The British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists

News

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BAPO Regional Conference West Midlands SOLD OUT!

We are pleased to confirm that we are sold out for the next BAPO Regional Conference in the West Midlands.

The event is scheduled for Friday, September 6th, 2024, at the Tower and Hamilton Suites, Drayton Manor, Drayton Manor Drive, Fazeley, Mile Oak, Tamworth B78 3TW. You can find information on how to get there HERE

Our one-day event theme will be based on  “Sustainability in Prosthetics and Orthotics.” 

It will feature a combination of invited speakers and free paper presentations aimed at prosthetic and orthotic professionals. 

The program will commence at 10:00 am and conclude at 4:00 pm, with registration and exhibition starting at 9:00 am. There will be a 1-hour lunch break and two 15-minute coffee breaks in the morning and afternoon. All will be served in the room opening onto the exhibition area.

The event is targeted at P & O professionals and the wider P & O community. It is open to both BAPO members and non-members.

It is a great opportunity to enhance knowledge, support continuing professional development, network with colleagues, and engage with exhibitors in a face-to-face environment.

Come along to learn, collaborate, communicate, and share ideas!


Please note –  Oral Presentation:

  • Time limit for oral presentation is 15 minutes. A 5-minute maximum Q & A session will be allowed following the presentation.
  • All submissions will be reviewed by the BAPO review panel which reserves the right to accept or reject the application based on pre-approved criteria.
  • All submissions will receive a written acceptance or reason for not being included in the regional event.
  • We recognise and value the amount and depth of work which goes into preparing a submission. We want to encourage as many submissions as possible, which if not accepted, may be reconfigured for a future event.
  • There is a £200.00 prize awarded to the selected best oral presentation
  • The selected oral presentations will receive free registration to the conference.

Please note – Posters:

  • There will be an award of £100 for best poster.

If you have any questions, please email: enquiries@bapo.com

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BAPO Short Course – The Rehabilitation KAFO and Improving Manufacturing Outcomes.

Introduction:
The prescription of Knee Ankle Foot Orthoses (KAFOs) often presents challenges for those lacking
extensive experience, whether in understanding the rationale behind prescription, design, and
alignment, or in effectively communicating these needs between clinical and technical staff.
Additionally, manufacturing KAFOs can be complex, with technical staff sometimes struggling to
grasp various aspects of the process.


Aims:
This course aims to bridge the gap in information exchange between different professional groups
within the industry, addressing challenges stemming from a lack of experience and confidence. By
simplifying the patient journey and technical process, we seek to save time, money, and improve
consistency in practice and outcomes, both clinically and in manufacturing.


Learning Outcomes:
Participants will gain knowledge in the following areas:
1. Physical and biomechanical background relevant to lower limb orthoses and KAFOs more
specifically.
2. Understanding basic presentations and making appropriate design choices.
3. Applying principles of prosthetics science to KAFO design, including underlying rationales.
4. Considering social and health status factors in KAFO prescription.
5. Manipulating Ground Reaction Force (GRF) for optimized outcomes and increased stability.
6. Conducting assessments and making informed prescriptions and component choices.
7. Overview of locked, posterior offset, and optimisable stance stabilised KAFOs.
8. Manual shape capture techniques, including corrections and alignment.
9. Preparation of casts for ease of use by technical staff.
10. Building Line of Progression or anatomical KAFO designs.
11. Efficient preparation time shortcuts for technical and clinical staff.
12. Establishing an auditable trail in cast and orthosis manufacturing.
13. Conducting test fittings and implementing fitting tips and tricks.
14. Appraising existing KAFO designs and measuring outcomes effectively.
Intended Participants:


This course is designed for Technicians and Orthotists, with particular emphasis on the synergy
between Technician and Orthotist teams. Collaborative participation is encouraged to maximize
learning outcomes and practical application. Please note: This course is not available to Students.


Note: please bring shorts and the tools you normally use for negative model capture
(casting).


Faculty:
Dave Buchanan – Technical Director and Consulting Orthotist, Technical Director Becker-UK,
Becker Orthopedic International Consultant, TalarMade Ltd
Venue and website:
TalarMade Ltd, Edinburgh House, Millenium Way, Chesterfield, S41 8ND. https://talarmade.com/
Parking – there is a large car park around the back left of the building. It is free for attendees to use.
Please don’t park at the front of the building.

Date & Time:
Monday 10 and Tuesday 11 June 2024
Registration 08:30 – 09:00am on day 1
Start 09:00am, finish 5:00pm on both days
2-day course ticket includes lunch (30 minutes) and refreshments


Places available:
12 – tickets are available to purchase on our website – https://www.bapo.com/
Ticket Prices:
BAPO Members £435.00 including VAT (£362.50 excluding VAT).
Non-members £600.00 including VAT (£500.00 excluding VAT).


