The British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists

News

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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@bapowp.axia.support

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Opportunities for employment in NHS Scotland.

Are you a Prosthetic and Orthotic Students based in Scotland?

Are you in your final 3-6 months of your degree?

 

Under the UK Coronavirus Act 2020, Emergency Registers have opened to former registrants to accelerate the workforce capacity across NHS Scotland. NHS Education Scotland (NES) has created an accelerated recruitment portal live from 29th March.

This portal will be collecting applications from across health and social care immediately, within health, initial priority for processing will be given to returners, nursing, midwifery and AHP students within the final 3-6 months of their education or final year of their honours programme.

To apply please access via

https://www.careers.nhs.scot/coronavirus-covid-19-recruitment/

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Covid-19 & AHP

The AHP Council have released a letter of support and guidance for AHPs at this time, Here is the letter from Chief AHP Suzanne Rastrick and to view the letter please click below

Supporting AHPs 19 March 2020

“Dear Chief AHPs,

 Please find attached a letter giving guidance and support to Allied Health Professions (AHPs) and AHPs support workers during this unprecedented time. The letter, written collaboratively by the four nations Chief AHP Officers, Council of Deans of Health, Health and Care Professions Council, General Osteopathic Council and the AHP Federation, recognises the need for flexibility in the delivery of services and that this requires a rational approach to the varying practice in such an emergency situation. The expectation of employers, educationalists, professional bodies, and national NHS organisations will be that they are flexible in their approach and that healthcare professional regulators, including the HCPC and GOsC, have already committed to take into account factors relevant to the environment in which the professional is working.

 This can be stressful, and we recognise that you may have concerns about both the professional practicalities and implications of working in such circumstances as well as the physical and emotional wellbeing of the workforce. Our advice for clinicians on coronavirus can be found here https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/

 Thank you to the many AHPs and their support staff across the NHS, wider health and care systems, and public health services who have already made major contributions to the response to COVID-19. We are very proud of the response of the professions in all areas of practice in their initial response to this challenge. We are confident of the commitment, dedication, professionalism and hard work that the AHPs workforce have and will continue to have over the course of this significant pandemic.

 Please share this with the AHP workforce across the systems in which you work.”

 Kind regards

Suzanne

Suzanne Rastrick OBE Chief Allied Health Professions Officer (England)

 

For all other updates on Covid-19 please click here