The British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists

BAPO

by

Cambridge Diabetes Education Programme

BAPO have recently endorsed the Cambridge Diabetes Education Programme. This is a e-learning platform which is aligned to national competancy frameworks. This resource is accessible to all levels of healthcare practitioners and enables clinicians to evidence their diabetes knowledge and skills which may be relevant to their working role.

To access  click here

BAPO has negotiated a 20% reduction in platform registration costs for members. Members should contact the lead CDEP educator for further Information and redemption to this discount.

For more information see: CDEP flyer

by

Postcode Lottery

Postcode lottery for NHS orthotics patients

Specialist orthotics care for patients with mobility issues varies significantly depending on where they live, new research by Staffordshire University reveals.

The findings, published on BMJ Open, have uncovered major differences across orthotics services at various NHS trusts and health boards.

Problems within orthotic service provision in the UK have been the focus of a number of reports by the NHS and other organisations.  An NHS report from 2014 highlighted that many patients experienced long waiting times which could lead to the development of secondary health complications.

Professor Chockalingam and colleagues at Staffordshire University based their research on Freedom of Information (FOI) requests sent to all NHS trusts and Health Boards in the UK. The survey scrutinises information on Finance, Service Provision, Staffing, Complaints, and Outcome measures and key performance indicators (KPIs).

The results highlight large variances in the length of appointments, appointment waiting times, product entitlements for patients, and product lead times. Certain geographical areas were found to provide shorter waiting times and wider access to assistive devices. The findings also reflect there is more information available on the quantity of service above the quality of service.

The findings showed that:

  • average and maximum waiting times for adult appointments were 7 and 34 weeks, respectively.
  • Scotland seems to fair better in all of the reported measures. Patients in Scotland have longer appointment times and the average waiting times are lower.
  • some Trusts are not fully accommodating the needs of children

Nachiappan Chockalingam, Professor of Clinical Biomechanics at Staffordshire University, explained: “Within the NHS, the Orthotics Service is poorly understood and low in priority lists. Therefore, it is essential to evaluate the current state of provision to ensure that services are capable of meeting future demands.

“In 2011, a report estimated there were 2m orthotics users in England and assistive devices including wrist splints, custom footwear, foot and ankle support, back and neck braces are needed to alleviate pain, help patients recovering from injury and those with chronic conditions.

“In future, there will be an increased demand for orthotics services because of the projected population growth, the aging population and the rising prevalence of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular and peripheral vascular diseases.”

Dr Aoife Healy who co-authored this study added: “Our results highlight that some of the Trusts appeared to not accommodate the needs of children fully. Waiting times of 20 weeks for routine and 8.2 weeks for urgent appointments are unacceptable”.

The researchers hope that these findings will prompt the NHS to instigate its own evaluation of services across the country.  Ms Lynne Rowley, Chair of British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists (BAPO) said: “We welcome this study, which clearly showcases the inequalities across orthotic service provision in the UK. BAPO has been aware of this issue and has been working with NHS England. However, this study is timely and provides a push in the right direction.”

However, the combination of the number of Trusts and Health Boards who declined to reply to the FOI request and those who replied with limited information hindered the team’s ability to provide a national picture of Orthotic Service provision.

Professor Chockalingam added: “The UK NHS needs to establish appropriate processes to record the quality of service provision since this will enable improvements in clinical management and ensure good value for money.”

Read the full paper http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2018-028186 here.

by

National Associations for Orthotist/Prosthetists

BAPO has represented British Prosthetists and Orthotists at the inaugural meeting of National Associations for Orthotist/Prosthetists. We are proud to be working alongside some wonderful other P&O societies from across the world to improve P&O!

by

Malvern Diabetic Foot Conference

 

 

Wednesday 13 – Friday 15 May 2020

The Malvern Diabetic Foot Conference is the longest standing, biannual international diabetic foot meeting held in the UK.

Want to attend?

The Malvern Diabetic Foot Conference has been running for over 33 years and was the original multidisciplinary team foot conference. In 2020 the event will be feature 2 major surgical joint symposia as part of the programme. One with the British Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society and the other with the British Vascular Society.

