| Presenters name | Presentation Title | Authors |
| Alice Dudley (with Daniel Hodgkin) | Analysing AFO Stiffness Through Finite Element Modelling: Design Implications | Nicky Eddison1,2, Panagiotis E. Chatzistergos2, Sara Behforootan2, Alice Dudley1, and Nachiappan Chockalingam2 The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, 2Staffordshire University. |
| Miriam Williams | Are researchers adequately describing the design and materials of the AFOs they are studying? | Nicky Eddison1,2, Miriam Williams1, Nachiappan Chockalingam2 1 The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust 2 Staffordshire University |
| Megan Milne | Awareness of Orthotics in the General Public | Miss Megan Milne Dr. Christine McMonagle |
| Alice Dudley | Can telehealth be effective in orthotic services? | Alice Dudley, Dr Nicola Edison |
| Alice Dudley | Challenges and Opportunities in AFO Manufacturing: A Comprehensive Analysis of Industry Practices, Quality Control, and Knowledge Transfer | Alice Dudley, Danielle Whittaker, Nicola Eddison, Panagiotis Chatzistergos and Nachiappan Chockalingam |
| Daniel Hodgkin | Consistency in AFO specification and material thickness changes during the AFO manufacturing process | Nicola Eddison (Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust), Daniel Hodgkin (George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust) |
| Aoife Healy | Development and validation of the Staffordshire Questionnaire for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (SQ-AIS) | Enza Leone (1), Nachiappan Chockalingam (1), Robert Needham (1), Aoife Healy (1), Nicola Eddison (1,2), Nikola Jevtic (3), Vinay Jasani (4) (1) Centre for Biomechanics and Rehabilitation Technologies, Science Centre, Staffordshire University, Leek Road, Stoke on Trent, ST4 2DF, United Kingdom (2) Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, Wolverhampton, WV10 0QP, United Kingdom (3) Scolio Centar, Novi Sad, 403916, Serbia (4) University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust, Stoke on Trent, ST4 6QG, United Kingdom |
| Cara Raeburn | From student to orthotist – A personal reflection on joining the workforce at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH) | Cara Raeburn |
| Jo Billin (with Samantha Jackson) | Green Project Orthotics Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust | Sudi Nayyar- Orthotic Supervisor Samantha Jackson -Orthotic Clerk Ndanatsei Mupawaenda- Cancer Care Navigator Kate Pugh- BAPO Administration and Project Support Officer |
| Kate Chauhan | Innovating the provision of foot orthotics with the introduction of 3D printing | Kate Chauhan (1,2), Jonathan Murfin (1), Paul Drake (1), Rob Hattersley (1), Alex Callaghan (1), Mark Smith (1,2), Barry Campbell (1). |
| Kate Chauhan | Introducing computer aided design and manufacture to orthotic scoliosis treatment | Kate Chauhan, Alice Haynes |
| Matthew Hill | Off-the-Shelf Stability Therapeutic Footwear (OSSTF) for mobility-impaired children: An international Delphi consensus on prescription criteria and outcome measures | Dr Matthew Hill*, Aoife Healy*, Nachiappan Chockalingam* *Centre for Biomechanics and Rehabilitation Technologies, Staffordshire University |
| Eileen Morrow | Outcomes for children’s lower limb surgery: A qualitative study of allied health professional perspectives | Eileen Morrow – University of Exeter Christopher Morris – University of Exeter Tim Theologis – University of Oxford Julia Frost – University of Exeter |
| Richard Minifie (Senior Engineer and Medical Lead) | Ricoh 3D x ORLAU | Manufacturing a Sustainable Future in P&O | Main Contact: Josh Coffey, Communications Lead, Ricoh UK Products Ltd. Contact Number: 01952 290090 (Main Reception) |
| Alexandra Ball | Survey of Lower Limb Prosthetic Users to Investigate Their Contralateral Limb Health | Alexandra Ball (Keele University) |
| Alayad Ghada | Sustainable Prosthetic Socket Design for Active Users in Hot Climates: Advanced Sweat Management and Thermal Regulation | Alayad Ghada |
| Christabelle Asoluka | The BAPO Sim project: Case studies simulation for learning about prosthetics and orthotics | Sandra Sexton, Kate Pugh, Rebecca Greene, Christabelle Asoluka |
| Salma Benyahia | The Effect of Spinal Orthoses on Immobilizing the Cervical Spine | Nicky Eddison, Salma Benyahia, Nachiappan Chockalingam |
| Innocent Enyinnaya | The Effectiveness of Footwear Adaptation on Functional Outcomes in People with First Metatarsophalangeal Joint Osteoarthritis | Innocent Enyinnaya |
| Cara Raeburn presenting on behalf of Helena Santos | The experience of a Portuguese Orthotist working for NHS in the UK | Helena Cristina Almeida Santos |
| Samantha Jackson | The importance of good leadership and team work in job satisfaction | Samantha Jackson and Sudi Nayyar The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust |
| Becky (Rebecca) Stevens | Valgus/Varus strapping for Ankle Foot Orthoses (AFOs) a case study | Becky Stevens (Peacocks Medical Group) |
| Eileen Morrow | Who benefits from dynamic contracture bracing? A retrospective single centre case series | Eileen Morrow University of Oxford Oxford University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust |
| Paul Charlton | Why orthotists should take a lead role in gait re-education following stroke and how we should use our skills | Paul Charlton Msc Orthotist, Peacocks Medical Group |
Congratulations to our poster abstract winner, Megan Milne who created the poster to raise awareness of orthotics in the general public.
