President: James Davis, Torbay
Secretary: Mark Davies, Sheffield
Treasurer: Hiro Tanaka, Cardiff
President Elect: Heath Taylor, Bournemouth
Past President: Patricia Allen, Leicester
Rick Brown, Oxford
Chair of Scientific Committee:
Roland Russell, Chelmsford
Co-opted EFAS liaison officer: Don McBride, Stoke on Trent
Director: Steve Hepple, Bristol
Trustees: Fred Robinson, Cambridge Kartik Hariharan, Newport
James Davis graduated from Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School in 1990 and completed surgical training in London. His orthopaedic training was in the South Thames region. He was fellowship trained at the University of Johns Hopkins, USA. He was appointed as a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Torbay Hospital in 2001. He started a specialist foot and ankle service in South Devon and runs the South West Foot and Ankle Centre.
Heath Taylor graduated from Charing Cross & Westminster Medical School in 1994 and completed his Orthopaedic training on the North West Thames training rotation. He carried out his fellowship in complex foot and ankle surgery at The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore. He is currently a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon specialising in Foot & Ankle surgery at The Royal Bournemouth & Poole Hospitals. He takes a particular interest in training the next generation of orthopaedic surgeons and in 2012 was voted the Wessex Region Trainer of the Year.
Patricia Allen was trained in orthopaedic surgery in Birmingham and Bristol. She undertook a fellowship in foot and ankle and paediatric orthopaedic surgery in Dublin in 1998 and was appointed as a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon in Bristol in 2000. She moved to Leicester as a Consultant in 2003 and has developed the Foot and Ankle service here.
Robert Clayton moved to Edinburgh in 1994 and graduated in 2000. He undertook Basic and Higher Surgical training in the South East Scotland region. He undertook fellowship training in Foot & Ankle surgery in Glasgow in 2009 before taking up post as a Consultant Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Surgeon in Fife in 2010. He has a highly specialised elective and trauma foot and ankle practice. He has an active role in undergraduate and postgraduate medical education and orthopaedic research. He is a council member of the Foot and Ankle Scotland group and has served on faculty at numerous courses and conferences in the region.
Elected: 11/17
Elected: Nov 2019
Roland Russell is a consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford where he heads the foot and ankle unit and is clinical lead in orthopaedic research. He has established strong links with The Anglia Ruskin University where he is involved in ongoing foot and ankle research. Roland qualified at The London Hospital and trained on the North West Thames Rotation. He has undertaken both national and international foot and ankle fellowships and is a reviewer of the European Journal, Foot and Ankle Surgery.
Broomfield. Elected 11/17
Paul Halliwell graduated from Guy’s Hospital, London. His clinical training included Oxford, St. Thomas’ and St. George’s Hospitals, then Fellowship training at Great Ormond Street and in Toronto. He is consultant orthopaedic surgeon in Guildford, Surrey, specialising in conditions and trauma of the foot and ankle in both adults and children. He teaches at all grades from medical students to fellow consultants. His faculty memberships include the Forefoot Instructional Course in Bordeaux. He is co-convenor of the Surrey University cadaveric training courses and FRCS (Tr & Orth) examiner.
Elected November 2017
graduated from the University of Cambridge and King’s College Hospital, London, before completing orthopaedic training on the Middlesex & Stanmore Hospitals rotation, London with Fellowships at Sydney and at Harvard, USA. After appointment as a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon in Cheltenham in 2004 he established the new Adult Foot and Ankle Service in Cheltenham and ran a Regional Paediatric Foot clinic in Bristol Children's Hospital. His interest in Education led to him serving two terms on the BOFAS Education Committee, of which he is now the Chairman. He is a lead examiner for the FRCS (Tr & Orth). In 2016 he was appointed as a Consultant in the Foot and Ankle team at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Oxford, where his practice covers all aspects of Foot and Ankle surgery including sports injuries, neurological conditions, complex forefoot problems and young adult conditions.
