The Council of the British Orthopaedic Association considered it valuable to have the advice and input from patients when the BOA is planning orthopaedic care, guidelines and responding to changes in healthcare systems, including training and education. Therefore in March 2004 a Patient Liaison Group was formed, comprising orthopaedic surgeons and lay members. Following open advertisement in national newspapers, lay members were appointed to the Patient Liaison Group, together with three orthopaedic surgeons. The group meets at regular intervals with a Lay Chairman, who now attends Council meetings as an ex officio member.
Membership
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Nick Welch (Lay Chair) joined the PLG in 2006 after accepting early retirement from the Pharmaceutical Business. In November 2009 he was elected Vice-chair and in November 2011 was elected as Chair. He had spent 36 years in the Pharmaceutical Business, working in training, sales and marketing, throughout the EU. Working in this industry has given him an invaluable insight into the NHS.
He is also on the Derbyshire LINK Steering Committee, and a lay member of the NHS Derbyshire’s Patient Experience Committee and their Multi-Agency Committee. He is on the Management Committee of his local 50+ Forum. |
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Bob Smith is a retiree from the medical devices industry and for the past 13 years has been a volunteer and representative on various patients’ groups in NHS Bedfordshire and East of England SHA’s Planned Care Programme. He is the lay member on the National Hip Fracture Database (NHFD) Steering Group and a member of the National Osteoporosis Society. He was the team leader for the non-active implantables group for the Global Medical Device Nomenclature (GMDN). |
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Terry Garrett was one of the founder members of the BOA Patient Liaison Group set up in 2004. In recent years he has been actively involved as a parish councillor, in local hospital driving and in patient groups at a nearby GP surgery and at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Oxford. He is a Foundation Trust member of the RNOH Stanmore. He graduated in mathematics from Cambridge and worked in the civil service on scientific policy, exchanges and administration. After retirement he headed the International Affairs Department at the Royal Society. He was awarded CMG and CBE for overseas government service which included assignments in Russia, Austria and Germany. |
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Jon Mutimer is a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon specialising in hip and knee surgery based in Cheltenham. He trained in the Bristol region as well as in Oxford, Australia and a fellowship in New Zealand. He has research interests in measuring polyethylene wear in total hip replacements, the results of which may help future hip replacements last longer and reduce the burden of revision hip surgery.
Locally he is involved with the Musculoskeletal Programme Board reporting to the new Commissioning Groups responsible for organising the commissioning of care in the region. He is also actively involved with the selection and teaching of orthopaedic trainees in the region. |
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Judith Fitch has just joined as a lay member of PLG. She has many years of experience in high technology marketing, sales and communications in the USA, Germany, Austria and the UK. Most recently she delivered internal communications within NHS and academic environments.
Having played a major role in communicating the benefits of technology implementation across the NHS, Judith has a passion for quality patient care.
In her spare time Judith is a moderator on a knee and hip replacement forum coaching patients through the joint replacement journey. |
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| Steve Roger |
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| Isabell Lillie |
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| Don McBride |
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| Ruth Reavley |
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| Derek Twigg |
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| Manoj Ramachandran |
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| Jeremy Ridge |
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Terms of Reference
Aims and Objectives
1. To support and provide a resource for the BOA to deliver a professional service that meets the needs and aspirations of patients requiring treatment for trauma and orthopaedic problems.
2. To communicate areas of patient concern to the BOA Council
3.To respond to requests for comment from Council or its Committees
Membership
There shall be nine members, six non-medical (lay) and three medical, including the officers. There may be a variable number of corresponding members, who correspond by e-mail. The President of the BOA is an ex-officio member of all committees.
Chairman and Deputy
Initially the Chairman and Deputy shall be current members of the British Orthopaedic Association. At the third meeting the Chairman and Deputy shall be elected by secret ballot of all members of the PLG. If the Chairman is a medical member, the Deputy Chairman must be a lay member and vice versa. In the event that the Deputy Chairman is a lay member, a second Deputy Chairman can be elected, if required, to relieve the pressure. There will only be one Chairman. The lay Chair or Deputy chair shall be invited to attend Council.
Appointment of Non-Medical Members
Initially, the non-medical ("lay") members shall be appointed by Council, after advertisement. Under the direction of Council, criteria will be established for the selection of lay members. A committee nominated by Council and including a lay member will consider nominations, conduct interviews and recommend individuals for appointment to the PLG, subject to approval by Council. Reserve appointments may be made to fill vacancies as they arise. All lay members, whilst bringing considerable experience to the PLG, must act as individuals and not on behalf of outside organisations.
Appointment of Medical members
Of the three medical members, at least one will be a Members of Council of the British Orthopaedic Association.
Interim procedures for establishing a Patient Liaison Group
Initially all founding members of the PLG will be appointed for one year, with the option of extending these appointments for a further one or two years. These provisions are put in place to prevent the situation of all members demitting office at the same time. Thereafter the terms of office will be as set down below.
Terms of Office
The Chairman will be elected annually with a maximum term of three years. Members may serve for one year with the option of extending the appointment for a further one or two years except that the Chairman and Deputy Chairman should be able to complete their maximum term of office if so elected. At the completion of a term of office or membership, a year must elapse before that person becomes eligible for re-election. Members may be removed by a majority vote of the PLG, subject to confirmation by Council, or by Council itself.
Meetings
There shall be a minimum of three meetings in each year, not including working parties or conferences. Meetings will normally be held at the BOA offices. It may occasionally be necessary for the PLG to hold telephone conferences.
Accountability
The PLG will report to and be accountable to the Council of the British Orthopaedic Association. No member of the group is authorised to act as a spokesperson for the BOA without prior authorisation.
Annual Review
The PLG must provide an annual report of its past activities with proposals for the following year. Council will review the annual report.
Expenses
Travel and subsistence costs for members of the PLG will be met in accordance with the usual Association procedures. No other fees are payable.
A PDF version of the Terms of Reference can be
viewed here.
Upcoming PLG Meetings
Tuesday, 2nd March 2012 at the BOA Offices, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London.
Patient Standards
Chairman's Report 2010-11.pdf
Chairman's Report 2008-2010
Chairman's Report 2004-2008
Expectations of Elective Orthopaedic Patients
Expectations of Trauma Orthopaedic Patients
Responsibilities of the Orthopaedic Patient
Child Orthopaedic Patient Expectations and Responsibilities
Guidance for Older Patients with Hip Fractures
Guidance for Discharge of Older and Vulnerable Patients
Patient Information (Total Knee Replacement)
Patient Information Sheet (Common Hand Conditions)
Prevention of Blood Clots During Orthopaedic Surgery
Contact Details
Please note that neither the PLG nor the BOA are able to issue individual clinical advice.