BAPO Admin

Annual General Meeting

Monday 30^th June 2025

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists will take place on MS Teams on Monday 30^th June 2025 at 19:00 to which all BAPO members are invited.

Nominations for Executive Committee membership

Nominations are invited for membership of the Executive Committee, and you can access the form to do this by clicking nomination form. Nominations will close on 30^th May 2025 at 23:59.

Voting for Executive Committee membership

Voting will follow once nominations close and a link to vote will be sent to you in a separate email. Voting will open on 9^th June 2025 and will close on 23^rd June 2025.

AGM attendance

In order to attend the AGM you will need to register by clicking registration form. A Teams link for the meeting will be emailed to all who have registered on 16^th June 2025. 

Meeting papers

Meeting papers will be shared with all members on the 16^th June 2025.

Submission of agenda items and questions

Agenda items and questions are requested from members of the Association and should be submitted electronically to enquiries@bapo.com no later than 30^th May 2025. This will ensure the fullest response, particularly in the event that you are unable to attend the meeting. A submitted question may be read by the member raising the issue or a member of the EC if preferred by the questioner. Where necessary, agenda items will be voted upon in the AGM.

Why attend the AGM?

BAPO is a member run professional body, and the views of the members are vital to its development and direction. Various agenda items may require a vote of the membership in attendance, and this is your chance to have your say on these items. Past AGMs have provided a time for constructive discussion of key issues concerning BAPO members and the EC hope that this AGM will provide similar opportunities. 

I look forward to hearing from you in due course and hope you can attend the meeting.

Yours sincerely

Sophie Hill

Secretary

Recognising Excellence in Prosthetics and Orthotics

Prosthetist of the Year

Zoe Savage – Winner 2021 (Inaugural)

Zoe was the inaugural recipient of the Prosthetist of the Year award in 2021. Reflecting on her achievement, Zoe stated: 

“Receiving this award would not have been possible without the inspiration I have received from my manager and my colleagues, for whom I have the deepest respect, and from whom I have derived the strength to challenge myself and perform better.”

 

Caroline Clark – Winner 2022 (Patient-Nominated)

Caroline was nominated by her long-time patient, Lisa, who recognised Caroline’s unwavering dedication, clinical expertise, and the personal care she offers each of her patients. Lisa shared:

“I don’t know what I’d have done without her!”

Caroline’s compassionate approach and commitment to patient-centred care left a lasting impression.

Rose Morris – Winner 2022 (Professional-Nominated)

Rose was recognised for her longstanding dedication to supporting prosthetics and orthotics students as a practice educator. She has played an instrumental role in inspiring and mentoring the next generation of professionals, providing guidance, encouragement, and leadership throughout her career.

Orthotist of the Year

Steve Musgrove – Winner 2021 (Inaugural)

Steve received the inaugural Orthotist of the Year award for his tireless dedication to patient care, particularly for younger patients undergoing orthotic treatment. Nominated by a colleague, Steve was praised for consistently “going the extra mile.”

Gordon Steel – Winner 2022

Nominated by a peer, Gordon was honoured for a distinguished career devoted to clinical excellence, education, and mentorship. A lifelong learner and dedicated clinician, Gordon has supported countless patients, colleagues, and students throughout his career.

Kate Chauhan – Winner 2023

Described as an inspiration by her nominator, Kate was recognised for her passionate commitment to her work, as well as her contributions to research and innovation within the field of orthotics.

Student Placement of the Year

Sarah Stewart – Winner 2023 (Inaugural)

Sarah was nominated by her practice educator, who highlighted her professionalism, patient rapport, and willingness to engage fully in every learning opportunity. Her experience ranged from paediatric scoliosis clinics to diabetic MDT settings.

“Sarah has a natural ability to put patients at ease, a flair for communication, and a holistic understanding of patients’ goals and lifestyles. She demonstrates sound clinical judgement and a strong commitment to best practice.”

🔎 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