Funded places for the BOA Future Leaders Programme (FLP)
Applications Welcome!

Closing date for applications: Thursday 1st May 2025

Dear BASS and BSS members,

The 2025 BOA Future Leaders Programme (FLP) has launched and applications are now open. BASS and BSS will be sponsoring one fellow each for this programme. These places are only open to members of BASS and BSS.

Applications will close on Thursday 1^st May 2025.

To be eligible to take part in the programme, when the programme runs, you must be either:

• A senior trainee (ST8 or above)
• A newly appointed consultant (less than 3 years)
• An SAS Surgeon (FRCS Tr & Orth)
• A post-CCT Surgeon

The successful candidate must be a BOA member when the programme runs to be eligible to take part. (you may still apply without BOA membership, but will need to apply if successful. You must be a BASS or BSS member upon application)

The application and selection process will be anonymised to reduce the potential for unconscious bias.

To apply: Please download the Main BOA Future Leaders Programme application form, provide your CV and complete the Equality and Diversity Monitoring form. Send your completed application to policy@boa.ac.uk

More information on the FLP and how to apply is via BOA website at: boa.ac.uk/flp

Applications are welcome for the 2025 Presidents' Travelling Fellowship
EXTENDED Deadline - Midday on Thursday 2nd January 2025

The British Association of Spine Surgeons (BASS) and the British Scoliosis Society (BSS) offer senior residents, spinal fellows and consultants within two years of their appointment a chance to have extensive exposure to complex spinal procedures at established spinal units over 2 weeks.
 
The Fellowship programme includes mandatory attendance at BritSpine 2025 in Manchester, 12-14 March 2025 to complete a group presentation. The programme rotates between established orthopaedic and neurosurgical spinal centres allowing significant contact between fellows and leaders in the field.
 
The Fellowship will take place between Monday 24th February and Friday 7th March 2025. The Fellowship will rotate around centres in the UK (Centres proposed around Preston and Salford - subject to change). Fellows will then attend BritSpine 2025 in Manchester to present as a group on their Fellowship.
 
If you have any questions or queries about this fellowship, further details can be obtained from Mr Aprajay Golash (president@spinesurgeons.ac.uk) and Mr Neil Oxborrow (president@britscolisis.org.uk)
 
Application Process:
To apply, please submit the following documents:

• your Curriculum Vitae (CV),
• a single-page personal statement describing your career pathway, interests and future plans.
• A letter of recommendation from your supervising consultant/clinical lead.

Your application should be sent to UKSSB@boa.ac.uk by Midday on Thursday 2nd January 2025. (only MS Word or PDF file formats accepted)

Applications will be reviewed by a panel from the BASS and BSS Executives. All candidates will be informed of the decisions after the application deadline.


Eligibility Criteria:
(For further criteria, please refer to person specification here)

• Applicants should be members of either BASS, BSS, BOA, SBNS or local spine society.
• Applicants should be post-FRCS exam senior residents, clinical spinal fellows or junior consultants in the first 2 years of their appointment.
• Previously unsuccessful applicants can re-apply.
• Fellowships cannot be awarded retrospectively.

Details of The Fellowship:

• BASS/BSS will reimburse travelling expenses up to £2,000. Claims must be submitted within 6 months of the Fellowship. Detailed financial arrangements will be provided to successful candidates.
• International fellows will be required to pay for their flights to the UK.
• By accepting the Fellowship, all awardees agree not to partake in any activities that will bring BASS/BSS and/or sponsors into disrepute. BASS/BSS accept no liability for the actions of the candidates whilst on the Fellowship or for activities related to it.
• Each Fellow is required to submit a report of approximately 500 words within 6 weeks of completion of the Fellowship. This may be published on the BASS and/or BSS websites and official communications.
• Fellows will be expected to register and attend BritSpine 2025 to present a group presentation.

PDF version of Position Statement HERE

The British Scoliosis Society (BSS) is aware that companies have been promoting the use of new implants / procedures for scoliosis procedures in children in the UK. This should obviously only proceed after local Trust governance procedures have been followed and approved. 

Additionally, BSS strongly encourage local audit and presentation of data at the Regional Spine Networks as well as inputting data onto the British Spine Registry (BSR). 

The BSS position is that new implants or established implants with significant modifications should be registered with Orthopaedic Data Evaluation Panel (ODEP) / Beyond Compliance (BC) and members should review the ODEP / BC data for new implants for use. 

The BSS wants to encourage innovation. Comprehensive data collection of all implants inserted will allow us to detect any early problems and, also achieve confidence in successful innovation at an earlier time so that more patients can benefit.

British Scoliosis Society Executive Committee
October 2024

A national rollout of the National Consultant Information Programme (NCIP) portal is under way for consultant spinal surgeons across England, enabling them to confidentially review their personal practice to help improve clinical quality and patient safety. 

All consultant spinal surgeons, clinical leads, responsible officers and medical directors are invited to register for access to more than 30 spinal dashboards in the NCIP tool. Procedures include high volume procedures such as posterior lumbar discectomy and decompression and specialist surgical conditions such as intradural intramedullary tumour excision.
 
Key features of NCIP include:

• A ‘whole practice’ view, allowing consultants to see their surgical activity and pseudonymised patient records across all their providers in one view.
• A ‘clinical leads’ view, enabling consultants who are specialty clinical leads to view NCIP data for all consultant peers in their unit.
• Functionality to export data, which can be used to streamline clinical audit and support appraisal meetings. 

