BOFAS Equity & Diversity Statement – Our Footprint for Inclusivity

 

BOFAS is a charitable organisation founded in 1975 by Orthopaedic surgeons with an interest in Foot and Ankle surgery. The mission of the Society is to support the development, research and practice of Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle surgery as a distinct sub-speciality within Orthopaedics.

 

The society comprises more than 600 members, including Orthopaedic Surgeons of all grades and Associate members who are Allied Health Professionals, including physiotherapists, nurse specialists, podiatrists and orthotists.  Thereby it acts as the central hub for collaboration and innovation in the practice of Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle surgery in the UK, for the benefit of our patients.

 

BOFAS has a formal commitment to ensure all members feel a sense of belonging and inclusion in our specialist society and insists that all members are treated with equity. Inclusion of all BOFAS members, regardless of race, gender, age or background, is key to harnessing our expertise, experience, and collective knowledge to empower our organisation. We strongly welcome this diversity.

 

The BOFAS membership is ethnically and racially diverse and a third of our membership are International Medical Graduates. We recognise that more action is required to ensure equality across the subspecialty.  Currently, similar to other surgical specialities, there is an under-representation of women within in our society compared to medical school graduates. BOFAS commits to addressing these imbalances. We will provide opportunities for all members to contribute, share knowledge and support other members of the society to progress, unencumbered by traditional barriers.

 

BOFAS supports individuals who work in both the British National Health Service and in the Independent Healthcare sector. A high percentage of our membership participates in additional professional activities and may have formal Academic, Research and Management roles. It is anticipated that the work done within the Society to foster equity, diversity and inclusion will translate to improvements in the care provided in all the work places of our membership.

 

BOFAS Statement on Sexual Misconduct in Surgery Report 2023

 

BOFAS members may well be aware of the recently published article in the British Journal of Surgery regarding sexual misconduct within the NHS, particularly within the surgical specialities.

The original article can be accessed here: 

https://www.boa.ac.uk/resource/the-unacceptable-behaviours-catalogued-in-the-british-journal-of-surgery-have-no-place-in-surgery.html

BOFAS, as an organisation, is committed to ensuring that his type of behaviour is totally unacceptable both within our Society and within our working environments. We have a duty as professionals to ensure that the environments we work in are safe, inclusive and respectful to all.  The safety, dignity, and well-being of colleagues from all disciplines, trainees, patients, and the wider community are paramount.

We would urge all BOFAS members to review the paper and report to familiarise yourselves with the issues raised. We encourage you to have open and frank discussions within your local departments to identify how you can engender and support a culture where this sort of behaviour is not tolerated and an openness to speak up is encouraged and supported whole-heartedly.

We are here to listen, support, and act.  Together, BOFAS members can ensure their places of work and the broader NHS remains a place where respect, integrity, and care are consistently upheld.  

The BOFAS EDI Lead, Anna Chapman, can be contacted with concerns or for advice via email on: edi@bofas.org.uk