| Presenter Name | Presentation Title | Presenter Bio | Contact email |
| Dr Stephanie Tempest | Growing and supporting the P&O workforce towards a sustainable future | Dr Stephanie Tempest is an occupational therapist, with significant experience across practice, leadership, education, and research, a Chartered Fellow at the CIPD and one-third of The Creative Health Alliance team. She is presenting on behalf of the broader project team working on the PBERC 24/25 (Professional Bodies Education Reform Commission). | Enquiries@bapo.com |
| Bex Wilkinson | Recycling Prosthetic Components: A Sustainable and Safe Approach to Enhancing Accessibility and Improving Lives | Bex has worked as a prosthetic technician since 2015 and initially worked in the NHS before joining Dorset Orthopaedic in 2021 where she is now Workshop Lead. Bex has been a trustee for the limb recycling charity ‘STAND’ since 2019. She also uses social media to promote careers in P&O, as well as give patients a behind the scenes look at how their prostheses are made | BexW@Dorset-ortho.com @prosthetictechbex on Instagram & TikTok |
| Briony Davis and Tanja Scherrer | Empowering Patient and Carer Self-management for Sustainable Orthotic Services | Briony is Assistant Head of Podiatry and Orthotics and Clinical Lead Orthotist for Swansea Bay University Health Board. She studied P&O at the University of Salford; working in Eire prior to joining SBUHB in 2013. Briony delivers specialist clinics in Paediatric Orthotics, high-risk Diabetic foot, and a regional multi-disciplinary clinic for patients with Charcot Marie Tooth disease. Throughout her career, her passion has been delivering safe and effective care through co-production, with further development into Patient Activation. Briony deputises on the Welsh Allied Health Professionals Committee which advises Welsh Government on AHP developments and matters impacting AHP’s in Wales. | briony.davis@wales.nhs.uk |
| Steve Hewitt | Staying Ahead of the Curve: The Evolution and Future of Scoliosis Brace Treatment | Since graduating in 2007 at Strathclyde University I have always had a real interest in scoliosis, and was fortunate to follow a career path that has allowed me to develop this passion. Progressing from Boston Bracing to the SpineCor Brace, to Gensingen brace and now fully specializing in scoliosis treatment using the CMP brace. And what a time to be so heavily involved, when previous concepts and theories are really being challenged and seeing the evolution of scoliosis treatment firsthand. | s.hewitt@spinecorporation.com |
| Eileen Morrow | Research and Sustainability in Prosthetics and Orthotics | Eileen Morrow is a clinical academic orthotist. She holds an NIHR Doctoral Clinical Academic Fellowship which she is undertaking at the University of Oxford, running the CELLOS Study. Her research interest is in paediatric orthopaedics. She is the chair of the BAPO Research Committee and a committee member of the Council for Allied Health Professions Research (CAHPR) Oxfordshire hub. | Eileen.Morrow@ndorms.ox.ac.uk |
| Aoife Healy | Allied health professional (AHP) telehealth consultation guidance: what do the guidelines say and what do AHPs think about them? | Aoife is a Lecturer of Sport & Exercise Biomechanics at Ulster University. Her area of research is clinical biomechanics, with a focus on diabetic footwear, mobility assistive technology, gait analysis and plantar pressure measurement. She also has an interest in policy development and telehealth. She has recently joined BAPO as an Education and Practice Development Consultant. | a.healy@ulster.ac.uk |
| Ian Adam | Designing and teaching apprenticeship qualifications in P&O | Ian started his career in Orthotics from High School when he took up an apprenticeship as an Orthotic Technician with Greater Glasgow Health Board upon completing his training, he was offered a position at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow a position he still holds part-time. He has always had an interest in technician training and in 2015 he worked with the Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA) to design the UK’s first national qualification for Orthotic and Prosthetic Technicians. In 2020 Ian joined the University of Derby to design, author and teach on the new P&O apprenticeships. | i.adam@derby.ac.uk |
