An interview with Bob Handley

By Charlotte Lewis, President of OTS

I had the privilege of chatting to Bob Handley and interview him for this article. He has been a Consultant at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford since 1994. He is the Immediate past President of the BOA, Past President of the OTS and AOUK, has chaired two NICE fracture related groups and is the current National Clinical Lead for GIRFT Orthopaedic Trauma. In his ‘spare’ time Bob enjoys spending time with his family, walking his dog, cycling and cricket.

I remember hearing Harold Ellis respond to the question, “If you could change one thing about the NHS what would you change?” His response was bring back the firm structure. What would yours be?

Similar but it’s not just the firm structure that is important. The patient needs to be the centre of the team not the speciality. Juniors are then able to access support easily from all involved in the patients care.

What have you learnt from your GIRFT visits that you were both expecting and not expecting?

I was expecting to find a huge variation between the amount of collaboration involved in looking after a single patient. However, when there is collaboration, an environment is created that allows an almost effortless continuous natural improvement. I was not expecting how under supported many of our ward juniors feel.

Orthowomen_uk once asked me for my words of wisdom for an Instagram post. What would yours be?

Two phrases spring to mind... “Training is for today, teaching is for tomorrow.” – Training allows the trainee to complete a task and do the job. Teaching is instructing the mind to complete their whole career in an intelligent way. “No success without succession” – Realising there is a baton and remembering to pass it on.

Where do you find the time to be a trauma surgeon, take on all the roles listed above and manage a healthy work-life balance?

I started as a consultant trauma surgeon working a sustainable work pattern that has always timetabled time away from work after working on call. That time is protected by trusting colleagues to allow me to shut off clinically. Probably more important is a family and a natural ability to nap at will!

What have been the highlights of your career?

A single 12 hour day springs to mind. I operated on two individuals with ages 105 years apart; an elderly femur fracture followed by cutting the umbilical cord of my own child.

Working at the John Radcliffe for 28 years has been a sustained highlight as it has given me stability at work and is a place where I work with so many people that I respect and like.

What have been the low points of your career?

The frustration of people not taking professional responsibility. Specialities retreat into silos and the shutters go up.

Desert Island Discs style question! What surgical instrument would you take, what book and what luxury?

A hammer, Three Men in a Boat and a hammock.