Archives for April 2025

🔎 This comprehensive review explores how current commissioning models have the potential to affect the growth, retention and morale of the P&O workforce — and what must change to secure the future of patient care.

📚 Key insights include:

• Barriers to education and development across commissioned and in-house services

• The consequences of viewing P&O services as product-centric rather than clinically led

• The urgent need for protected time and funding for Continued Professional Development (CPD)

• Recommendations for improving commissioning practices, leadership pathways, outcome measures, and workforce sustainability roving commissioning practices, leadership pathways, and workforce sustainability

🔗 Read the full report below and discover how we can work together to support and empower the prosthetic and orthotic profession.

The British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists (BAPO) recognises the significance of the recent Supreme Court ruling regarding the interpretation of “woman” and “sex” within the Equality Act. We are committed to supporting our members and service users through these developments while upholding our core values of inclusivity, professionalism, and compassion.

Overview of the Ruling

The Supreme Court has clarified that within the Equality Act, the term “woman” refers specifically to a biological woman, and “sex” is to be understood as biological sex. As a result, a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC)—which legally recognises an individual’s gender identity—will not change a person’s legal sex for the purposes of the Equality Act.

However, it is important to note that transgender individuals continue to be protected under the Gender Recognition Act.

Implications for Practice

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is expected to publish an updated code of practice for service providers, including the NHS, by summer 2025. BAPO is actively reviewing the ruling to understand any potential implications for the prosthetics and orthotics sector.

This decision may influence guidance related to single-sex accommodations in settings such as hospital wards and treatment spaces. Existing guidance is available through the EHRC’s publication:

Separate and Single-Sex Service providers: A Guide on the Equality Act Sex and Gender Reassignment Provisions.

A Call for Compassion and Sensitivity

This evolving legal landscape requires a sensitive and compassionate approach.

The need for single-sex spaces often arises from past experiences of trauma. It is equally critical to acknowledge that transgender individuals have historically been, and continue to be, the targets of discrimination and abuse. Public debates frequently challenge their right to exist, leading to increased exposure to harm, particularly through media and social media channels.
BAPO sends its unequivocal support to the transgender community. We encourage all members to remain mindful of the emotional and psychological impact this environment can have on transgender individuals.

If you require support, please consider speaking to someone you trust or utilising resources available through organisations such as:

Terrence Higgins Trust – Clinics and Resources for Trans and Non-Binary People.

Supporting Transgender Colleagues and Service Users

Allies play a vital role in creating inclusive and supportive environments. We encourage members to:

– Regularly check in with transgender colleagues and service users.
– Engage in wellbeing conversations using resources such as:
How to Hold Wellbeing Conversations – Keeping Well.

– Strengthen their allyship skills through resources like:
Courageous Conversations at Work: How to Be an Ally and Take Action – Equality and Diversity UK.

As healthcare professionals, it is essential that we uphold the highest standards of conduct and ethics in all aspects of our work, including interactions on social media.

Our Commitment to Inclusivity

BAPO remains steadfast in our commitment to inclusivity and celebrates diversity as a strength.

We are dedicated to building holistic and inclusive spaces within prosthetics and orthotics, ensuring that all our staff, learners, and service users feel safe, valued, and respected. Together, we will continue to advocate for healthcare environments where diversity thrives, and everyone can access compassionate and equitable care.

The 2025 CAHPO Awards nomination period will open on Thursday 1 May and close on Sunday 1 June.

The Chief Allied Health Professions Officer (CAHPO) Awards is a unique opportunity for AHPs to receive recognition for their personal contributions towards delivery of exceptional care for patients. The awards also promote adoption and scale of good practice through celebrating and sharing success.

The awards are open to all 14 AHPs including support workers, assistant practitioners, registered professionals, and pre-registration apprentices. You can either nominate yourself or another AHP. However, nominations of another AHP will be kept anonymous.

Please note that the CAHPO Awards is for NHS or publicly funded initiatives/projects. Nominations can be made here or via this QR code once the nomination form opens:

The award categories include:

• AHP Leadership for Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Award
• AHP Research Impact Award
• AHP Digital Practice Award
• AHP Workforce Transformation Award
• AHP Creative Provision of Placements Award
• AHP Public Health Award
• AHP Innovation and Improvement within Integrated Care Systems Award
• Greener AHP Award

Questions can be directed to england.cahpo@nhs.net. Find us on X @SuzanneRastrick, Instagram @chief_ahp_officer_england, and Bluesky @suzannerastrick.bsky.social