About NCIP- Visit https://gettingitrightfirsttime.co.uk/associated_projects/ncip/
Login to NCIP: https://ncip.model.nhs.uk
 
NCIP is launching the national spinal rollout at the BASS conference in Bournemouth (March 20-22, 2024), where Chair of NCIP, Sir Norman Williams and NCIP’s Spinal clinical lead Mike Hutton will give a presentation on the benefits of regular use of NCIP data. Delegates – existing and new users – can visit the NCIP stand for a demonstration. Email pavitra.paniker@nhs.net  for further details.

Closing date for applications: 3rd May 2024

The British Scoliosis Society (BSS), The British Association of Spine Surgeons (BASS), and Orthopaedic Research UK (ORUK) are pleased to announce a new, 2-year spine research fellowship.

This fellowship of up to £70k is funded between the three organisations across a period of 2 years. This will require a leave of absence from clinical roles and / or training with agreement of employers or training programme directors.

The fellowship is aimed at individuals with an interest in research into any spinal area. It is open for applications from any individual who is already a member of BSS or BASS or would be eligible to apply for full membership commensurate to their seniority within their professional group. Our approach is inclusive, and we would welcome applications by allied health professionals (AHPs) and nurses along with medical doctors (consultants and trainees).
It is envisioned that this role will be full time and will result in the awarding of an MD, or equivalent higher degree, in partnership with a UK university, along with high impact papers in recognised journals.


Application process
Applications will be a single stage process, with those successful invited for interview. The role is planned to commence in August 2024 and no later than March 2025.
Applications will be judged on the research idea presented, the prospective research fellow and their ability to deliver the research, and the supporting mentors / supervision team.

Read more in Guidelines for Researchers

The closing date for applications is Friday 3rd May 2024 at 17:00

Further information including contact details and application form can be found at: https://oruk.org/research/joint-partnership-funds/

The British Scoliosis Society (BSS), British Association of Spine Surgeons (BASS) and the UKSSB are supporting 'Movember'!

Movember.com is a charity that funds projects to improve Men’s Health: Mental Health, Prostate Cancer and Testicular Cancer.

Please join the UK Spine Surgeons Team and our Captain Paul Thorpe and/or donate to the Team: https://movember.com/t/uk-spine-surgeons-1.

If a "Mo" is not for you then you can join us and raise money in other ways:

• Move for mental health Run or walk 60km this Movember to support men’s health

• Host a Mo-ment Host an event this Movember to support men’s health

• Mo your own way Do your own wildcard idea this Movember to support men’s health

Submit pictures of you and your "Mo"!

Some may have already started but for those who haven’t... START YOUR MO TODAY

Team members can submit photos by the end of the month to movember@britscoliosis.org.uk and prizes will be awarded for "Best Mo", "Top Fundraiser", "Lame Mo" (worst moustache but the best effort) and "Best Mo Sister".

There will also be a Team photo at the BSS meeting in Liverpool!

Mo Sisters!

The only thing Mo Sistas can’t do is Grow (for obvious reasons) but if you would like to support the Team, You can purchase a Mo Sista or Mo Supporter Badge (£2) or T shirt (£10) at BSS Liverpool

All proceeds go to the UK Spine Surgeons team

To buy merchandise - Pay at BSS2023 in Liverpool or use this PayPal link and collect your badge/Tee at BSS Liverpool : https://www.paypal.com/pools/c/8YNZlBbYuQ

As part of the NIHR funded BASIS study evaluating night-time and full-time bracing in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis, researchers from the University of Liverpool interviewed patients to explore their experiences of bracing and the BASIS study. It was clear that patients wearing a full-time brace were struggling at school. The BASIS Study Team and BSS have put together a leaflet to give advice to schools and hopefully improve their quality of life.

Spinal Bracing Advice for Schools - Download (.pdf)

The British Scoliosis Society would like to invite medical professionals to a free series of webinars.

The Scoliosis School is a free webinar series for surgical trainees with an interest in spinal surgery, spinal fellows, new consultants and allied health professionals wishing to expand their knowledge in contemporary practice in the field of spinal deformity surgery.

For more information, and to register for these webinars, visit:
https://britscoliosis.org.uk/2023WebinarSeries/

Information for patients of John Bradley Williamson, Consultant Spine Surgeon, Manchester

If you were a patient of Mr Williamson and are concerned about the treatment you received, please contact the appropriate hospital:

• Salford Royal Infirmary Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS): 0161 778 5665
• Manchester Children’s Hospital Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS): 0161 2912031
• Spire Manchester: 0800 028 7418 between 8.30am to 7pm Monday to Thursday, 8.30am to 6.30pm Friday and 9am to 3pm Saturday or email spirepne@spirehealthcare.com

If you are a British Scoliosis Society member affected by these issues, please contact support@britscoliosis.org.uk

The British Association of Spine Surgeons (BASS) and the British Scoliosis Society (BSS) will be sponsoring one place each on this round of the British Orthopaedic Association (BOA) Future Leaders Programme (FLP)

This places are only open to members of BASS or BSS, and applications will close next Tuesday 6th June 2023.

To be eligible to take part in the programme, when the programme runs, you must be either:

• A senior trainee (ST8 or above)
• A newly appointed consultant (less than 3 years)
• An SAS Surgeon (FRCS Tr&Orth)
• A post-CCT Surgeon

The successful candidate must be a BASS or BSS member, and BOA member when the programme runs to be eligible to take part (you may still apply without BOA membership, but will need to apply if successful. You must be a BASS or BSS member upon application)

For more information on the FLP and how to apply, visit the BOA website: https://www.boa.ac.uk/learning-and-events/courses/boa-future-leaders-programme.html