Paul Banaszkiewicz

Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead

Paul Banaszkiewicz is a Consultant Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgeon at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead, specialising in hip and knee arthroplasty. He graduated from University of Glasgow, completed basic surgical training in the Merseyside Deanery, and undertook specialist registrar training on the North East of Scotland training programme.

He is currently a Trustee of the British Orthopaedic Association (BOA) and Chair of the BOA Education and Careers (EdCar) Committee, leading initiatives focused on professional development, mentoring, workforce support, and equity of opportunity across orthopaedics. He has helped develop national educational programmes including the BOA–BODS Clinical Directors course, UKITE, Ortho Update and Extended Clinical Team initiatives at BOA Congress.

Paul is Editor of the Journal of Trauma and Orthopaedics (JTO) and co-leads the TENDON study evaluating musculoskeletal education within UK medical schools. He has a particular interest in differential attainment, widening participation, and improving access to mentorship and career development within surgical training.

He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, Fellow of the Academy of Medical Educators, and holds a Master’s degree in Medical Education from Newcastle University. He also serves as an Advisory Appointments Committee (AAC) member and Quality Assurance Assessor for the RCSEng.

As Visiting Professor at Northumbria University, Paul helps bridge academic research with practical clinical orthopaedic practice. He has supported the BOA Futures Leadership Programme, BOA Travelling Fellowships, and the educational activities of the British Orthopaedic Trainees Association (BOTA). He is also lead editor and author of three internationally recognised FRCS (Tr & Orth) textbooks, which have received several BMA Book Awards.

Paul has undertaken humanitarian orthopaedic work in Northern Iraq and remains committed to international collaboration, diversity, and inclusion within orthopaedics. Outside work, he enjoys running, skiing, gardening, and supporting Burnley F.C..

Helen Boulton

Advanced Clinical Trauma and Orthopaedic Nurse Practitioner (Lead - trauma practitioners)

Helen Ann Boulton is a highly experienced Advanced Lead Trauma Nurse Practitioner with over 20 years in acute and trauma care. She began her clinical career following A-levels and a GNVQ in Health and Social Care, training through the Project 2000 programme at University of Nottingham Hospital (Queen's Medical Centre).

Helen has worked across several leading NHS Trusts, including Northern General (Sheffield), where she completed a spinal nursing course in acute spinal care, The Royal London, Norfolk and Norwich, and now West Suffolk Hospital (WSH). Under her leadership, the WSH femoral fracture pathway was recently recognised as the best in the country by the NHFD.

Her expertise in trauma and orthopaedics is supported by advanced clinical education and a strong foundation in intensive care, acute surgical and medical nursing. She is enthusiastic, energetic and known for her innovative, patient-focused approach and leadership in service transformation.

Outside of her clinical work, Helen is a mum that enjoys running, yoga, dancing, and music, and lives in the countryside with her three cats.