The GIRFT programme team are saddened by the recent death of Oliver Adebayo, who was a GIRFT clinical fellow from September 2023 to August 2024.
Oliver was an ST8 orthopaedic surgical trainee when he was placed with GIRFT as part of his National Medical Director’s fellowship. His fellowship work with GIRFT focused on the evidence for the safety of day case hip and knee surgery, and in particular on patient attitudes towards day-case arthroplasty.
Despite his declining health, Oliver remained involved with GIRFT beyond his fellowship, until very close to his death. His focus on patient perceptions reflected his wider interest in patient experience of surgery and, more broadly, his deep humility and concerns for others.
In addition to his work with GIRFT, Oliver was the president of the British Orthopaedic Trainees Association (BOTA) in 2021 and had a clinical interest in sports, limb and joint reconstruction and digital transformation.
He leaves behind his wife Bernadine and their five-year-old son, Elijah.
Professor Tim Briggs, GIRFT programme lead and NHS England National Director for Clinical Improvement, Elective Recovery and UEC, said:
“Oliver was an outstanding young orthopaedic surgeon who would have had a stellar career. I was also his training programme director at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, where he was fantastic, and he worked extremely hard to develop his skills and became president of the British Orthopaedic Training Association. He was totally committed to his specialty and to training the surgeons of the future. He will be sorely missed by us all; his trainers, his colleagues and his patients.”
Dr William Gray, GIRFT’s academic content lead, who worked closely with Oliver in his fellowship, said:
“Ollie was a natural leader and is a huge loss to his profession. He is remembered with huge fondness by everyone at GIRFT who had the pleasure to work with him. Our thoughts are with his wife, son and wider family at this time.”
Tributes have also been paid to Oliver on LinkedIn, where a GoFundMe account has been set up to help support his family.
His colleague at Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, hand and wrist consultant surgeon Harry Benjamin-Laing, said:
“What defined Oliver was his humility. His quiet leadership. His unwavering commitment to others. He gave his time generously, lifted people up without seeking recognition, and always made space for those coming behind him.”
