Prosthetics & Orthotics

[KingCatMeowInSpace]

Worried about DC doing this degree then struggling to get a job in it as it’s so niche.
Anyone working in this area with any thoughts? Or have DC on the course or have recently graduated?

My child has lots of orthotics. He wears AFI's & a back brace. The wait for these appointments is very long. Could you please ask them to move to Suffolk???

Hi, OP - I imagine the need for prosthetics and orthotics will be more or less constant, waxing and waning with the size of the population. Sadly, the increase in diabetes and its complications and also any upcoming war (not that I am aware of such at the moment) may increase the market for prosthetics.

AI and other tech advances may impact the manufacture and fitting of these items, but experts will always be needed at the patient interface and to lead the process. The career seems to me fairly secure from that perspective.

My impression, like @Moomieboo ’s is that there is a shortage of specialists. Your DC can research this easily enough and doing so seems a good idea. I can also imagine that this could be interesting, and the contacts made could lead in different directions later if one wished.

All in all, if someone has a genuine interest in this field I think it sounds an excellent career choice. Best wishes to DC.

My dc is a prosthetic user and there was always a difficulty recruiting staff at the centre she attends. As well as nhs there are private prosthetic companies. The nhs bursary was higher for prosthetics than OT presumably as they need to attract staff.
I’d very much encourage them if they are interested.

My daughter uses orthotics. We’ve seen the same orthotics for 15 years. She keeps agreeing to come out of retirement.

I work in a related NHS job. She will have a job for life and quite straightforward to get first job too, as long as she appreciates she will need to go where the job is to start with.
Its a good career with progression up the NHS ladder or work for a company who co tract to the NHS

It sounds like such an interesting degree. If you are worried, an alternative would be a first degree in biomedical engineering with a focus on prosthetics (research carefully, biomedical engineering degrees can be very different) and then an MSc in Prosthetics and Orthotics. But that's much more expensive than going straight for undergraduate.

My DH runs a medical equipment company. Robotics are revolutionizing this field. I would be wary of bypassing the scientific training of an undergraduate degree before specializing in orthotics and prosthetics as equipment is likely to be more technical in future.

Thanks @Ceramiq- their plan was the prosthetic & orthotic undergrad - when you talk about robotics, I assume people would still be required to take details, measurements, assess gait etc and it would be more the technicians roles that might go?

So I am an orthotist. bAPO (British association of prosthetics and orthotics) have just released a workforce report. They need to increase numbers by 150% to meet current need. As long as they don't mind where in the country they work- it's a really interesting career. More go into orthotics than prosthetics. But I love my job -16 years since I qualified. And the need now is greater than it was... Come and join us- follow the professional body on linked in, twitter or Facebook for a flavour of what they do. Or he can contact Bapo to do some work experience- they will put him in touch with a willing centre... Any questions feel free to ask ....

Also if I was coming into the career now I would think about the degree apprenticeship from the university of derby- study and get paid a band 4 NHS wage. If he can find someone advertising for a job....

However the NHS is not really funding robotic devices at the moment. I can't see it happening until the prices drop. Ottobock brought the c-leg and c- brace out over 5 years ago never seen one. I have seen 2 e-mag kafos from ottobock on the nhs- but it was a fight for funding.... I don't see it changing that quickly.....

@Ilovemumthanks - really helpful Information - he’s completed an online form for work exp as suggested - shall get back in touch if has any questions. Didn’t know about the apprenticeship route.

Fab to hear....

It is already way cheaper to buy robotics than, say, to install a home lift and buy a mobility scooter. The market is going to evolve extremely quickly. The NHS today is not a good predictor of the market tomorrow.

I work in the industry and we are crying out for clinical staff! Only 2 uk universities currently offer the course. Feel free to ask any questions!

@Happybunnymum@Ilovemum thanks for the info - apprenticeship would be ideal but prob unlikely to secure one so planning on applying for the 2 Uni courses aswell. Just a bit worried that will definitely have to move for employment as don’t see lots of entry level jobs - I guess that could be anywhere in the whole UK so could end up somewhere really expensive down south to live and not have any choice in it? Would def prefer somewhere more up north/scotland.

If I’d known about it, I think I’d have liked to have been an orthotist rather than a nurse.

The difficulty with jobs in the north/ Scotland is often as both courses are in the north- there is a lot of competition for jobs. I studied at Salford, had an entry level job in the south east and now live in the west Midlands.
However it will depend when they are finished where the jobs are that year- often easier to get a job in the south as a new grad and with 2/3 years experience can more easily get one in the north....