Page 93 - Powerlist 2020

NEW Martin Griffiths the news and made his way to the Whitechapel hospital’s Science, Medicine & Engineering
2020 trauma centre.
Lead trauma surgeon, Royal London
& Clinical Director for Violence Last autumn he led a research study that found stabbing
Reduction, NHS victims seen by his trauma centre were getting younger – a
quarter of them are of school age – and the injuries are
getting worse.
In the summer of 2019, acclaimed consultant trauma He regularly visits schools to talk about the dangers of
surgeon Martin Griffiths was appointed the first ever NHS knife and gun crime – often showing kids the reality of
clinical director for violence reduction. violence through graphic photographs of victims. He also
A trauma and vascular specialist at the Royal London works in partnership with the St Giles Trust, a charity that
hospital on the frontline of London’s knife and gun crime works to reduce youth violence.
epidemic, Martin has long been an influential advocate for Martin trained at the Medical School of St Bartholomew’s
violence control. He established the innovative Barts Health Hospital where he graduated with a distinction in surgery.
violence reduction programme, which enlists case workers He teaches undergraduate medical students at Barts &
to engage with young patients injured through gang crime Brighton medical schools and teaches on the faculty of
while they are still being treated in hospital. numerous courses at the Royal College of Surgeons of
The idea – a UK first – is to break the cycle of violence England.
at the point of crisis. It has seen significant success – the He was recently appointed as the first Ambassador
proportion of stabbing victims who return after being to the Mary Seacole Trust, which celebrates the life and
stabbed a second time has been reduced dramatically from achievements of the Jamaica-born nurse, and promotes her
45 per cent to one per cent. as a role model, tackling social challenges and inequality
Martin will take on the new role in a part-time capacity, with a focus on youth engagement.
continuing his work as consultant vascular and trauma He also sits on the Violent Crime Prevention Board, under
surgeon and trauma surgery lead at the Royal London. the leadership of Dr Neville Lawrence. The VCP Board seeks
In 2018, he won the NHS Hero Doctor Award, for his part to challenge the attitudes around interpersonal injury in
in treating victims of the London Bridge attacks. He was off London. He was named by the Evening Standard as one of
duty at the time but immediately left home upon hearing the 1,000 Most Influential Londoners.

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