The labour market for qualified orthotists/prosthetists.

The United Kingdom Health Departments have recently encouraged increased intakes to degree-level training courses leading to a dual qualification in prosthetics/orthotics. Surveys of qualified orthotists and prosthetists and of their employers were undertaken to examine the dynamics of this labour market, and a model was used to project potential requirements for newly qualified orthotists and prosthetists. The model indicates that: current policy on student numbers is broadly appropriate for maintaining the present working population; any expansion in service provision would require significant growth in student places; and even a small decline in demand could shortly lead to an over-supply of such specialist services.