Dr Simon Pridgeon

BSc(Hons), MBChB, FRCS(Urol), FRACS(Urol), FEBU, PhD
Consultant urological surgeon and Associate Professor of Surgery

Simon sees adult patients with a wide variety of urological conditions. He has a subspecialty interest in kidney cancer and kidney diseases and is experienced at all forms of urological robotic surgery including robotic prostatectomy, partial nephrectomy and reconstructive surgery. He has a public appointment at The Cairns Hospital and operates on private patients at the Far North Day Hospital and Cairns Private Hospital. Simon is also a visiting Urologist at The Royal Darwin Hospital and operates on private patients at the Darwin Private Hospital and the Darwin Day Surgery.

Simon grew up on the south coast of England. He graduated from the University of Edinburgh Medical School in 1999 (MBChB). Simon undertook his post graduate surgical training in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and gained his membership to the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 2004 (MRCS – Surgery in General). Simon took a 3-year sabbatical to compete a PhD at the prestigious Northern Institute for Cancer Research, UK where he researched novel treatments for bladder cancer and was awarded funding through Cancer Research UK, The Urological Foundation and the Royal College of Surgeons of England Research Fellowship.

Simon completed his training in Urological Surgery in London in 2013(FRCS Urol). After training at the Royal Free Hospital and The Lister Institute, he completed a year of post fellowship training at The Institute of Urology London (UCLH) sub-specialising in complex stone surgery. Simon took part in laparoscopic surgery training in Aalborg in Denmark and in 2013 passed the European Board or Urology Fellowship exam (FEBU). He then travelled to Brisbane where he completed a comprehensive 2-year fellowship programme in minimally invasive kidneys surgery, kidney transplant surgery and robotic surgery at the Princess Alexandra Hospital and Greenslopes Private Hospital.

Simon was invited to join the Urology team in Cairns Hospital in 2016 and following assessment by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons was awarded his Australian Fellowship in 2019 (FRACS Urol). Simon regularly performs laparoscopic (key-hole) kidney surgery as well as robotic kidney and prostate surgery. He offers surgery for kidney stones and all common urological problems for men and women.

Simon is up to date with the latest diagnostics for prostate cancer including both transrectal and transperineal prostate biopsy and multiparametric MRI. He is a proponent of active surveillance for low grade prostate cancer to prevent the over-treatment of the condition wherever possible. He also offers gold-standard TURP surgery for prostate enlargement as well as minimally invasive Urolift and Rezum. Simon offers vasectomy for permanent contraception both under general and local anaesthetic.

Academically, Simon has published over 35 peer reviewed papers, two textbook chapters and has presented over 60 research papers at national and international conferences. Simon is committed to the education and training of new doctors and urologists. He has been awarded an Associate Professorship at the James Cook University for his dedication to teaching and research and Simon has taken up a visiting position at the Royal Darwin Hospital to supervise and train the next generation of Urologists in the Northern Territory.

In his spare time Simon rides road bikes and mountain bikes.