The Frog Files. Professor Christopher Bulstrode

Barton's superhero

I came to check email only to find that the most intelligent Doctorbloggs had been digging around the underworld of the medical profession. She is therefore credited with much of this research. I felt it best to commence dissection of this particular topic on Ward 87 before finally presenting it all online on NHS Behind the Headlines.

This is an investigation of the links between Jane Ann Barton [ of Gosport fame] and Christopher Bulstrode [of GMC fame]. Those of you who have missed out on the gossip, it is rumoured that Bulstrode is related to Jane Ann Barton. As a GMC Trustee during the time of the lengthy investigation into Barton's conduct, it is not know what declarations were made by Bulstrode. We know that he recently resigned from his position. We also know that questions have been asked as to why Barton's conditions have been more lenient compared to other doctors with far more tame allegations. Bulstrode's influence in the Barton case remains unknown. Perhaps, only the General Medical Council are aware of his true involvement. As all the Interim Order Panel hearings were held in secret, we will not know about the panellists who sat on the hearings nor are we aware of the case examiners links to Christopher Bulstrode.

We should really commence by a narration by Chris himself as to his background.

Brought up in Guernsey in the Channel Islands, he trained first as a Zoologist before studying medicine at Oxford. As a student he led expeditions to the Arctic to study geese, went to South America to work on plankton and to Kenya to work on elephants. In his spare time he climbed and flew hang-gliders until he hit the ground once too often, too hard. His first job as a doctor was to work in a camp for Ethiopian refugees in Sudan for Oxfam. He then wenon to work as a GP in Mombasa and a University Lecturer in Dar es Salaam. His surgical training started in Edinburgh, then continued in London. He returned to Oxford as Clinical Reader in Orthopaedics, working first in joint replacement where he received the Hunterian Professorship, then in Trauma. As part of his increasing interest in training, he returned incognito to be a Cardiology Pre-registration House Officer to experience things first hand. More recently he has worked with his wife, Dr Hunt,developing courses for examiners (Examining in Practice) and trainers (Changing the Culture), as consultants serving on appointment committees and performing appraisals. They have also provided courses for dental trainers as well as taking forward work on the design of new exams for the Opthalmologists, Dentists and Orthopaedic Surgeons. He is one of the three editors of Bailey and Love’s Short Practice of Surgery and is Editor in Chief of the completely new Oxford Textbook of Trauma and Orthopaedics. He works on the Council of the College to continuously try to increase the College’s commitment to training worldwide.

Of course, the word " Guernsey" is extremely vital to his family links. It appears that Dr JC Bulstrode [ Papa Bulstrode was a Consultant Radiologist in Guernsey]. BULSTRODE, J. C., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P., D.M.R., Consultant Radiologist, Princess Elizabeth Hospital, Guernsey was appointed in 1952.

Just before that, there was an announcement in the BMJ for about the time period of the birth of Jane Ann Bulstrode.

It stated "On Oct 19. 1948, at Hartfield House, Hartfield, Sussex, to Jacqueline, wife of Dr. John C. Bulstrode, a daught

There was a second announcement in the BMJ

Bulstrode.-On January 5, 1951, at Hartwell House, Hartfield, Sussex, to Jacqueline (formerly Kent), wife of Dr. J. C. Bulstrode, a son.