Dr Steve Baynes

I am a founder member of the Spire Southampton Hospital GP service with over 25 years' medical experience having graduated from Nottingham University in 1987, then embarking on a rich and varied career. I have postgraduate qualifications in a number of general practice areas and was accredited as a GP trainer.

After spending time in Australia, following my GP specialist training, I returned home to the UK to work in general practice in the New Forest and continued in that role for over two decades while extending my studies in sports and exercise medicine. In 2013, I left my practice to follow a career in sports and exercise medicine along with private and freelance NHS general practice. I continue to keep my GP skills and knowledge up do date and provide GP clinics at the Spire Hospital in Southampton every week.

In my GP practice I aim to offer a comprehensive and friendly service covering most of the usual conditions seen in General Practice. During the consultation I will gather all information I need from you, then conduct a rapid and thorough investigation and then we will plan your onward pathway of care together. I have developed a wide network of trusted specialist colleagues to whom I can refer and I have access to the many Spire hospital diagnostic facilities.

I am experienced in treating patients of all ages and backgrounds, and frequently see patients visiting the UK from overseas. I can also complete medical examinations and reports – it is advisable to email copies of the report required to the Spire GP secretaries to be sure that everything can be organised in advance.

In addition to my GP experience I have considerable experience working in Sports Medicine and looking after sporting teams. My first major sports medicine appointment came in 2008 when I provided medical support to a four man team from a local cycling club who took part, and eventually won, the 2008 Race Across America. That trip proved the catalyst for me to become involved in more high profile sporting events and I worked on several elite level triathlons before taking a position as a Medical Control Officer on cycling’s Tour of Britain.

My GP and event support experience along with my experience working with elite cycling teams, earned me the opportunity to work at the 2012 Olympic Games, where I worked as Race Doctor for the road race and time trial cycling events and Sport Medicine Doctor for the track events in the Velodrome. It was during 2011 that I began working with Team Sky (now Team INEOS) and attended my first race at the 2011 Tour of Mediterranean. Before that year was over I had also travelled to the late-season Italian Classics, and after supporting Richie Porte in his victory in the 2013 edition Paris-Nice, began exploring the possibility of joining the team on a permanent basis which I did in 2014. I joined Team BikeExchange in 2018 and remain as one of their team doctors.

In 2010 I was appointed as Club Doctor with Southampton Football Club when the team played in League One. Since then the team have seen promotion to the Championships and then to the Premier League. I currently provide medical services to the First team at home and away matches and at the training ground and work closely with a group of doctors looking after all of the other squads from schoolboys through the academy to the B Team.

In 2018 I was appointed as Chief Medical Officer for the British Sailing Team and have recently returned from the Tokyo2020 Olympics which, having been postponed due to the COVID pandemic, were held in 2021.This proved to be a very successful regatta, the team winning three gold, a silver and a bronze medal.

In 2019 I was appointed to the Medical Advisory Committee of the Southampton Spire Hospital which oversees the ongoing quality and governance of medical issues within the hospital.