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

Clinicians, nurses, AHPs working across the patient pathway can view and bookmark the new, easy-to-navigate format: https://girft-interactivepathways.org.uk/

GIRFT spinal services clinical lead Mike Hutton and content development manager Polly Hyde have worked with a range of stakeholders* on the new interactive version of our existing pathway, which can be used and bookmarked on all handheld and desktop devices in a range of care settings.

The easy-to-navigate, web-based tool is designed for use by clinicians, nurses and allied health professionals (AHPs) at every stage of the CES patient pathway, from GP presentation to post-operative care. It guides users through examples of the processes and key decisions they should work through for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of patients in their care.

Mike said: “Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES) can be devastating to a patient’s quality of life if the condition is not managed in a time efficient manner. Our interactive pathway means clinical teams can see best practice for diagnosis and treatment at the click of a button on their phone or device, which can aid timely decision making in a period when time is most critical.” More info: https://bit.ly/3Qi06Dp

GIRFT would like to give thanks to the organisations who have collaborated on, reviewed and co-badged this pathway every step of the way:
British Association of Spine Surgeons (BASS), British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS), British Orthopaedic Association (BOA), The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP), National Spine Network (NSN), The Royal College of Radiologists (RCR), Society and College of Radiographers (SCoR), Society of British Neurological Surgeons (SBNS), Cauda Equina Champions Charity, Spinal Injuries Association, British Society of Skeletal Radiologists (BSSR)

For further information and to register, visit: http://womeninspine2023.eventbrite.co.uk

Fee: £50.00 (includes accommodation and dinner)
Registration ends on week before the event

The British Association of Spine Surgeons (BASS) Conference and Exhibition will take place at the Bournemouth International Centre in March 2024!

We welcome abstract submissions from both members and non-members on a variety of topics, including: Cervical degenerative, Commissioning, Governance & Patient Pathways, Deformity, Infection, Innovation, Intradural, Lumbar degenerative, Spinal Injuries, Trauma, Tumour and Misc/Other

Visit the BASS2024 submission portal at: https://app.oxfordabstracts.com/stages/6675/submitter

Deadline for submissions: Wednesday 20th December 2023

All completed abstracts will be considered for either an oral 5-minute podium presentation or a poster presentation for the conference, which will be taking place in Bournemouth as a face-to-face meeting. 
There unfortunately will be no options for virtual presentations.

A panel will review submitted abstracts in the weeks after deadline closure, and we will communicate by email to all submitters as soon as possible when decisions have been made, and we will ask for submitters to confirm any offers for presentation made.

If you have any questions, queries or issues with submitting abstracts then please contact us by email at abstracts@spinesurgeons.ac.uk

For more information on the conference, including registration, sponsorship and exhibition, visit https://spinesurgeons.ac.uk/BASS2024 and follow us on Twitter/X (@BASSspine) for further updates.

We look forward to receiving your submissions and welcoming you in Bournemouth in March 2024!

Registration for BASS 2024 will be opening in the coming months
We will be notifying members by email and publicly on Twitter/X when this occurs.

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

Register at www.BritSpine.com - discounts for BASS members!

A new pathway helping clinicians to better diagnose and care for patients with suspected Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES) is now available from the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) team.

GIRFT worked collaboratively a multidisciplinary group of more than 60 healthcare professionals to develop the interactive pathway, designed to support teams to diagnose and treat the condition without delay. It offers best practice along all stages of the pathway, from presentation to GP or in the community through to post-operative care. It is supported by detailed guidance, including best practice for referrals and imaging, surgical techniques and pain control.

The resources were developed in collaboration with the former Best MSK Health improvement programme and are co-badged by 11 professional bodies, including BASS, NSN, BOA and SBNS.

GIRFT is running a webinar on 2nd March 2023 (1pm-2.15pm) to discuss the stages of the pathway and to allow clinicians to ask questions. Register now.

Applications are invited for the 2023 Presidents' Travelling Fellowship

Deadline: Tuesday 31st January 2023

The British Association of Spinal 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 the following spine meeting, which will be BritSpine 2023 in Glasgow, 18-20 April 2023. 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 20th and 31th March 2023. The Fellowship will rotate around centres in the UK (Centres proposed include Ipswich, Norwich, Newcastle and Sheffield - subject to change). Successful fellows will then attend BritSpine 2023 in Glasgow to present as a group on their Fellowship.

Further details can be obtained from Mr David Cumming (president@spinesurgeons.ac.uk) and Mr Ashley Cole (president@britscolisis.org.uk)

Application Process:
To apply, please submit the following documents:

• your Curriculum Vitae (CV),
• a 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 Tuesday 31st January 2023. (only 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 2023 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 attend BritSpine 2023 and present a group presentation (Wednesday 19th April 2023, subject to change)