A brand-new Master’s degree designed to address a skills shortage in a highly specialised field of healthcare has been launched at Keele University.

The new Prosthetics and Orthotics MSc, developed in partnership with The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital in Shropshire, has been designed to address the national shortage of prosthetists and orthotists across the UK, and will welcome its first cohort of students in January 2022.

The two-year course combines teaching and clinical placements and has been designed in consultation with the British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists and the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics. This is the only stand-alone Masters degree leading to Health and Care Professions Council registration in this specialism.

Students will also learn in state-of-the-art new facilities which have been specifically designed for the new course. These include a purpose-built workshop designed in collaboration with world-leading prosthetics and orthotics company, Ottobock, and a 3D gait analysis laboratory. This is equipped with specialist systems for measuring patients’ movement, such as force plates, which will complement practice training and research activities.

Teaching is delivered by highly skilled, highly qualified and knowledgeable staff, many of whom are recognised experts who have practiced and educated students in their field for many years. Upon completion of the course students will be able to register as a fully qualified prosthetist/orthotist.

The course builds upon Keele’s renowned reputation for medical and healthcare research and expertise and sits within the University’s School of Allied Health Professions.

Mark McAloon, Programme Director for Prosthetics and Orthotics said: “We are delighted to be launching this programme which will lead to registration as a prosthetist or orthotist. This will allow students to pursue an extremely rewarding career either within the NHS or private prosthetic and orthotic companies, addressing the current shortages of prosthetic and orthotic clinicians. We look forward to welcoming our first cohort of students in January 2022.”

Professor Pauline Walsh, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences added: “This is a really exciting development for Keele complementing our wide range of clinical programmes and aligning with our world leading research. I look forward to welcoming students in the new year.”