Professor Jane Ashworth has been a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon and Paediatric Ophthalmologist at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital since 2007, and has specialist expertise in disorders of the eye in childhood and early adulthood, including cerebral visual impairment and birth injuries, trauma, strabismus and amblyopia, neuro-ophthalmology, genetic eye conditions, paediatric uveitis, paediatric glaucoma and cataract and retinopathy of prematurity. She qualified in medicine in 1992 from the University of Oxford, and has a PhD from the University of Manchester. Professor Ashworth trained in Ophthalmology at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, and became clinical Lecturer in Ophthalmology in 1999. In 2021 she became an Honorary MAHSC Professor at the University of Manchester.

Professor Ashworth has lead the training of Ophthalmologists in the North West region in her role as Head of School of Ophthalmology for Health Education North West until 2024. She teaches and trains junior doctors and Paediatric Ophthalmology Fellows from the UK and overseas. She leads the regional Paediatric Uveitis service in Manchester and also has dedicated clinics for genetic eye disease and paediatric retinal disease in her NHS practice. She is actively involved in research in Paediatric Ophthalmology and has been Greater Manchester Ophthalmology lead for the NIHR Clinical Research Network and has written over 80 research publications, 5 book chapters and a book on Genetics and Ophthalmology. She regularly gives invited lectures on Paediatric Ophthalmology topics nationally and internationally.

Professor Ashworth has carried out medicolegal work since 2016 and has been awarded the Cardiff University Bond Solon Expert Witness Certificate. She has provided approximately 150 reports in the last 2 years. Her work is approximately 55% claimant, 40% defendant and 5% joint and she has appeared in Court on several occasions. She has been on the GMC medicolegal expert witness list since 2021, providing expert evidence in fitness to practice cases, and has been an expert witness to the Irish Medical Council.