Vacancies

We’re looking for BSSH Fellow members to stand for election to join Council from January 2026 - December 2028.

Council Members are elected by BSSH Fellows to preside over matters of the Society on their behalf. You do not need to have served on a BSSH committee or working group to apply. 
 
The BSSH is a charity and a company limited by guarantee and on election council members become a director of the company and a trustee of the charity. These roles come with important responsibilities and it is vital that you consider these alongside whether you have sufficient time to commit to the role before applying. You can find out more about the role and obligations by clicking the link below.

If you have read the guidance and are interested in standing, please download the application form below and return it to charlotte.smith@bssh.ac.uk by 23:59 on Thursday 31st July 2025. You must be a BSSH Fellow and you will need a proposer and seconder both of whom must also be Fellows. You'll also need to complete a synopsis stating why you wish to become a Council member.

After the deadline, candidates are put forward to all BSSH Fellows for an electronic vote using a single transferable vote methodology on the Mi-Voice voting software. Following the vote, the highest scoring orthopaedic surgeon, highest scoring plastic surgeon and the next highest scoring surgeon (from either specialty) are elected. The 3 new Council members will be announced at the AGM in November 2025.

Council request members refrain from canvassing.

Please contact the Secretariat if you have any questions or if you would like to be put in touch with a current member of Council who can talk to their experience.
 

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF A BSSH COUNCIL MEMBER

COUNCIL MEMBER APPLICATION FORM 2026 - 2028

COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP Jan 2026 – Dec 2028

A vacancy has arisen on the Education and Training Committee. Starting duties in January 2026 your first meeting would be in Spring 2026. There can be a period of handover from Sept to Dec 25 with a previous committee member if appropriate.
The Committee requests expressions of interest from BSSH Fellows and Associates who would like to be considered for membership of this committee.  To maintain the current committee membership balanced this requires input from a Plastic surgeon.  This will be taken, into consideration when accepting applicants.
 
This is a busy, exciting and innovative committee with strong roots in the origins of the BSSH. The Committee comprises the Chair, 6 elected members and a Society Officer (President or Secretary). In addition, there is a representative of BAHT, BOTA and PLASTA representatives, and the Chair of the Hand TIG committee. Each member of the team leads on a project workstream in addition to participating the collaborative activities.
 
Committee activities include awarding the Stack Travelling Fellowship, Educational and Travelling Bursaries, Medical Student Elective Bursaries and Pulvertaft Presentation Prize. In recent years the Committee has established the Mentor scheme, STASH for trainees & students and BSSH Visiting Fellowships. Current projects are expanding the BSSH’s educational role with GPSIs and MSK Physios etc, WALANT resource collaboration and the Patient Information project. The Committee proactively supports, but does not run, the Hand Diploma and the BSSH Instructional Courses.
 
The Committee meets twice a year, Spring and Autumn.  Usually at least once face to face and the other held virtually. The remit of the Education and Training Committee is to further the education and training agenda of the British Society for Surgery of the Hand. This means the inception, development, promotion and maintenance of activities related to patient information and continuing professional development of students, trainees and established consultant surgeons.
 
The following credentials are required:

• Fellowship or Associate membership of the Society
• A demonstrable interest in education and training
• An enthusiasm to actively participate in education projects as encouraged by the committee
• An Interest in dissemination of service development techniques

If you are interested being considered for membership of the Education and Training Committee, please register your expression of interest by completing the application form by 09:00 on 15 August 2025
 
Rob Poulter
Chairman Education and Training Committee

Apply Here

COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP Jan 2026 - Dec 2028

We are inviting expressions of interest to join our Research Committee to serve for a term of three years (January 2026 – December 2028).
 
We have two positions becoming vacant. To ensure a balance on the committee, we are particularly seeking applications from Fellows on this occasion. If you would like to apply, please read the details below and complete the application form by 09:00 Friday 15 August 2025.
 
The Research Committee is busy, impactful and collaborative. Its remit is to facilitate high-quality research into hand surgery conditions that is relevant to patients, clinicians and the NHS; and to encourage collaboration in fulfilling the research aims of the Society.
 
Activities of the committee include

• Award and oversight of BSSH Research grants
• Delivery of the BSSH Research Day, support of free paper sessions at the BSSH Scientific Meetings and other outreach activities.
• Increasing visibility of BSSH-sponsored research activity and outputs.
• Facilitating multi-centre projects in line with BSSH research priority areas.
• Supporting the production of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines

 
We are particularly looking for a member interested in leading/co-leading the production BSSH Best guidelines with support.
 
Meetings
The Committee formally meets twice a year in spring and autumn (in person or via Zoom). Additional ad-hoc meetings may be organised by the Chairman and committee membership as required. The elected members are expected to attend these meetings.
 
Requirements

1. The following credentials are required:
2. Fellow or Associate membership of the Society. To ensure a balance on the committee, we are particularly seeking applications from Fellows on this occasion.
3. A demonstrable interest in research/evidence based practice
4. An enthusiasm to actively participate in collaborative, multisite, patient-centred research
5. A willingness to lead and deliver a research committee specific project, in line with our remit and the BSSH strategic priorities.

 
Alexia Karantana
Chair, Research Committee

Apply Here

We’re seeking expressions of interest from fellow members for the position of Chair of the BSSH Hand Trauma Committee for a three year term (1 January 2026 – 31 December 2028).

Whilst the role itself does not begin until January 2026, we would anticipate there being an induction/shadowing period of around 3 months starting in September 2025, overlapping with the current Chair, Mr James Bedford.

This is a rewarding position and an opportunity to make a contribution to the development of hand trauma.

The Hand Trauma Committee exists to advance hand trauma care in the UK. The Committee works to deliver the BSSH Hand Trauma strategy by:

• Producing standards of care for hand trauma
• Developing clinical networks
• Developing a hand injury prevention programme.

Please read the job description for the BSSH Hand Trauma Committee Chair before continuing.

Please submit your form before 17th August 2025.

Apply here

We’re seeking expressions of interest for two committee member positions opening on the BSSH Trauma Committee. The roles are for a three year term from September 2025 to August 2028.

To ensure specialty balance on our committee, we're particularly looking to appoint one plastic surgeon and one orthopaedic surgeon.

The committee meets a minimum of twice a year with other ad hoc meetings arranged as required. Generally, one meeting is held face to face and the other virtually.

If you are interested, please read the committee information below and complete the application form below by 17th August 2025.

Current Projects:

• The creation, development and review of BSSH standards of care for hand trauma
• To support developments to improve patient pathways
• To help improve knowledge of treatment outcomes
• Oversee the development of the national hand trauma network
• Work with the Communications Committee to create and promote hand injury prevention campaigns

Working methods:

• Email and telephone, WhatsApp whenever possible
• Email response within 7 days
• Meetings, minimum of twice a year

Apply here