Raising the Standard: New National Guidance Offers Hope for Limb Different Community
Posted by LimbPowerAdmin on Thursday 7th August 2025
August 2025 – A powerful new resource has been launched to improve the quality, accessibility, and equity of prosthetic and orthotic (P&O) services across the UK. Developed by the British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists (BAPO), the Service Provision Guidance for Prosthetic & Orthotic Services is being welcomed by service users, charities, and advocates as a long-overdue roadmap for change.
For the thousands of people living with limb difference or limb loss in the UK, access to high-quality, timely, and personalised care can be life-changing. Yet too many still face long waits, outdated technology, and postcode-driven disparities in treatment.
“This guidance rightly highlights the urgent need for increased funding and investment in the prosthetic and orthotic workforce—without it, meaningful change simply isn't possible,” says Kiera Roche, Founder and CEO of LimbPower. “Even under immense pressure, there are outstanding examples of good practice across the UK. We must learn from these, raise standards, and end the postcode lottery in care.”
The guidance outlines clear, evidence-based recommendations for NHS providers, commissioners, and policy makers across 15 key areas, from referral pathways to facilities, triage, mental health integration, and workforce development. It empowers clinicians to advocate for improvements, supports service reviews, and centres the lived experiences and goals of service users throughout.
“Prosthetic and orthotic services are not just about equipment, they are about independence, dignity, and the ability to live life fully,” says Emma Joy-Staines, CEO of Steel Bones. “For many of us, these services mean the difference between surviving and thriving.”
User-led organisations such as LimbPower, Steel Bones, Finding Your Feet, and Blesma are calling on commissioners, NHS Trusts, and policymakers to adopt the guidance in full and engage directly with service users and charities to drive co-produced, person-centred improvements.
The publication is a vital tool to make sure all children, young people, and adults who use prosthetics and orthotics receive the quality of care they deserve,wherever they live.
Download the full guidance at: www.bapo.com