| Naveed Ahmed and Mark McAloon | Keele University strategies to address workforce shortages and sustainability in Prosthetics & Orthotics | 1. Naveed Ahmed: I graduated from the Pakistan Institute of Prosthetic and Orthotic Sciences (PIPOS) in Pakistan in 2008. I then completed my Master’s in Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Technology from the University of Dundee in 2014. After graduation, I worked for 6 years at PIPOS, teaching Prosthetics and Orthotics to undergraduate students, including a two-year secondment at the Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (IPM&R) at DOW University of Health Sciences in Karachi. In 2015, I moved to Saudi Arabia and worked as a lecturer of P&O for 6 years at Taibah University. Since September 2021, I have been working at Keele University as a lecturer of a newly developed HCPC-approved MSc in P&O. 2. Mark McAloon: In 1992, I began my clinical career as an Orthotist, later specializing in neurological paediatric rehabilitation. I have 20 years of experience as a Senior Lecturer in Higher Education and have managed nine modules throughout my career. I also have experience in managing P&O programs, having served as a UG Programme Lead. Since Oct-2022 I am working as the Programme Director of an HCPC approved MSc in P&O at Keele University. | n.ahmed1@keele.ac.uk m.t.mcaloon@keele.ac.uk |
| Richard Hirons and Giles Leeming, Ossur | Sustainability and the role of a Medical Device Supplier | Giles Leeming – Having trained in both Prosthetics/ Orthotics (BSc (Hons) and Podiatry (BSc (Hons), Giles worked as an Orthotist for Blatchford in Sheffield. He joined Össur in 2008 focusing on clinical support, as well as training and educational activities for the bracing and supports portfolio. Giles is now focused on neuro orthotics, specifically the FIOR & GENTZ portfolio which we are launching direct into the UK from September Richard is a clinical specialist prosthetist with Ossur, and is both a founder employee of Ossur in the UK since 1995 and is also a founder member of BAPO. Richard’s current role is Director of the Ossur Academy in North and South Europe, responsible for internal and external education programmes | |
| Deborah Bent, Limbless Association | The Power of Peer Support – Developing an effective and sustainable model (for the limb loss community) | Debbie joined the Limbless Association in 2016. Deborah has a Degree in Charity and Social Enterprise Management and has worked in the voluntary sector for over seventeen years. During this time she has managed multi-stakeholder projects for infrastructure organisations, charities and social enterprises. Her experience comprises strategic review and planning, change management, project design and development, monitoring, evaluation and impact measurement. Her pre-charity sector career was in business development and marketing.
| deborah@limbless-association.org |
Invited Speakers
Deborah Bent
The Power of Peer Support – Developing an effective and sustainable model (for the limb loss community)
Dr Stephanie Tempest
Growing and supporting the P&O workforce towards a sustainable future
Dr Jo Watson
Growing the P&O workforce: Update on the PBERC work 24/25
Pre-Preceptorship and Preceptorship workstream:
Preceptorship is a period of structured support provided during key moments of career transitions. In the context of this project, the focus is on the transition between pre-registration learner and registered professional.
The BAPO (2024) Early Career Guidance Framework for Prosthetics and Orthotics introduces the concept of preceptorship, how it can be both structured and personalized, the value it adds, and top tips for all involved. The focus of this workstream is on: (a) embedding pre-preceptorship within pre-registration P&O curricula, so that new graduates are ready for, and receptive to, employer’s preceptorship offers, and (b) developing guidance and other resources to support employers, line managers, preceptors and preceptees to embed inclusive engagement with preceptorship, regardless of the employment context.
Pre-registration Learner Support and Engagement workstream:
Pre-registration learners is an equitable term that includes students enrolled on BSc(Hons) and pre-registration MSc programmes, and Level 6 apprentices. The aim of this workstream is to expand and develop the pre-registration learner support mechanisms and resources offered by BAPO.
