions from diagnosis through to long-term follow-up.

Mr Howarth maintains an active academic and educational role alongside his clinical practice. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and regularly presents research at national and international conferences. He also holds key national educational appointments as Training Programme Director for East Midlands Neurosurgery, Clinical Lead for the Part 1 JCIE Neurosurgery Exit Examination and a Member of the Court of Examiners for the FRCS in Neurosurgery, reflecting his recognised contribution to neurosurgical education and professional standards.