Miss Joanna Higgins is a fellowship trained Hand and wrist, Trauma and Orthopaedic surgeon, working across Dorset and Hampshire. Joanna graduated from the University of Birmingham in 2005, completing her early years training in the Midlands. This was followed by her appointment to Specialist Training in Wessex in 2007. Joanna completed her Trauma and Orthopaedic training in 2018, which was followed by success in being awarded a nationally appointed subspecialist fellowship at the world-renowned Pulvertaft Hand Centre in Derby. She was trained and supported by highly regarded plastic and orthopaedic hand surgeons. Joanna was subsequently appointed to a substantive consultant post at University Hospitals Dorset in 2021.

Joanna has a very varied professional practice. She is a strong advocate of “Getting It Right First Time”, restoring patients back to a good level of function, honest communication and treating patients according to their individual needs. Joanna believes in a personalised plan for each patient and that the decision to treat hand conditions needs a shared approach between both surgeon and patient. She strives to take the time to explain the options and the outcomes.

Joanna treats all hand and wrist conditions, with interests in disorders such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Dupuytren’s disease, Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome, fracture management and degenerative arthritis. She offers alternative options for the management of base of thumb arthritis, including replacement surgery.

Joanna is always looking for Quality and Service Improvement within Hand and Wrist Surgery and has joined a national collaborative called HandsFirst, improving hand and wrist trauma across the UK. She leads on this in Dorset. She performs many procedures under local anaesthetic, enabling patients more input in their surgical procedures and reducing the use of general anaesthetic.

Joanna enjoys and values the training of junior doctors. She is the Royal College of Surgeons Surgical Tutor for Poole Hospital, University Hospitals Dorset, and provides regular educational supervision to both trainees and non-training grade surgeons. She teaches across the Trust, region and UK Joanna is also a Faculty Member for the Royal College, and acts as Course Director for various international surgical courses.

Joanna was also successful in becoming British Orthopaedic Association Culture and Diversity Champion for the region, improving workforce culture within the specialty and beyond. This has led to Joanna developing and sitting on various working groups within surgery. These include Ergonomics in Surgery, Parents in Surgery, BSSH Patient Information Group and International Medics in Trauma and Orthopaedics.

Joanna attends international scientific courses and conferences and has an interest in clinical research and academia.

Joanna has relocated to Dorset with her young and very active family, to take up her Consultant post at University Hospitals Dorset. She enjoys cycling, swimming, skiing and building Lego with her daughters.

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
• Dupuytren’s disease
• Diagnosis and removal of lumps 
• Ganglions
• Cyst removal
• Tennis elbow
• Golfer’s elbow
• Base of thumb arthritis
• Base of thumb (1st CMCJ) joint replacement
• Finger joint arthritis
• Wrist arthritis
• Wrist injuries
• Wrist fractures
• Scaphoid fractures
• Finger fractures
• Finger injuries
• Tendon injuries
• Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome

• British Orthopaedic Association (BOA)
• Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS)
• British Society for Surgery of the Hand (BSSH)
• Orthopaedic Trauma Society (OTS)
• Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management (FMLM)