The British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists

News

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Bridging Borders: Strategies to master a UK interview as an Internationally trained AHP

Bridging Borders: Strategies to master a UK Interview as an Internationally trained AHP” webinar
Date: 12th of November Wednesday
Time: 5pm to 6pm BST (10:30pm to 11:30pm IST)

Hosts: Vignesh Murali (Chair- BIAHPA) and Bhavna Mehta (Executive Co-Lead for Communications)

Speakers: 
1) Saravanan Sivanithi
Head of Therapies
West London NHS Foundation Trust
About the speaker: Saravanan came to the UK as a Band 7 physiotherapist in July 2022 and was promoted in November 2023 to a Head of Therapies role which is is currently in. He has faced both sides of Interviews and will share his experience. 
Topic: Top tips to answer clinical questions 

2) Thangaraj Senniappan
Director, Therapies on Thames
About the speaker: Raj came to the UK as a Band 5 Occupational therapist and progressed to the position of Elderly Care Lead. He then took up an Interprofessional Lead position. In 2012 he left the NHS and founded Therapies on Thames (Community and Inpatient Rehab services). 
Topic: Expectations of the Independent Sector

3) Jacqueline Learoyd
Operational Manager for Countywide Long-Term Conditions and Therapies, 
Midlands Partnership University NHS FT 
About the speaker: Jacqui leads a team of multi professional colleagues across Staffordshire. She has supported numerous Internationally trained staff to join her Trust’s workforce. 
Topic: Top tips for values based and non clinical questions
 
Register here

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200TH ANNIVERSARY OF CHARCOT’S BIRTH

THE ANATOMO-CLINICAL METHOD: CHARCOT LEGACY IN 21ST CENTURY

When:    Tuesday 25 November 2025

Time:     15:00 –16:30 GMT                           

The theme of the webinar will be a reflection of J.M. Charcot’s anatomo-clinical method which became the beacon of the Salpêtrière. We will provide an overview of its significance over two centuries and pave the way for the future in bone biology. 

 Programme: 

Charcot’s innovative approach in medicine: the anatomo-clinical method 

Dr Richard Paisey

 Inflammation-Driven Osteoclast Activity in Charcot Foot: evidence from blood and bone biomarkers 

(Dr Ioanna Eleftheriadou & Dr Anastasios Tentolouris;  Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Laiko General Hospital, Athens, Greece).

 From Tissue to Genes – One Cell at a Time – Exploring Charcot foot through cutting-edge spatial transcriptomics and cellular mapping 

(Assoc Prof Christina Moeller Andreasen, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark)

 Scan the bar code or click the link below to register. 

 https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_zC2kW2wDRPusaGlQmdxMGg#/registration

 Participation is free and the webinar will be recorded.  However, access on demand will be available only to registered participants. 

 

This event is sponsored by the  GCRI – Global Clinical Research Institute  and EWMA Innovation Alliance – EWMA

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Introducing the New Vice-Chair of the Technician and Support Worker Committee: Sam Baker-Jackson

The British Association of Prosthetics and Orthotics (BAPO) is delighted to announce the appointment of Sam Baker-Jackson as the new Vice-Chair of the Technician and Support Worker Committee.

Sam brings passion, and commitment to representing and supporting technicians and support workers across the orthotics and prosthetics profession. In her new role, Sam will work closely with Committee Chair Bex and fellow members to ensure that every voice within the profession is heard, valued, and championed.

“I am very excited to have been appointed as Vice-Chair of the Technician and Support Committee. This is an incredible opportunity to represent and support our colleagues, ensuring that every voice within our profession is heard and valued. I am passionate about working collaboratively to develop new ideas, strengthen our network, and champion the vital role of technicians and support staff within orthotics and prosthetics,” said Sam.

Sam looks forward to leading initiatives that promote innovation, recognition, and professional development within the community, helping to drive growth and excellence across the sector.

BAPO congratulates Sam on her appointment and looks forward to the positive impact her leadership will bring to the Technician and Support Worker Committee.

