Surgeon retires after helping 15,000 patients

Stephen Young has worked at South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust for 36 years

A hospital trust's longest serving orthopedic consultant is retiring after performing 15,000 joint replacements over more than three decades.

Stephen Young joined the South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust (SWFT) in 1989 and played a crucial role in setting up its orthopaedic unit.

He temporarily stepped down from his role before the pandemic in preparation for retirement, however he returned to support the trust after a mobile theatre was installed to increase the number of operations that could be carried out.

Tamara Harries, general manager for orthopaedics at SWFT, said many of Mr Young's patients "owed their mobility and quality of life to his expert hands".

Mr Young performed nearly 1,000 hip replacements in the last three years.

He also helped to set up the South Warwickshire Accelerated Transfer Team (SWATT) service, which oversees the entire patient journey, from when they are added to a waiting list, to being back at home fully recovered.

A spokesperson for the trust credited SWATT for helping the trust to become "one of the most efficient orthopaedic units in the country".

Lasting legacy

Glen Burley, foundation group chief executive, said thousands of patients, staff and trainees had benefited from Mr Young's skills.

"We will all miss his leadership and his calm, caring and efficient approach," Mr Burley added.

Mr Young is set to retire next month, however he leaves a lasting legacy.

A bi-annual community event, the Sky Walk, where former patients walk alongside the trust's orthopedic team, was previously named in Mr Young's honour.

It continues to raise money for the unit that he helped to establish.