Dr Binns was educated at Unley High School, Prince Alfred College and the University of Adelaide from which he graduated MB BS in 1923. Shortly after graduation he went to England and worked at the West End Hospital for Nervous Diseases. On his return to South Australia he entered general practice but continued his studies in neurology and psychiatry which he had commenced in London. He obtained his MD in 1937, and his MRACP in 1940. He was elected FRACP in 1956.

In 1938, he married Margaret Sarah Dickson (by whom he had three sons and a daughter, all of whom have survived him) and was appointed the first honorary psychiatrist in the newly opened psychiatric clinic at the Adelaide Children's Hospital, an office he held until his retirement in 1961.

Ray Binns enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in July 1940. A major in the 2/8 Field Ambulance, he and a number of his men were taken prisoner of war at Derna in April 1941. This was the beginning rather than the end of Major Binns' war service. He and Captain EW Levings of Leeton NSW forthwith set up an Emergency Aid Post at Derna and for about four months attended casualties of many nationalities. Many paid tribute to the work of these two doctors and owed their lives to them. Major Binns was awarded an Order of the British Empire for this work. From Derna, Major Binns and his men were transferred to a prisoner of war camp in Northern Italy where he had the care of some 4,800 war prisoners, mainly Australian and New Zealand. In 1943, he was repatriated under an exchange of prisoners scheme and finished his war service in Australia.

Back in civilian life, Dr Binns set up as a psychiatrist in private practice. He resumed his position at the Adelaide Children's Hospital, and also became visiting psychiatrist to the Repatriation Department and command psychiatrist to Central Command (Army). Another appointment was that of official visitor to Parkside Mental (later Glenside) Hospital. When the Australasian Association of Psychiatrists was formed in 1946, Dr Binns was one of the foundation members and was secretary of the South Australian branch for many years. When the Association became a College (and later a Royal College) he was an original fellow.

He took a leading role in opposing some of the provisions of the Alcohol and Drug Addicts (Treatment) Act 1961, and in 1963, he was appointed by the governor a member of the advisory committee to consider amendments to this Act. As a result of the committee's recommendations, the Alcohol and Drug Addicts (Treatment) Act 1961-1964 was proclaimed, to take effect from 1 January 1965. Dr Binns was a member of the first Alcohol and Drug Addicts Treatment Board from 1965 to 1974. As a member of the original board, he was instrumental in establishing the first alcohol treatment centre in South Australia.

Ray Binns was a member of the Anthropological Society of South Australia, with a particular interest in the welfare of First Australians, and was president in 1952. A quiet, unassuming, rather shy man, Ray Binns was a wise physician, a competent psychiatrist and a champion of the disadvantaged.