The British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists

News

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Press Release – Footcare Network

Invitation to join the English Diabetes Footcare Network

 

BAPO strongly recommend that Orthotists working in diabetes in England join this new MDT network.

To register for the network, visit edfn.org/register.

The English Diabetes Footcare Network (EDFN) is an online community dedicated to the improvement of diabetes footcare in England. It is supported by both the British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists and the College of Podiatry.

The network will encourage the dissemination of best practice, provide a professional forum & support education, offering both webinars and podcasts. The latest news will be shared, alongside monthly newsletters and stage for an annual conference with awards.

It was formed by a group of interested diabetes foot champions, including Christian Pankhurst (Orthotist), Dr Paul Chadwick, Professor Mike Edmonds, Alistair McInnes and Richard Leigh. Together this group has developed a steering group to establish a network across England.

Christian Pankhurst, who is a Clinical Specialist Orthotist within Guy’s & St. Thomas’, said: “This is a long-awaited opportunity to link the clinical networks across the country to provide a multi-disciplinary focus for strategic developments, share best practice and advise relevant stakeholders on matters relating to service delivery and improvements in England for diabetes-related foot and lower limb disease.”

Chair Richard Leigh, who is a Consultant Podiatrist from Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, said: “If you are involved in diabetes footcare, join our network and become part of a new community dedicated to improving care and reducing amputations.

We are passionate about raising the standards of diabetes footcare and believe this network will provide a much-needed platform to share the best ways of working across the country, pick up examples of best practice and provide a single voice for our community.”

 

In England, the development of sustainability and transformation partnerships (STPs) and the bids for NHS England Diabetes Fund for multidisciplinary diabetes footcare team (MDFT) transformation, with its focus on foot disease, has led to development of innovations in practice and new ways of working.

However, there was no robust mechanism for sharing these new ways of working across England and the wider UK, with developments and duplication of work occurring at regional levels among the 12 NHS England clinical networks, without their benefit being felt more widely.

In response, a scoping exercise was carried out and the need for a national network was identified.

The network is now launching an ambitious national improvement programme to drive up standards of diabetes footcare in England.

The first meeting of the English Diabetes Footcare Network was held in London at the College of Podiatry in March 2019.

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Call To Action- Student Practice Placements

Our profession needs your help!

With services slowly resuming across the UK, our undergraduate students have been unable to start their placements due to the pandemic. Whilst the universities have continued to offer virtual educational sessions with training officers, clinical placement still remains the keystone to their development and ultimately gaining their qualification.

We are looking for centres for our students for an 8 week block to deliver practice placement experience now.

Please consider- do you currently have a student? Could you accommodate 1 more? Could you work in partnership with another local service? If your service only has clinical cover for 4 days a week, that could still offer a valuable placement with the final day being self-directed study

If you don’t have a student- why not? With support, could you?

Please contact BAPO secretariat for further advice/support and lets get this co-hort through their training.

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Clinical Placement Webinars

To support the Clinical Placement Expansion bid, to inspire ideas and confidence and also ongoing placement expansion Health Education England have produced some quick webinars. They will be recorded and will be available here shortly after  https://www.hee.nhs.uk/our-work/allied-health-professions/helping-ensure-essential-supply-ahps

 

Placement expansion quick wins webinar 1: ‘What are ‘alternative models’ of student supervision and how can we use them to our advantage?’

1630-1700 on 14 July 2020

Presented by Sophie Gay, University of Winchester

The webinar will cover the following concepts:

  • 2:1, 3:1 and Dyad. What do these mean, and what can they look like in your service
  • The benefits of multiple student models – NOT just to increase capacity
  • Overcoming the ‘barriers’ to having students
  • Creating a learning environment – making students a part of the team
  • Quick wins  – what can be done NOW to increase your student capacity whilst maintaining high quality learning experience.

Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_OWNmNTcyYjYtMTc4My00OWE2LTk0NmEtMWIxNjc3ZWM3MDg0%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22ffa7912b-b097-4131-9c0f-d0e80755b2ab%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%224390cd43-72b6-4b6d-9b06-9200d6ff8d5e%22%2c%22IsBroadcastMeeting%22%3atrue%7d

 

Placement expansion quick wins webinar 2: What are ‘role emerging placements’  and how can we use them to our advantage?

 1630-1700 on 15 July 2020

 Presented by Dr Rachel Russell, University of Salford

The webinar will cover:

  • What are role emerging placements
  • What do they look like
  • The University of Salford Model
  • The benefits of REPs

Link:  https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_YWVlMDcyMWEtZjNmYi00NTJkLWIzODQtZGRhMzJiNTE5MGEz%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22ffa7912b-b097-4131-9c0f-d0e80755b2ab%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%224390cd43-72b6-4b6d-9b06-9200d6ff8d5e%22%2c%22IsBroadcastMeeting%22%3atrue%7d

 

Placement expansion quick wins webinar 3: What are ‘on-site clinics  and how can we use them to our advantage?

 1630-1700 on 16 July 2020

Presented by: Leah Asante & Peter Roberts, University of Huddersfield

  •  Definition of on site clinics
  • why they are in place
  • benefits
  • how-to guide

 https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_ZjM0ZTQxNmYtMWYwZi00YmE5LWI3M2EtNWFlN2Q2MmQ0YTZj%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22ffa7912b-b097-4131-9c0f-d0e80755b2ab%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%224390cd43-72b6-4b6d-9b06-9200d6ff8d5e%22%2c%22IsBroadcastMeeting%22%3atrue%7d

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Limb Power Online Fitness

LimbPower is proud to announce that it is running online ‘Adaptive Fitness Fun’ sessions twice a week for children with limb difference. These workout sessions are being run by LimbPower Ambassador Jack Eyers, not only an elite athlete and personal trainer, but also the first amputee to win Mr England.

The sessions take place every Tuesday and Thursday morning at part of the #StayInWorkOut campaign by Sport England to keep England Active. Jack’s sessions will focus on fundamental movement skills, agility, balance, co-ordination and cardio for children; adults can join in too!

Kiera Roche, Chief Executive Officer of LimbPower, says: “The mental and physical health of our children is paramount, particularly during lockdown. Jack’s sessions will help children to get moving, improve their fitness and remain positive during these challenging times. As a parent myself, I know providing this structure twice a week will make a huge difference to children and their families.”

Jack, who is currently training for the Tokyo Paralympic Games selection, is making each session different, focusing some on cardio and others on movement, co-ordination and balance. He explains: “These workouts will help children stay healthy and keep fit. I am passionate about making each session fun and accessible for all, so I look forward to seeing you each Tuesday and Thursday!”

Each work out is 20+ minutes and Session 1, Session 2, Session 3, Session 4 and Session 5 are already available on LimbPower’s YouTube Channel

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UK Assistive Products List

BAPO are a stakeholder partner for a new survey launched by the British Assistive Technology Association in collaboration with the WHO-GATE programme. The UK Assistive Products List survey follows on from the original global survey developed by GATE, to which you may have been asked to contribute.

 

Using the original Assistive Products List as a starting template, we are looking to establish a Priority Assistive Products List specific to the UK. We are therefore asking all BAPO members to respond to the simple survey below to highlight which assistive products you feel are of greatest importance to you and your patients.

 

We would really value your input in this collaborative project and welcome your expertise in what we hope will help improve access to quality assistive products and services in the UK.

 

The UK APL survey can be found here: https://bit.ly/UKAPL

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COVID-19 Psychological First Aid

PHE have launched an updated Psychological First Aid (PFA) digital training module, aimed at all frontline and essential workers and volunteers.

