The Prosthetic and Orthotic Department is within the Specialist Rehabilitation Service at Woodend Hospital in Aberdeen. In addition to adult and paediatric out-patient appointments, clinicians are involved with treating in-patients at Woodend Hospital and in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. The Prosthetic service assess and fits both upper and lower limbs for those with amputations or congenital abnormalities. The Orthotic services assess for orthoses to improve, correct, immobilise or reduce pain for patients. The patient group for both disciplines is very diverse ensuring every day will present a variety of patients with no two days alike.
I would like to become a Prosthetist/Orthotist
Practising as a Prosthetist/Orthotist requires a Bachelors Degree from a recognised institution. Training in the UK is available at the University of Strathclyde or the University of Salford. Please visit their websites for more information on how to apply and entry requirements.
If you are in S5/S6 and would like to visit the Prosthetic and Orthotic department please use the NHS Grampian Work Experience website.
I am currently training to be a Prosthetist/Orthotist
During your 3rd and 4th year at University, two clinical placements within both disciplines are compulsory. The department at Woodend Hospital welcomes students for placements in both Prosthetics and Orthotics. These placements offer great insight into the daily schedule and workload of a full-time Prosthetist/Orthotist. Due to the large volume of patients seen at Woodend Hospital, students are exposed to, and gain experience in treating a vast array of conditions, working alongside experienced clinicians within varying specialties.
Your course co-ordinator will be able to liaise with the department manager to organise your placement.
I am a qualified Prosthetist/Orthotist and considering a move to Grampian
We are pleased to hear you are interested in joining our team. Vacancies are advertised on the NHS Grampian Recruitment website and updated weekly. To arrange an informal chat with a member of the team please email us at nhsg.orthotics@nhs.net
I am a qualified Prosthetist/Orthotist but it’s been some years since I practised. Am I able to return to work?
NHS Grampian welcome enquiries from Prosthetists/Orthotists who have allowed their registration to lapse or have had a career break. We are happy to support you to regain registration through supervision and an assessment of your clinical competencies. For more information please visit the Health and Care Professions Council.
Flying Start
Flying Start NHS® is a national development programme for newly qualified nurses, midwives and allied health professionals. It aims to support your learning and build your confidence during your first year of practice in NHS Scotland. It will do this by assisting you to navigate to the Foundation gateway of the NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework 'Agenda for Change'. After completing Flying Start NHS® newly qualified practitioners would be expected to participate in ongoing Continuing Professional Development.
Benefits for newly qualified practitioners include:
- Offers a learner-directed solution to finding information and making sense of a complex environment
- Guides and supports the transition from student to qualified practitioner
- Links to the NHS KSF development review cycle
- Supports the development of skills for lifelong learning and CPD
- Offers practical advice on how to manage portfolios and PDPs within NHS Scotland
- Gives access to up to date material, useful websites and national policy and developments
- Decreases feelings of isolation through the on-line forum, Flying Start Community and Ask a Mentor functions
- Draws and builds on the learning skills developed as pre-registration or undergraduate student
- Increased understanding of the role of other health and social care professionals and partners
Effective Practitioner
Effective Practitioner is a national initiative providing work based learning resources and support for nurses, midwives and allied health professionals in Scotland. It assists Practitioners and Senior Practitioners to deliver the 2020 vision and meet the Quality Ambitions of Person Centred, Safe and Effective Care. The Effective Practitioner website provides the online foundation for wider work-based support.
Senior AHP Framework
The Senior AHP Framework website provides support and guidance on the education and development needs of Senior AHPs who are leading and managing services or teams. It provides information and support for Senior AHPs at level 6 of The Career Framework for Health, and those aspiring to this level, who have leadership components within their role e.g. Team Leaders.
It also allows Knowledge and Skills Framework reviewers and managers to guide and assist the planning and implementation of leadership skills for their staff and help them develop Personal Development Plans (PDPs).
Skills Maximisation Toolkit
The Skills Maximisation Toolkit allows AHP staff to examine their unique contributions to the patient journey, and to ask which aspects could best be managed by others. The exercise has been developed into the skills maximisation process. It can be used by AHPs and other staff to identify adjustments that make optimum use of staff with various levels of qualification.
The toolkit guides you through 3 stages:
- Clarifying the patient journey
- Capturing uniqueness
- Creating improvement