Dr Judith Agwada-Akeru appointed GIRFT Clinical Advisor in Orthopaedic Trauma and Surgery

Posted on
11 September 2025

Read time
2 minutes

We’re delighted to announce that Dr Judith Agwada-Akeru, Consultant Orthogeriatrician at Whipps Cross Hospital and proud ACHA Affiliate, has been appointed as a GIRFT Clinical Advisor in Orthopaedic Trauma and Surgery.

In her role as clinical lead for ortho-geriatrics and clinical effectiveness for older person’s services, Dr Agwada-Akeru co-leads the Barts Health Trust neck of femur pathway and the National Hip Fracture Database (NHFD). Since her appointment in 2020, she has successfully developed and implemented a centralised integrated ortho-geriatric service for north-east London patients within the Barts Health hip fracture pathway, delivering significant improvements in patient outcomes.

What is GIRFT?
Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) is a national NHS programme dedicated to improving the quality, safety, and efficiency of care by reviewing clinical practice, reducing unwarranted variation, and sharing best practice across trusts. It supports evidence-based improvements and drives excellence in surgical and trauma services throughout the NHS. Getting It Right First Time – GIRFT

Why this matters for ACHA:
ACHA is committed to advancing care for older adults. Dr Agwada-Akeru’s new role directly aligns with our mission: bringing expertise, clinical leadership, and innovation in orthogeriatric care to the national stage.

  • Representation and influence for orthogeriatric considerations in national trauma and surgery improvement programmes
  • Greater visibility for the value of integrated, data-driven, and elderly-focused pathways in NHS orthopaedic care
  • Amplified opportunities for ACHA to support and collaborate with clinical leaders like Dr Agwada-Akeru in shaping best-practice, patient-centred services

We congratulate Dr Agwada-Akeru on this important appointment. Her expertise in orthogeriatric care will strengthen national efforts to improve outcomes for older adults needing orthopaedic treatment, and supports ACHA’s mission to embed healthy ageing in NHS services.

ACHA offers an exciting opportunity for Whipps Cross. By integrating academic expertise into our clinical structures, we can efficiently address local needs and set a dynamic research agenda. Together, we'll utilise the Living Lab structure to create impactful solutions for patients, healthcare workers, and the ageing population in north east London. ACHA will be the springboard for local innovation, with international impact.

Dr Mark Rawle

Consultant geriatrician and older person’s services research lead, Whipps Cross Hospital

We’re looking forward to working with the local community to understand their health priorities for older people in north east London. ACHA aims to be a step change, placing the health and wellbeing of older people at the forefront. By uniting academics, healthcare professionals, and public health colleagues, ACHA will focus on the best ways to support older people. Additionally, ACHA will develop training and dissemination initiatives to ensure research evidence is shared and embedded into practice.

Professor Steph Taylor

Professor of public health and primary care at the Wolfson Institute of Population Health, Queen Mary University of London

Whipps Cross is delighted to support this innovative partnership, which will contribute to improved services across our local area and to wider NHS policy and practice across the country. By working with, and listening to, diverse local communities, clinicians, and caregivers our new centre will mix innovative research with practical tools to enable better care to help all of us age more healthily.

Dr Amanjit Jhund

Chief executive, Whipps Cross Hospital

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