Meet the Trustees

Kay Purnell – Chair
BA (Hons) Business Studies

Kay has extensive experience of business development and general management with leading providers in the Orthotic device & clinical services sector and continues to be a representative of the BHTA at trustee meetings.
Working alongside clinicians and technicians, Kay has promoted the profile of orthotics within the health service via contributions to industry papers and was involved in the development of the O & P Technician Training course in recent years.

Faye Dearden – Trustee

Martin Matthews – Trustee
M.Phil, Dip OPTEC; MBAPO
Orthotic Clinical Specialist

He has always encompassed innovation in the field of orthotics and has developed the use and design options of dynamic elastomeric fabric orthoses (DEFOs) over the last 20 years. In 2008 he gained research Master of Philosophy Degree (University of East Anglia) investigating the effects of DEFOs on the child with diplegia and has presented internationally at numerous orthotic and physiotherapy conferences on scoliosis orthotic intervention in children with neuropathic onset scoliosis. Along with fellow researchers he has published a number of paper on scoliosis management using DEFOs to slow or reverse scoliosis in children with cerebral palsy without the need for rigid bracing. He has published numerous papers in international peer reviewed journals and presented at many international conferences in orthotics and physiotherapy, including AACPDM, SOSORT, ISPO, BAPO and AAOP academic meetings.  He was the orthotic external examiner for the University of Salford Orthotic and Prosthetic degree course for 6 years and is currently Honorary Associate Professor at the University of Plymouth, Faculty of Health, School of Health Professions.

He is responsible for the research and development at DM Orthotics Ltd, developing further the uses and functions of DEFOs in the field of sports, neurological dysfunction and musculo- skeletal rehabilitation in corroboration with several universities around the world. The latest research has been on incorporation of functional electrical stimulation within the Dynamic Movement Orthoses (DMO) dorsiflex open backed socks, utilising a patented membrane that removes the need for gel electrodes requiring direct skin contact to be effective.

Andrew Lodge – Trustee

Andrew qualified as an orthotist in 1983 from Salford College of Technology. Initially employed by HW Poole and Son, from 1993 part of the Remploy Healthcare Group. He worked across the North of England over the following years with a spell in the East of Scotland from 1991-94 working in both Edinburgh and Fife.

After being made redundant from a management position in 2005 he set up as an independent clinician and has since provided both NHS and commercial services as a locum in addition to building his own private practice.

He currently treats patients in his own private clinical practice, prepares medico legal reports, is the UK importer and distributor for the Blount’s KAFO and is Clinical Director for a Nottingham company producing support garments.

Throughout his career he has maintained an interest in continuing clinical development with a specialist interest in the treatment of neurologically impaired children.

Andy Dewsbury – Trustee

Andy Dewsbury started work at R Taylor & Sons in 1979 and after 2 years, went to run their satellite workshop at RJAH Orthopaedic Hospital, with Remploy Healthcare taking over the Contract in 1985 until 1992.

Andy was employed by the NHS to set up a new workshop for the NHS which developed gradually over a number of years.  In 2009, Andy left the NHS to begin a new challenge with Beagle Orthopaedic Ltd to develop the Custom Fabrication Facility within the company.

Andy was one of the co-founders of the BAPO Technician Committee and was chair of the Committee for 2 years. He also sat on the BAPO Conference Committee with the Technical Programme as his remit.  Andy is also trained as a Limited Orthotic Practitioner.

Alexandra Tyler – Trustee

Alexandra qualified from Salford University in 2014 with a BSc (Hons) in prosthetics and orthotics. She started working for Opcare at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge as an Orthotist and is now the service manager for Prosthetics and Orthotics. Clinically, she specialises in scoliosis bracing and has a particular interest in developing new technologies for shape capture, with significant work done on CADCAM and process development.