It focuses on two specific areas: 1. Developing a sustainable approach to providing pre-registration learners with an equitable opportunity to feed into and engage with BAPO via a learner network, forum, community of practice, or similar, and 2. Creating a Learner Hub page on the BAPO website to house those profession-specific resources provided by the professional body that are of most relevance to pre-registration learners
Gemma Cassidy
Inclusive practice in higher education for Disabled Students
To understand current inclusive practice in higher education with regards Disabled students, define gaps and discuss barriers and enablers to inclusion. Considerations will include the higher education experience in addition to placement experience. Multi stakeholder input is vital including higher education staff, placement educators, apprentice employers and P+O students. To include your experience please email gemma.cassidy@bapo.com
Michael Guthrie
Scope of practice statements
Advanced practice network
Supervision
Enhanced practice
Scope of practice statements
This project is about reviewing and updating standards, guidance and information published by BAPO, to address any perceived barriers to the development of advanced practice roles in prosthetics and orthotics. We will be making changes to publications and information which include BAPO’s Standards for Best Practice and the BAPO Ethical Code.
Advanced practice network
This project will establish a network for BAPO members who are in advanced or consultant practice roles or who are interested in or aspire to these levels of practice.
Supervision
We will develop guidance on supervision for prosthetists and orthotists. This will build on existing guidance published by the HCPC and others to make the case for good quality supervision to support the practice and development of prosthetists and orthotists.
Enhanced practice
Enhanced practice is a level of professional practice which is the precursor to advanced practice. This project will support growing understanding of enhanced practice in prosthetics and orthotics.
Dr Stephanie Tempest
Growing the P+O workforce
The Support Worker project explores the roles and opportunities to develop patient-facing support worker and technician roles. Building on from the publication of the Support worker framework for the prosthetic and orthotic workforce, the end product includes a dedicated BAPO webpage for this vital segment of the profession, to aid workforce development.
The P&O Careers project involves segmented work to promote the profession with students, people leaving the Armed Forces and those starting life after Professional Sport. It also involves updating the general P&O Careers Guide. Multiple resources will be developed as outputs and will be accessible for use by members in their own career promotion activities.
Marion Billingham
To research, evaluate and provide a model which delivers a sustainable pipeline of apprentices
As an Enterprise Advisor in South Yorkshire, she is passionate about promoting P&O as a career option for school and college leavers
Developing a sustainable pipeline of L6 apprentices in P&O
This project is reviewing the progress and uptake of the L6 Degree Apprenticeship launched in 2022. This will allow us to determine how we can ensure that this route is seen as a viable and attractive alternative for employers and students to ensure the sector meets the targets required by the NHS long term workforce plan.
Dr Beverley Durrant
Growing the P&O workforce: Update on the PBERC work 24/25
| Creating the Climate to maintain the supply pipeline involves collaborating with P&O stakeholders to instill a sense of accountability regarding the recruitment and retention of the workforce. The strategic emphasis will be on leveraging key development opportunities, building upon the foundation laid by the recently released BAPO resources and assets. |
| The educator workstream is about focusing on the pillar of education to build capability to support increased numbers of P&O learners, maximising opportunities for growth utilising available capacity. This will be achieved by embedding best practice guidance alongside proposing an allocation tool that will ensure capacity to support increased numbers of learners. |
| Reviewing approaches to practice-based learning by building and effectively using capacity to support practice-based learning will ensure a comprehensive understanding of the topic. Assessing capacity will allow foundations to be built on a robust understanding of PBL capacity across the UK for both prosthetics and orthotics, for the first time.
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Kay Purnell
As an OETT trustee for over a decade, and current Chair, my interest in training & education for the P&O profession has continued even after leaving operational roles within the industry.
Kay Purnell – Freelance Consultant – KMP Consulting | LinkedIn
| Project objectives: Review whether training, education & development for P&O clinicians is impacted by the commissioning of P&O services in England. Establish a connection with a wide range of stakeholders who can influence the opportunity for & delivery of training, education and development for P&O clinicians in the future by either contributing to defining a new model service specification or supporting clinicians opportunity for training, education & development. |
Steve Hewitt
Staying Ahead of the Curve: The Evolution and Future of Scoliosis Brace Treatment
Exhibitors
We are pleased that the below companies will be exhibiting with us at our Midlands conference at Drayton Manor. Why not visit the exhibition space and discover everything available to P&O.
