Dear FOI Team,
Please find attached a FOI request regarding Provision of Bracing Services for Pectus Deformities. I have also copied the request in the body of this email for those who are unable to open attachments:
Freedom of Information Act 2000 Request
Provision of Bracing Services for Pectus Deformities
Reference: BAPO/FOI/PEC/2026
Introduction
I am writing on behalf of the British Association of Prosthetics and Orthotics (BAPO) to make a request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (or the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 where applicable).
BAPO is the professional body representing Prosthetists and Orthotists across the United Kingdom. We are seeking to understand the current provision of bracing services, including both chest braces and vacuum bells, for Pectus deformities (Pectus Carinatum and Pectus Excavatum) across NHS Trusts and Health Boards. This information is being sought to support our work in monitoring service provision and access for patients with these conditions.
The questions below are designed to establish whether your organisation provides an orthotics service, whether that service includes bracing for Pectus deformities, which service is responsible for the provision of the brace or vacuum bell, and how referral demand for this service has changed over recent years.
Information Requested
Please provide responses to each of the following questions. Where a question is not applicable to your organisation, please state “Not Applicable” and briefly explain why.
No. Question Response Format
1 Does your Trust/Health Board currently have an orthotics service? Yes / No
2 Does your Trust/Health Board provide bracing (chest brace and/or vacuum bell) for Pectus deformities? Yes / No
3 If you answered Yes to Question 2: Does your service provide bracing for Pectus Carinatum, Pectus Excavatum, or both? Pectus Carinatum / Pectus Excavatum / Both / Not applicable
4 If you answered Yes to Question 2: Is the orthotics service responsible for the provision of the brace and/or vacuum bell? Yes / No / Not applicable
5 If you answered No to Question 4: Which service is responsible for the provision of the brace and/or vacuum bell? Free text / Not applicable
6 If you answered No to Question 2: Are there any plans for your Trust/Health Board to begin providing this service? Yes / No / Not Applicable
7 Over the last 3 years, have you seen an increase in the number of referrals for bracing of Pectus conditions? Yes / No / Don’t know
Definitions and Clarifications
For the purposes of this request:
• Orthotics service refers to the provision of orthoses (external devices such as braces, splints, and insoles) and associated clinical services to patients with musculoskeletal, neurological, or other conditions.
• Pectus Carinatum refers to a chest wall deformity in which the sternum and ribs protrude outward (sometimes referred to as “pigeon chest”).
• Pectus Excavatum refers to a chest wall deformity in which the sternum and ribs grow abnormally, producing a caved-in or sunken appearance of the chest (sometimes referred to as “funnel chest”).
• Bracing refers to the use of an external orthotic device intended to apply corrective pressure to the chest wall to manage Pectus Carinatum or Pectus Excavatum. For the purposes of this request, bracing includes both chest braces and vacuum bells.
• Provision refers to the assessment and fitting of the device.
• Referral refers to a patient being formally referred to your orthotics service (or a contracted provider on your behalf) for assessment and/or treatment of a Pectus deformity, irrespective of whether bracing was ultimately provided.
Statutory Obligations
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (Section 10), you are required to respond to this request within 20 working days of receipt. If you consider that any exemptions apply to all or part of this request, please cite the specific exemption(s) and explain why the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosure.
If the information requested is not held by your organisation, please confirm this in your response and, where possible, advise which body may hold this information.
If you require any clarification regarding this request, please contact us at the details provided below. We would be happy to refine or narrow the scope of any questions to assist you in providing a timely response.
Contact Details
Dr Nicky Eddison
British Association of Prosthetics and Orthotics (BAPO)
Email: Nicky.Eddison@BAPO.com
Thank you for your assistance with this request.
*ends
Please let me know if you require any further information.
Regards,

