The Steering Group

Angela Thornhill Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Member.

“I retired at the end of May from a career of working in both public and private sectors. I have worked in the NHS in various areas such as radiology, renal and HR services and in blue chip organisation such as Boots mainly in occupational health service and HR - I was Chair of the Nottingham Support Group for the Royal Osteoporosis Society and have been national volunteer for this Society. For about the past ten years I have worked on and off with NICE as patient representative on developing clinical guidelines for osteoporosis and for trauma -  compound fractures. 

Philip Bell Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Member.

Dr Philip Bell (non-medical doctorate) trained as a nurse in the RAF. Following a major trauma was unable to continue and was medically discharged. His last post before retirement was Chief Officer of a Community Health Council. Philip belongs to several patient user groups, he sat on the NICE Committee for PTSD which published in December 2018 and currently sits on the NICE Osteoarthritis Update Committee. Philip was an advisory group member of two JLA PSP’s, Upper Limb Fragility Fractures and Lower Limb Fragility Fractures. Philip has co-authored several publications on Patient and Public Involvement.

Shan Martin Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) Member.

With over 30 year’s corporate experience, operating as HR Director at Executive level, my career has spanned many different industry sectors, including manufacturing, financial services, defence, science and nuclear, technology and services.

Following a serious accident in January 2015, my recovery has been achieved through the expert medical care within the NHS, my own self-belief and determination and the amazing support from my family and friends. I play an active role in support of the continuing development of major trauma rehabilitation and represent patients on various national and local NHS England forums, as well as presenting my story at various conferences.

William Eardley, Trauma and Orthopaedics, South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust, PSP Lead

Mr Eardley is an academic orthopaedic surgeon. He has a specialist interest in trauma surgery and the management of post-traumatic complications including fracture fixation failure, nonunion and osteomyelitis.  

He is a research associate at the Clinical Trials Unit at the University of York, is Chairman of AOUK Research and Professional Education and sits on the Trauma Audit Research Network National Committee. He is responsible for the coordination of the British Orthopaedic Association(BOA) Standards for Trauma Guidelines and sits on the BOA Trauma Group.

Xavier Griffin PhD, FRCS (Tr&Orth) Trauma and Orthopaedics, Oxford University Hospitals Trust

Xavier is an Associate Professor of Trauma Surgery at the University of Oxford and Honorary Consultant Trauma Surgeon at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford.

He is Chief Investigator for NIHR randomised clinical trials and commercially funded grants. His research interest is in clinical and cost effectiveness of musculoskeletal trauma interventions.

Rebecca Kearney, Physiotherapy, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust

Dr Kearney is a clinical academic physiotherapist, senior NIHR Fellow award holder and Associate Director of Warwick Clinical Trials Unit. She leads the design and delivery of research programmes that evaluate the clinical and cost effectiveness of interventions in the area of trauma and orthopaedic rehabilitation. Currently, Chief Investigator and co-applicant for a portfolio multi-centre randomised controlled trials underpinned by funding from NIHR and musculoskeletal charities. Dr Kearney also supports aspiring non-medical clinical academics through the NIHR ICA mentorship programme and contributes to wider national networks through committee roles with’ Association of Trauma and Orthopaedic Physiotherapists’ and ‘UK Fragility Fracture Network’.

Lucy Silvester, Physiotherapy, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust

Lucy Silvester qualified as a Chartered Physiotherapist from the University of Southampton in 1998 and completed an MSc in Health Services Management from the University of Warwick in 2010.  She specialises in major trauma and orthopaedics; and her current role is Major Trauma Service Lead at University Hospital Coventry.  Lucy’s particular interest is the rehabilitation of complex musculoskeletal injuries.

 Dr Johnson completed her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Leeds in 2015. She is a senior clinical psychologist at Leeds General Infirmary. Dr Johnson provides clinical psychology input to the Leeds Major Trauma Centre, Orthopaedics and Plastic surgery departments. Dr Johnson’s specialist interests are trauma, limb reconstruction and paediatric orthopaedics. Her current research interests include quality of life and psychological functioning following limb reconstruction, the psychological impact of major trauma, and emotional wellbeing in major trauma clinicians. She is a member of the National Major Trauma Centre Psychology Network and a committee member of Day One major trauma charity.

 Paul Dixon, Trauma and Orthopaedics, Sunderland Royal Hospital

Paul Dixon FRCS(Tr & Orth) is a Consultant Trauma and Orthopaedic surgeon working in Sunderland Royal Hospital.  He has completed 2 overseas fellowships, 1 with a focus on knee surgery in Sydney, Australia and the second specialising in orthopaedic trauma in Denver, USA. His clinical practice now is split 50:50 between knee surgery and trauma management and he has been orthopaedic trauma lead in Sunderland, which is a busy trauma unit treating 400+ hip fracture patients a year, since 2012.

He is currently President of the Orthopaedic Trauma Society, an active member of AO faculty

 Mark Baxter, Orthogeriatrics, University Hospitals Southampton

Mark is a consultant at the University Hospital Southampton and specialises in geriatric medicine. He is experienced in the management of frail elderly people, with multiple medical problems. Dr Baxter also has extensive experience in the assessment of falls and bone health.

Stuart White, The Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland (AAGBI)

Jonathan Gower James Lind Alliance Adviser and Chair of the Steering Group

After spending many years as a biomedical researcher, Jonathan moved into research management and has worked in Research Council, University and NHS settings.  After moving from London to Leeds, he joined the NIHR in 2007, establishing the Comprehensive Clinical Research Network. Most recently he was the Assistant Specialty Cluster Lead for Cancer, Surgery and Oral & Dental Health in the NIHR Clinical Research Network. With over 25 years of experience networking with charities, the public and private sectors, Jonathan joined the JLA team as an adviser in April 2019. 

Chris Bretherton, Trauma and Orthopaedics, Oxford University Hospitals Trust, PSP Information Specialist

Chris is an Oxford Trauma and Orthopaedic Registrar and Royal College of Surgeons of England Research Fellow. He is currently a PhD student using behavioural change theory to facilitate safe weight-bearing after ankle fracture surgery.          

He has recently returned from 2 months in Malawi treating patients injured during major trauma.

Harry Claireaux, Trauma and Orthopaedics, Oxford University Hospitals Trust, PSP Information Specialist

Harry Claireaux is a General Duties Medical Officer with the British Army. He recently completed the academic foundation programme in Oxford, working with the Oxford Trauma group investigating patients with musculoskeletal injuries. He plans to enter military trauma and orthopaedic training following regimental duty.