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David's practice Ethos

When you come to my Hand Clinic, I will do my best to diagnose your problem, learn about what you want and help you decide what is best for you. I will discuss the benefits and drawbacks of each potential treatment. Although surgical treatment might be needed, wherever possible we try safe and simple non-operative treatments such as therapy and injections.

My work is based on constant techical practice, education and refelection to ensure I can provide the most uo-to-date, safe an appropriate cre. As a Professor I have the opportunity to teachm research, write and atted postgraduate meetings which give unrivlled opportunities to remain informed and current. Since I hold the European Diploma of Hand Surgery you know I am fully qualified. 

Training and Clinical Work

Warwick was born in Essex and having taken Classics for A level decided to do Medicine instead. That meant a Foundation year at the University of Southampton and then graduation in 1986. 

He trained in anatomy and then orthopaedic surgery in Bristol, with specific Hand Surgery training in Chepstow with Phil Sykes as an SHO, in Bristol as a Senior Registar with Ian Leslie, and with Fellowships with Peter Burge in Oxford and Michael Tonkin in Sydney. These men, and so many others who have supported David, are true giants of Hand Surgery and an inspiration. 

David has been Consultant Hand Surgeon at University Hospital Southampton since 1998 as well as visiting Hand Surgeon to the States of Jersey and Bailiwick of Guernsey and Orthopaedic Surgeon to Southampton Football Club. He is involved daily in the clinical management of complex hand and wrist problems with a particular interest in the DRUJ, Dupuytren’s, joint replacement and orthopaedic hand trauma.

Awards

His teaching, research, and administrative contributions were rewarded by the University of Southampton with an Honorary Professorship in 2013. His NHS contribution has been rewarded with a Bronze Clinical Excellence award, renewed on each subsequent occasion.

He holds a Doctorate from the University of Bristol (1995) on Thrombosis in Orthopaedics. He was awarded the Hunterian Professorship in 1998 for his work on Orthopaedic Thrombosis. He was awarded the Gold Medal in the European Diploma of Hand Surgery in 2004. In 2018 he was awarded Life Membership of the International Dupuytren Society and in 2020 he was awarded a Doctorate for his work in Dupuytren’s disease. 

Academic work

David has published over 80 papers in peer reviewed journals with an H index of 34. He has written 36 book chapters and has edited 12 textbooks (to include Oxford Handbook of Hand Surgery (2009, 2018), the FESSH Textbook of Dupuytren’s Disease (2015) and Apley & Solomon’s System of Orthopaedics & Trauma (2001, 2010, 2017, 2021). He has examined 12 PhDs. He has chaired several international and national research and advisory boards over the years. He has contributed to various NICE panels. He has given over 90 invited international lectures between 2014 and 2024. 

Contribution to Hand Surgery

David has served widely. He was Honorary President of the British Association of Hand Therapists (2014-2016) and Chair of the BOA Medicolegal Committee (2018-2021). For the BSSH he served as Chair of the Education Committee (2006-9), Chair of the Instructional Course Committee (2011-13) as well as Honorary Secretary (2013-16) and then President (2020). More recently he has been a member of the Overseas Committee (2021-24) and part of the BSSH West African College of Surgeons group. He served 2 terms on both the Editorial Board of the JHS(E) and the Bone and Joint Journal.

On the international arena,  David was Chairman of the Federation of European Hand Surgery Societies Training Committee (2009-15), then Historian for the IFSSH (2016-2022).  David served as the  Secretary General of the International Federation for Societies for Surgery of the Hand (2022-25).

David has been Examiner to the Singapore Hand Examination, Visiting Professor to the  Australian Orthopaedic Association, Scandinavian Hand Society, South African Society for Surgery of the Hand, Polish Hand Society and Finnish Hand Society. He was the International Guest Lecturer to ASSH in 2021. 

Personal

David has been married to Jan, a Pharmacist and Politician since 1998. They have 3 children, all grown up.  Together Jan and David enjoy cycling, Body Pump, Southampton Football Club, Pantomime, village life, box-sets  and travel. David is an avid traveller (over 1/3 of the world’s countries) mountain biker (with many scars) and car fanatic (his favourite is a 1972 restored TR6). He has been a keen skier and windsurfer (and will continue until crumbling tendons and joints, or a loss of nerve, finally stop him). David is committed to charity, with support amongst others to Winchester’s Trinity homeless shelter, an Indian Boys home and The University of Southampton Cancer Immunology Campaign.