Qualifications: MBChB MA MRCS DPhil FRCS(Orth)
Dr Richard Murphy is a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at University Hospitals Sussex, practicing at Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton and Sussex Orthopaedic Treatment Centre in Haywards Heath. He specialises in the management of shoulder and elbow conditions, as well as major and complex trauma.
Richard began his medical training at Cambridge University, where he completed pre-clinical studies before obtaining an intercalated degree in Management from the Judge Institute of Management. He qualified in Medicine from Sheffield University Medical School in 2006. His academic career includes a dedicated period of research at Oxford University, where he was awarded a DPhil (PhD) in 2013. Richard has continued to build a robust research portfolio, contributing to advancements in orthopaedic practice.
Following his registrar training on the prestigious Bristol (Severn) rotation, Richard pursued fellowship training in Bristol, then travelled to Switzerland for fellowship training in Bern, and returned to the UK for a third fellowship in Brighton. He was part of the BOA Future Leaders Programme in 2020-21 and appointed Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon in Brighton in early 2021.
Clinically, Richard covers a wide range of shoulder and elbow surgery, including trauma, arthroscopy, primary and revision shoulder and elbow arthroplasty, and complex reconstructive procedures such as tendon transfers. He is one of two surgeons managing the GIRFT (Getting It Right First Time) Elbow Arthroplasty Hub for the South-East, overseeing all aspects of elbow replacement across the region.
In addition to his clinical practice, Richard served as Clinical HR Lead for Trauma and Orthopaedics for three years, during which he led a 40% increase in non-consultant grades and expanded the polytrauma consultant service. His efforts resulted in a demand-matched workforce, improved training and GMC feedback, and a significant reduction in locum spending. He is an active member of the Sussex Orthopaedic Research Group, where he leads research projects and supervises surgical trainees in the Kent, Surrey, and Sussex region, as well as medical students from Brighton and Sussex Medical School.
Outside of his professional life, Richard is married to Leonie, an anaesthetist, and they have two daughters. The family enjoys an active lifestyle in Sussex, participating in a variety of sports and dance activities, and often travels to the Swiss mountains to escape and recharge.