The British Association of Prosthetics and Orthotics (BAPO) have written to the Secretary of State to raise serious concerns about the potential closure of the Prosthetics & Orthotics apprenticeship programmes at the University of Derby. Losing this vital training route would remove a third of the countrys’s pipeline and put the future of our already fragile workforce at risk — affecting prosthetists, orthotists, technicians, and ultimately the millions of people who rely on these life-changing services. In our letter, we’ve asked for urgent clarity from NHS England and the Government on:
• Delayed apprenticeship funding
• Undelivered employer support
• The stalled work on small & vulnerable professions
• The lack of a clear commissioning pathway for P&O services
The consequences of inaction are real and human: reduced independence, poorer health outcomes, and increased pressures on already stretched services. BAPO is calling for immediate steps to protect training, stabilise the workforce, and safeguard the future of prosthetic and orthotic care across the country. We will continue to advocate on behalf of our profession and the people we serve.