We encourage Orthotist attendees to apply online for reimbursement from OETT (The Orthotic
Education and Training Trust).


Applications can be made on the OETT website at https://www.oett.org.uk/
Requests for reimbursement must include evidence of reflective learning/CPD.

To purchase tickets, please log on to your BAPOnline account and click the KAFO poster it will direct you to the ticketing area.

Not a member? follow the link below and select “Non-Member Events Registration” once registered it will allow you to purchase the ticket. If you have any trouble, please contact enquires@bapo.com 

Purchase tickets here

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NHS Forest Awards

Do you know a healthcare site that has gone the extra mile with its green spaces? Recognise their hard work and nominate them for an NHS Forest Award! You can even nominate your own team for an award.

The NHS Forest team at CSH would love to hear about:
  • Innovative development of green space at health sites. What have you/they done that is new and different to enhance and make use of physical green space to enhance biodiversity?
  • Active community engagement. How have you/they involved community members?
  • Pioneering use of green space for health and wellbeing. What did you/they do, who was involved and what difference has it made to staff, patients or the community?
  • Collaborative green space projects. How have you/they worked across different departments, groups or organisations to develop green space?

Nominations now open. Submit nominations via the NHS Forest website: https://nhsforest.org/nhs-forest-award-nomination/

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Advancing Healthcare Award Winner 2024

BRITISH ASSOCIATION OF PROSTHETISTS AND ORTHOTISTS AWARD

FOR INSPIRATIONAL INNOVATORS IN PROSTHETICS AND ORTHOTICS AND OVERALL WINNER

BAPO is pleased to share the winner of the BAPO Inspirational Innovators in Prosthetics and Orthotics Award and The Advancing Healthcare Awards Best Overall Winner Award.
 

“Huge congratulations to Steve and the team at Sheffield Children’s Hospital for winning the BAPO-sponsored Advancing Healthcare Award and winning the Overall Award. A first fo P&O and a magnificent achievement. The project was so inspiring and shows the impact orthotic treatment can have for our patients”

Dr Nicky Eddison, BAPO Chair.

“BAPO was delighted to sponsor this award and Steve and his team’s achievements show why it’s important to celebrate their success. This groundbreaking work is changing lives which was also recognised by him winning the Overall Award. It was an absolutely joy to share this experience with him and to see the P&O profession being recognised in this way. Congratulations Steve!”

Sue Irving  BAPO CEO

BAPO would also like to congratulate the two shortlisted, Eileen Morrow and Cathrine Finlayson for their excellent contributions to the P&O profession.

The winner was announced at The Advancing Healthcare Awards on 26th April 2024 at the Park Plaza Victoria, London. 

You can view more information and take a look at photos of the day on the AHA website here

WINNER – Steve Hewitt

Spinal Clinical Specialist (Orthotist) at SCH (Sheffield Childrens Hospital), The SpineCorporation Ltd

Scoliosis management in SMA (Spinal Muscular Atrophy) patients

It was a great honor to be nominated for the Advancing Healthcare Awards, which has come about after 7 years of continued development into spinal bracing for children with SMA.
All of this could not have been possible if it wasn’t for the pioneering approach of the Neuromuscular team at Sheffield Children’s Hospital, along with the innovation and support within Spinecorporation. 

This started as a highlighted need for a more unique design for this complex caseload as we envisaged the longer-term issues we may face around spinal and postural management, with what was, in essence, a new patient group.  We have identified the key features within bracing that are fundamental to their treatment, and implementing my knowledge of more advanced postural corrective techniques in managing scoliosis have arrived at our current brace design.

We have been driven to produce a new treatment protocol and make it evidence-based, with early results being presented last week at the SMA world congress, and has led to a recent multicenter NHS collaboration, interest from several SMA charities, and attracting significant interest from around the UK and now internationally, as parents strive to find the best treatment options for their children.

    SHORTLISTED – Eileen Morrow

    Doctoral Clinical Academic Fellow, University of Oxford

    Research leadership: trailblazing contributions to prosthetics and orthotics

    I am honoured to be shortlisted for the BAPO prize for inspirational innovators in prosthetics and orthotics at the Advancing Healthcare Awards. This shortlisting represents a massive collective effort to advancing research in prosthetics and orthotics, and I am very grateful for each of my academic mentors and collaborators. As I continue my DPhil, I am excited for the future as I continue to develop as a researcher. Thank you for the recognition of my contributions. 