The course aims to increase awareness and confidence to provide psychosocial support to people affected by COVID-19.  PFA is a globally recognised training in emergency situations and we have developed this new course as part of our national incident response, and in partnership with NHS England, Health Education England, FutureLearn and E-Learning for Health.

The course is free, and no previous qualifications are required. It takes around 90 minutes to complete and is also available in three sessions for the learner to complete at their own pace. By the end of the course, outcomes will include: understanding how emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic can affect us, recognising people who may be at increased risk of distress and understanding how to offer practical and emotional support.

To register click: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/psychological-first-aid-covid-19/1

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Dementia Webinars

The AHP Dementia Webinar Team have worked on some new webinars on supporting patients. The following is a message from them including links to register for the webinars

Let’s stay connected: Allied Health Professionals using digital technology to stay connected with people living with dementia or supporting a person with dementia

In these times of change we have all had to adapt to how we stay connected to each other and those we support. Our series of webinars by allied health professionals during dementia awareness week in Scotland, will provide an overview of how we CAN support you if you are living with dementia or supporting a person with dementia. There will be an opportunity to ask questions throughout and during the Q and A section of the webinar. Everyone is welcome to join us

 

Please register for our first webinar of the week called :

Enhancing lives through technology –  AHP Dementia Webinar Series on June 1st, 2020 3:30 PM at:

 https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2873201311764537870

Register for our second webinar called :

Connecting People, Connecting Support Online – AHP Dementia Webinar on June 2nd, 2020 3:30 PM at:

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3784036744214367758

 

Please register for our third webinar called:

Staying physically active during Covid – AHP Dementia Webinar on June 3rd, 2020 3:30 PM at:

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/39188101091162382

 

Please register for our final webinar  called:

Supporting people to eat and drink well with dementia – AHP Dementia Webinar on June 5th, 2020 3:30 PM at:

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/963319927655393038

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

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Workforce Survey

Thanks to those who have responded to our ‘Workforce Survey’. This poll has been designed to get a perspective on members experiences and, through comments, their views on the current Covid-19 crisis; providing the opportunity to explain how this has affected them, the services where they work and patients they treat.

In responding to the crisis BAPO are engaging with patient/user groups and stakeholder bodies, and are seeking out concerns raised by their members. In addition we are also reaching out to the national P&O managers groups and employers to clarify if there is a shared position in response to the crisis.

Initial issues which have been raised include:-

  1. Unclear position on urgent care being offered
  2. Unclear provision for growth in children who depend on an orthosis or prosthesis
  3. What pathways will be available to those not be able to obtain a prothesis or orthosis?
  4. What are the plans to manage access once services resume (including how will the backlog be prioritised and will social distancing impact on capacity)?
  5. How can parents/users access advice (including access to remote advice and information)?

 

We aim to collate the returned initial views and opinions by Friday and then draw on those to produce initial guidelines for all stakeholders. This is so that they can be used to advise and signpost clinicians, managers, carers, parents and service users.

As a follow up we plan to organise a webinar for the week of May 4th to communicate with service users and stakeholders; to share those guidelines. BAPO will now aim to develop a consensus on the best way to manage the current challenges and those which will emerge as P&O clinical services reboot.

 

Best wishes

Lynne

Lynne Rowley

Chair BAPO

 

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BAPO Guidelines for Virtual Patient Assessment

In light of the Covid-19 Pandemic and the challenges it has caused to normal practice, a working group was formed to assist our clinicians in providing a virtual service.

This group has worked incredibly hard in a very short timescale to produce some new guidance for the profession and we would like to thank them all for their work.

The attached guidelines have been created to allow Orthotists to pro-actively rise to the challenges faced in the current climate and enable Orthotists to still treat non-urgent patients without the need for face-to-face consultations in a standard orthotic clinic

You can find these guidelines here BAPO Guidelines for Virtual Patient Assessment or in the education resource section of the website

If you have any feedback or questions relating to these guidelines please email enquiries@bapo.com