Incoming President - Mark Bowditch

With six weeks to go, I ask myself “how did I get here!?” Soon I take over the helm from Simon Hodkinson, who I’d like to thank for using all his Navy experience to guide us through the choppy waters of the last year. Despite challenging workforce issues, he has remained calm and positive without having to yell “all hands-on deck” which I’m sure he has felt like at times!

Workforce is one of the key pillars of BOA strategy and must remain so if we are to create a sustainable T&O system. We are being asked to lead ‘recovery’, to change, do more with less, the challenges of which at times seem overwhelming.

Let’s not forget that ‘prevention is better than cure’. During the next year, I’d like to look at prevention in its broadest meaning in all our practice. Whether that is reducing injury or disease severity, complications and complaints, preventing harm to our patients, our teams or ourselves. Come up for air and reflect how to do things differently, sometimes it’s not all bad. T&O surgeons are great innovators and leaders with technology and data.

With your help, the BOA can share and influence the policy makers, setting the standards for high quality care.

Whilst hugely honoured to have the privilege of leading the BOA, my promise is that the organisation will listen to its members and be guided by our new five-year strategy. The BOA aims to be your voice, there for you, together ‘making a difference’ and transforming lives.

I’m really looking forward to meeting many of you in Birmingham, or if not, during the year ahead.