      SHORTLISTED – Catherine Finlayson

      National Operations Manager and Prosthetist, and the team at Opcare and Crispin

      Transfemoral sockets: it’s time to amputate outdated designs

      Hello! I’m Catherine Finlayson, National Operations Manager and Prosthetist, for Opcare. Having graduated in 2012 from the University of Strathclyde I have gained prosthetic clinical experience in a number of centres in England. I have progressed through my career in various roles by developing leadership and management skills as well as keeping in touch with clinical practice.
      Our project that was shortlisted for the Advancing Healthcare Awards focused on transfemoral socket design and technology and the utilisation of 3D printing for this patient group. Our project identified improvements both from the patient’s perspective and that of the service provider, but also in terms of environmental impact which is an area often overlooked in our industry. This, combined with the cost-effectiveness of the prototypes we developed, make it an attractive option which we hope can become the norm in our clinics.
      I would like to acknowledge the rest of my team: Melisa Hallan (Clinical Lead Prosthetist – Opcare), Les Street (Senior Technician – Opcare), and Elen Parry (3D Design Engineer – Crispin) – thank you all for your combined efforts and input. I hope that we can inspire others to develop ideas and work on projects to improve the outcomes and experience for our patients.

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        Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship for Prosthetists & Orthotists

        Registrations are now open for the September 2024 intake of our Level 6 apprenticeship.  This is a 3-year course leading to a BSc (Hons) Prosthetic and Orthotic Degree/ Degree Apprenticeship and eligibility to register with HCPC.

        Prosthetists/ Orthotists are registered healthcare professionals who use evidence-based practice to provide clinical assessment, prescription, technical design, and fabrication of prosthetic and/or orthotic devices.

        The programme has been developed to reflect key policies shaping the Prosthetic and Orthotic profession, the NHS, Health and Social Care sectors today with the skills and attributes needed within the workforce to deliver care with compassion and skill to ensure the best outcomes for patients and service users. The programme has been developed through close consultation and collaboration with NHS England (formerly Health Education England), Skills for Health, members of the Prosthetic/Orthotic industry, both private companies and the NHS and Prosthetic and Orthotic service users. 

        This programme is mapped directly to the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education (IFATE) standards and the Health Care Professional Council (HCPC) Standards of Proficiency:

        • Candidates completing the Level 6 qualification, BSc (Hons) Prosthetics/Orthotics Degree/ Degree Apprenticeship, will become eligible to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a Prosthetist/Orthotist.
        • Gain essential practical experience within both fields of Prosthetics and Orthotics
        • Benefit from some of the best university facilities of their kind, including clinical skills suites and our state-of-the-art immersive suites.
        • Learn from a highly experienced and enthusiastic teaching team that provides full support to help you achieve your ambitions.

        The course is mapped to the HCPC Standards of Proficiency, as well as the IFATE standards, which makes students eligible to apply for HCPC registration on completion of the course.

        The entry requirements for the course are:

        • 120 UCAS tariff points which can be achieved through relevant level 3 qualifications including Access to Higher Education (60 credits: 45 at level 3 with a minimum of Dist: 15 Merit: 24 Pass: 6), A-Levels, T Levels or BTEC (distinction, distinction, merit)
        • Or Level 3 qualification in a Health and Social Care related course
        • Level 2 English qualification (GCSE Grade 4-9, GCSE Grade A-C, Level 2 Functional Skills English, Key Skills Level 2 Communication or equivalent)
        • Level 2 Maths qualification (GCSE Grade 4-9, GCSE Grade A-C, Level 2 Functional Skills Maths, Key Skills Level 2 Application of Number (Numeracy) or equivalent)
        • Health or care experience to demonstrate an insight into the professional values and behaviours associated with health and care environments.
        • Employers are responsible for ensuring apprentices meet occupational health requirements and have passed appropriate vetting procedures, which may include a Disclosure and Barring Service Check and Right to Work check. This is evidenced through the submission of supplementary evidence as part of the selection process.
        • Apprentices will have been identified by the organisation as being able to succeed on the programme, and employers may set additional entry requirements as part of the selection process prior to assessment for entry by the University.
        • Applicants must complete an occupational health assessment and an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check as part of the selection process and any offer made will be subject to these.
        • The apprentice must be employed in a Prosthetic or Orthotic Department and must have the support of their manager that they will be able to complete the apprenticeship. Apprentices can be either new or existing employees.

        For those in England, course fees for this qualification are covered by the apprenticeship levy if your company does not pay the levy then you are only required to pay 5% of the course fee or it can be gifted to you by an organisation that you work with such as the NHS.  For those in the UK, except England, there is a non-apprenticeship route, course fees would be payable by the employer directly to the university.

        More information about the course costs and levy funding can be supplied by the university business team (b.cope@derby.ac.uk).

        Applications will close on             26/06/2024.

        Online induction                           11/09/2024 (TBC)

        Course starts                                 23/09/2024.

        Clinical Skills Week on campus    TBC

        For more information on the course or to register a candidate please contact the course leader

        Jane Ansell

        Senior Lecturer in Prosthetics and Orthotics, Programme Lead, University of Derby

        j.ansell@derby.ac.uk

        07769671888