We’re delighted to welcome Chiazoka to BAPO as our new Public Health and Sustainability Lead. These two areas are vital to the future of prosthetic and orthotic care and align closely with the ambitions of the NHS Ten Year Plan, which prioritises prevention, early intervention, and long-term health outcomes over reactive treatment.
Prosthetic and orthotic services play a pivotal role in preventing ill health, by maintaining mobility, reducing falls, managing long-term conditions, supporting people to remain in or return to work, and enabling independent living with improved quality of life. Alongside this, we must also ensure our services are environmentally responsible, minimising waste, lowering our carbon footprint, and contributing to a greener, more sustainable NHS.
Chiazoka brings a wealth of, passion, and commitment to these priorities. Her leadership will be instrumental in shaping a profession that is both proactive in promoting public health and accountable in its environmental impact. We’re thrilled to have her on board as we continue to lead and innovate in these critical areas.
If you’re a BAPO member and would like to support your profession to engage with public health and sustainability we would love to hear from you
Allied Health Professions public health strategic framework 2025-2030
This UK-wide Strategic Framework sets out a shared vision for the role of Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) contribution to public health across the UK between 2025 and 2030, along with the goals we aim to achieve to realise the vision.
AHP UK Public Health Strategic Framework 2025-2030_final+links
Social prescribing
Social prescribing improves outcomes for people by giving more choice and control over their lives. It is effective at targeting the causes of health inequalities and is particularly useful for people who need more support with their mental health, have one or more long-term conditions, are lonely or isolated, and/or have complex social needs that affect their wellbeing.
Prosthetists and Orthotists can engage with social prescribing in a number of ways and the framework describes a continuum of practice in this area.
Access resources from NHS England or the RSPH.
Make Every Contact Count (MECC)
By using a MECC approach healthcare professionals can help people make healthier choices to achieve positive long-term behaviour change. Access NHS England’s resources to support local implementation and measure impact or take a look at resources from NICE and Public Health Wales.