This three day conference is designed to bring together physicians, surgeons, podiatrists, orthotists and nursing staff with a common interest in diabetic foot problems. It is anticipated that the conference will improve our understanding of this disease which represents one of the main causes for in-patient treatment amongst the diabetic population.

  • The early-bird delegate rate of £295.00 + VAT, will be available until Friday 31 January 2020.
  • From Saturday 1st February 2020 the attendance fee will rise to £320.00 + VAT.
  • Places at the Conference Dinner are also available to pre-book at a cost of £35.00 + VAT.
  • Payment can be submitted during your online registration by Credit Card using PayPal.

 

FMI Click here

by

AHP VR360

Health Education England (HEE) have just published some great new Virtual Reality videos designed to show students and other professionals what some of the smaller AHPs do. This includes a video on P&O, alongside one on Podiatry, Othoptics & Therapeutic Radiography

These are view-able in 360deg with a VRHeadset and really show what each profession does in a new and exciting way.

To view the films please go to the web link https://hee-vr360.azurewebsites.net/

 

by

Developing AHP leaders: a guide for trust boards and clinicians

NHS England and NHSI have produced a new guide to developing AHP Leaders.

This new interactive PDF resource shares the findings from a project thye have been working on to explore common factors which contribute to AHP leadership development.  By combining trust executives’ expectations of AHP leadership, with individual accounts from chief AHP leaders (see also – ‘Investing in chief allied health professional leadership: insights from trust executives’), they have identified the common features that combine to create a platform and framework for AHP leadership at all levels and an extensive list of helpful resources, hints and tips.

It was developed to provide ideas and opportunities for aspiring AHP leaders and those who support the development of the AHP workforce, to ensure that the AHP workforce is developing the leaders required for the future.

guide will also be useful for:

  • AHPs with leadership aspirations
  • those supporting the development of future AHP leaders
  • those developing AHP leadership capacity and capability within their organisation and system
  • those supporting AHP workforce appraisal processes
  • career coaching and mentoring conversations

It can be downloaded on the NHSI website: https://improvement.nhs.uk/resources/developing-allied-health-professional-leaders-guide. or can be downloaded by clicking here

 

 

by

National AHP Dementia WEBEX

All AHPs have been invited to join the National AHP Dementia WEBEX – sharing practice; connecting people, connecting support.

Date   –   Wednesday 27th November

Time   –   3.30 – 4.20pm (50 min session)

Topic  –     The delivery of a person-centred, Food First model of care, for people living with dementia in Highland social care settings

Guest presenter –Evelyn Newman, Dietician NHS Highland 

 

To join the WEBEX you need to

  1. Email wendy.chambers@nhs.net to register (if you are joining as a group then only 1 person needs to register the group)
  2. Have access to internet/computer to view the slide show during the WEBEX
  3. Have access to a landline phone to join the audio; listening to the presentation and joining the WEBEX discussion

 

Please ensure you have registered by the 25th November

email:      wendy.chambers@nhs.net

Twitter :  @wendyAHPDem

work mobile:   07843345627

by

Australian Orthotic Prosthetic Association Congress 2019

Australia’s P&O conference

#AOPA19 returns to Melbourne for three days of unmissable education, networking and collaboration for all professionals involved in orthotic and prosthetic care. Please join us at the purpose-built Crown Conference Centre from October 24th-26th for Australia’s premier orthotic and prosthetic event.

Date:                           24th-26th October 2019

Location:                     Crown Conference Centre, Melbourne

Title:                            AOPA Congress 2019 “Innovation in Action”

Hyperlink:                    https://www.aopa.org.au/events/event/aopa-congress-2019

by

Representing P&O

Our Professional Affairs committee works hard to ensure P&O is represented on all of the relevant consultations in health care. This means that P&O is not forgotten and is including when commissioners are considering services

Some of our latest inclusions in national pathways this year include

The ‘AHP maternity care pathway’ consultation and AHPs in Care Homes

 

 

The committee alongside the executive also try to do their best to help our members make sense of complicated documentation a great example is the new MHRA Guidance Document