Meet the team

The hand, wrist and elbow trauma and orthopaedics team consists of specialist surgeons, physiotherapists and occupational therapists.

Surgeons

• David Warwick – Consultant Hand Surgeon
• David Hargreaves – orthopaedic consultant
• Erymen Melykian – associate specialist

Physiotherapists

• Peter Belward
• Karen Belward
• Linda Cornish

Occupational therapists

• Gemma Willis
• Caroline Spicka

Biographies

David Warwick MD FRCS FRCS(Orth) EDHS, Consultant

David is a Consultant Hand Surgeon at Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust. He studied Medicine at Southampton Medical School, is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons and a qualified Orthopaedic Surgeon, and holds the European Diploma of Hand Surgery. He is also Reader in Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Southampton; he writes and lectures on his techniques.

Mr Warwick's particular interests are rheumatology, problems with the distal radio-ulnar joint (which is at the end of the arm next to the wrist), Dupuytren's disease, hand trauma and wrist instabilities. He has introduced several new procedures to Southampton University Hospitals Trust, including replacing the ulnar head (the rotating joint at the base of the wrist), wrist replacement and small upper limb joint replacement.

Peter Belward, physiotherapist

Peter is the lead physiotherapist for elbows and hands within the orthopaedics section. He qualified as a state registered physiotherapist in 1991 from Brunel University, London and is a member of the British Association of Hand Therapists (BAHT). As a clinical specialist physiotherapist he supports the hand and elbow surgeons, seeing patients in the orthopaedic outpatients clinics before and after their operations. Peter acts as a regional and national resource within his field of expertise and lectures and teaches at the University of Southampton School of Physiotherapy. He is also involved in the sports injury clinic within the physiotherapy department.

Karen Belward, physiotherapist

Karen is a chartered physiotherapist specialising in upper limb therapy. She provides day to day clinical section leadership for the treatment, assessment and management of patients referred to hand therapy, following trauma or elective surgery. Karen also carries out a teaching role as a clinical educator for students from University of Southampton School of Physiotherapy. She graduated from the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff in 1994 and is a member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and the British Society of Hand Therapists.

Linda Cornish, physiotherapist

Linda is a clinical specialist physiotherapist in hands and elbows and her work involves the assessment and management of routine and complex hand and elbow conditions. She gained a graduate diploma in Physiotherapy from Bath School of Physiotherapy in 1989. Linda's professional memberships include the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists, the British Association of Hand Therapists and the Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists. Her role also involves seeing patients in the orthopaedic clinics on behalf of the consultants and she helps organise the Wessex Instructional Hand course each year with Erman Melikyan.

Gemma Willis, occupational therapist

Gemma is a Leading Occupational Therapist within the hand therapy service at Southampton University Hospitals Trust. She graduated from the University of Southampton in 2002. Gemma works closely with both the physiotherapists and orthopaedic consultants on a wide range of hand injuries and conditions, to provide splinting and rehabilitation services. She is a member of the British Association of Hand Therapy.

Caroline Spicka, occupational therapist

Caroline is an Occupational Therapist within the hand therapy service at Southampton University Hospitals Trust. Caroline works in the fields of Handtherpy and Rheumatology. She graduated from Stuttgart Occupational Therapists School and in 2007 she gained an MSc in Health and Rehabilitation from the University of Southampton. Caroline is also a member of the Health Professionals Council.