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Why it’s time for the private and third sectors to work together

From Tom Williams OBE, founder of STAND

In July I went to ISPO’s conference in Sweden, and my mind is still buzzing. It was a mix of innovation, technical jargon, business cards, and big ideas. I was representing STAND, an NGO focused on providing mobility to eight countries in sub-Saharan Africa. 

But amidst all this, one question kept coming back to me: how can business and charities work together to help all amputees across the world and not just in high income countries? 

For too long, we’ve operated in silos, assuming governments will patch the gaps. But those gaps are growing in lower income countries, and it feels like no one’s coming to fix them.

Business and non-profits are already intertwined

We’re beginning to see businesses are more linked with social and environmental impact and solutions, whether they like to admit it or not. However, this isn’t about blame. It’s about collaboration.

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Flying Start Launch Webinar

NHS Education for Scotland are hosting a launch webinar for the refreshed Flying Start NHS programme on Wednesday 5th November at 12.30 – 13.30pm. Flying Start is the national development programme for newly qualified Nurses, Midwives and Allied Health Professionals. Flying Start supports practitioners to develop in their first year of practice and build evidence of learning and development.

Please register by clicking the link here or scanning the QR above:

The webinar will outline: 

  • The benefits of Flying Start 
  • Key Changes to the programme
  • Overview of completing Flying Start
  • The role of Facilitators and Line Managers/Supervisors 

We would greatly appreciate your support in raising awareness of the launch event. The webinar is open to all including NQPs, practice educators, facilitators and managers. 

If you require any further information please email us at Flyingstart@nes.scot.nhs.uk

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BAPO Tech and Trends Webinar – The Solution for Limb Volume Variation : Introducing the Ethnocare Overlay

Details

This webinar will introduce participants to Ethnocare and its innovative prosthetic device, the Overlay.


Designed to address the challenges of limb volume fluctuations and socket fit issues, the Overlay uses an integrated air expansion system to provide amputees with customizable comfort and improved stability, mobility and performance throughout the day. The session will share the story behindEthnocare’s user-centered development process, present clinical evidence on the problems caused by current solutions, and demonstrate how the Overlayrepresents a simple, universal, and impactful advancement for both patients and clinicians.

 

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Enhanced Practice Roadshow- You’re invited!

A bright green leaflet advertising the Enhanced Practice Roadshow. Readers are invited to attend the roadshow which is described as a national series of in-person events exploring Enhanced Practice. The leaflet includes Allied Health characters encouraging the reader with speech bubbles to ‘share their voice’, ‘train to retain’ and ‘co-create for change.’ Below the images are dates of the roadshow. The roadshow is described as providing an opportunity for Allied Health professionals to Contribute to discussions on the importance of enhanced level practice as part of the government’s 10 Year Health Plan. Collaborate with peers in workshops to identify barriers, enablers and solutions to; Socialising enhanced level practice. Developing education to improve mentorship. Embedding enhanced level practice into workforce planning. The tour dates are listed as – 2025 Tour Dates! 1st October, The Studio, Riverside West, Leeds 15th October, Mercure Blackburn Dunkenhalgh Hotel & Spa 22nd October, Mercure Sheffield Kenwood Hall & Spa 29th October, Mercure Liverpool Atlantic Tower Hotel 5th November, Mercure Birmingham West Hotel 19th November, Mercure Bedford Centre Hotel 26th November, Redworth Hall Hotel, Darlington 10th December, University of Salford, Manchester

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10 Year Workforce Plan – call for evidence document

Dear members,

The NHS (England) has an open consultation asking for evidence to support how professions are meeting or can meet the key shifts in the new ten-year plan. The key shifts are: 

  • hospital to community 
  • analogue to digital 
  • sickness to prevention 

It is vital P&O submit case studies, data, stories etc – please submit something on behalf of your organisation or as a service user. Please share far and wide to ensure P&O is represented. We are well positioned for keeping people out of hospital and delivering care closer to home. We are an innovative and technological equipped profession and key to preventing ill health.  

Please see the link below with all the details and how to submit: 

https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/10-year-workforce-plan/10-year-workforce-plan-call-for-evidence-document

Respond to the Survey here: 10 Year Workforce Plan: call for evidence – Department of Health and Social Care

(The survey will close at 11.59pm on 7 November 2025)

Thank you in advance 

BAPO Team