The British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists

News

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BAPO’s Response to the Government’s Plans to Abolish NHS England

The British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists (BAPO) acknowledges the government’s recent announcement regarding the abolition of NHS England. While we recognise the need for strategic reform within the healthcare system, it is essential that this transition does not overshadow the importance of supporting smaller yet vital allied health professions, including the prosthetic and orthotic workforce. Ensuring the continued expansion and development of these professions across the NHS must remain a priority.

Alongside other professional bodies, BAPO is deeply concerned about the lack of clarity and engagement with affected staff throughout this decision-making process. We strongly advocate for a transparent and collaborative approach, ensuring that any restructuring of the NHS is undertaken in meaningful partnership with professional organisations representing the healthcare workforce.

The NHS’s ability to address its growing challenges depends on sustained investment in the clinical workforce. NHS England has played a crucial role in funding initiatives that support the growth and development of the prosthetic and orthotic workforce, helping to meet the increasing demand for these essential services. It is imperative that this collaborative approach continues, drawing on the expertise of those who understand the allied health landscape to effectively tackle workforce shortages and retention challenges.

Additionally, BAPO urges the government to consider the impact of this reorganisation on the level of care and funding for prosthetic and orthotic services and patients. The removal of NHS England puts some centrally funded prosthetic and orthotic technology at risk. We call on the government to ensure that any changes do not disrupt service user care.

As these structural changes unfold, minimising disruption and maintaining continuity in workforce development and patient care must remain a top priority. BAPO remains committed to advocating for our profession and ensuring that those who rely on our services continue to receive the highest standard of care

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BSR (British Society for Rheumatology) launches its first foot health guideline

The new national clinical guideline in foot health has now been published.

Full guideline:

https://academic.oup.com/rheumatology/article-lookup/doi/10.1093/rheumatology/keaf071

Exec summary: 

https://academic.oup.com/rheumatology/advance-article/doi/10.1093/rheumatology/keaf072/8083042

The BSR have shared some resources around the guideline below:

There is a news article on our the BSR website. 

A new podcast episode has gone live in Talking Rheumatology, available here.

A video version is also available on THE BSR YouTube channel. 

They are also sharing across social media on X/LinkedIn/Facebook/Instagram so please look out for posts and reshare if you can.

Links are all on our Guidelines homepage as well. 

 

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Website Explainer Video

BAPO is thrilled to launch our new website explainer video. This video shows what exciting resources you can find on our website and what members can use when they sign in.

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Calling All AHP Practice Placement Professionals!

Have you been involved in AHP placement delivery within the past 5 years? The Health Sciences University need your insights!

The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan aims to increase AHP training places by 25%, reaching over 18,800 by 2031/32. However, the challenge of providing enough clinical placements is well-known and has significant implications for the future pipeline of AHPs.

To address this, the Health Sciences University has been commissioned by NHS England to conduct a research study on the development and delivery of practice placements. This study aims to support the expansion of placements and drive a positive return on investment for providers by recommending innovative solutions to overcome barriers.

Your participation in this brief survey will help to gather valuable data on the Enablers and Barriers to practice placements.

Please complete and share the survey: https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/aeccuc/removing-barriers-to-placements-hsu

For any queries, please contact Dr. Michelle Holmes at mholmes@aecc.ac.uk

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Call for Responses: A questionnaire looking at the perceived quality of referrals received by orthotics services

A referral acts as a snapshot of a patient’s experience and is written with the intention of continuing their care in an appropriate setting. However, the quality of information provided can vary based on factors such as the referring clinician, the format it is submitted in, and the language used. Often these factors are outside of the patient’s control. If a patient can then be rejected from care based not on their clinical presentation, but on the quality of a referral, it introduces an inequality to our clinical process. For this reason, we ask you to answer a short questionnaire to help us better understand any common trends in the quality of referrals sent to orthotics services in the UK.
We would love to hear from you if you are:
▪ An Orthotist
▪ Working in the UK
▪ Happy to share your experiences with clinical referrals

To respond, please either scan the QR Code: Or follow this link: https://forms.office.com/e/k5PFtgZ3YB