Chair from 2018
Mark B Davies is a graduate of Southampton University from 1993 who subsequently underwent specialist training in Sheffield. He undertook two Fellowships, one in trauma and limb reconstruction in Sheffield and the other in adult foot and ankle surgery in Brisbane in 2005. He is a consultant and honorary clinical lecturer in the Sheffield Foot and Ankle Unit, the lead for undergraduate education in orthopaedic surgery and the SFAU lead for research and audit.
Sheffield. Elected 11/17
Steve Hepple graduated in 1991 at Sheffield University. He trained in Sheffield and Bristol undertaking fellowships in Brisbane and Dallas. His elective practice consists entirely of adult foot and ankle but he also undertakes general trauma at the North Bristol Major Trauma Centre. He has specific interest in arthroscopic surgery and ankle replacements. He is a director of the sport & orthopaedic clinic in Bristol and clinical director for orthopaedics in North Bristol NHS Trust. He has served on the Education sub-committee before serving as Treasurer of BOFAS from 2009-15.
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CBD products are making a lot of noise in the market, and it makes complete sense judging by the slew of health benefits that they bring. We’ve gathered the best CBD oils currently available in the UK market to help you narrow down your search.
CBD or Cannabidiol is a chemical compound extracted from the cannabis plant. We know what you’re thinking. How is this any different from marijuana? The answer is in their THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) content. Weed contains a lot of THC, which is a psychoactive compound that gives the user mind-altering effects. CBD, on the other hand, cannot get you “high.” CBD is widely used for its pain relieving properties. It can be used to minimize the symptoms of conditions like epilepsy, anxiety, diabetes, cancers, among others.
Whether you have crippling anxiety or you have been dealing with chronic pain for a long time, CBD oil can offer you some relief. With plenty of scientific research emerging to back up anecdotal claims, the UK CBD market shows no signs of slowing down. CBD is 100% legal in the UK as long as its sold as a food supplement and contains less than 0.2% THC content.
If you’re ready to jump on this very promising train, take a look at the best CBD oils in the UK that we’ve tried and recommend.
If you don’t want to muck around, the first CBD oil you should try should be the UK’s number one CBD oil brand. Blessed CBD is a family-run operation in the UK. It’s their goal to provide their customers with the very best CBD products, and it’s safe to say that they have been succeeding in the United Kingdom.
Their hemp extracts come in a 10ml bottle and in full-spectrum form, meaning they’re rich in all cannabinoids (CBD, CBDA, CBG, etc) and terpenes. Unlike broad-spectrum oils, full-spectrum CBD oils are extremely effective in relieving pain and inflammation (due to the entourage effect). It’s also worth noting that the hemp plants used in their products are 100% vegan and organically grown.
What we love about Blessed CBD is their commitment to educating the UK public about CBD. They cater specifically to the UK market, as their products are not available elsewhere else. All their products come with an informational booklet to get you started and customer reviews are majorly positive.
They were also voted the #1 CBD oil UK by leading publications, such as Mirror, Observer, HerbMighty, Manchester Evening News, Liverpool Echo, Birmingham Mail, LA Weekly, Readers Digest, Glasgow Live, Improb and Luxury Lifestyle Mag.
Plus, each batch of oil they produce comes with its own certificate and third party lab reports, so you know exactly what you’re putting into your body and the amount of CBD in each product.
If you're looking to truly experience the benefits of CBD, give Blessed CBD a try.
For more information, visit BlessedCBD.co.uk.
Bud & Tender is a British company that’s relatively fresh in the market. However, they’re getting quite the praise because they produce some decent CBD oils.
A premium CBD oil (with a premium price), it’s a bit more palatable than your average CBD tincture. It has a distinct floral note, which makes it easier to swallow. Using a CO2 extraction process/technique, all their oils are guaranteed to be of the purest quality.
They only use non-GMO, organic hemp so you’ll know that what you’re getting is an all-natural remedy. If you want to find out more about their products, they’re very transparent about what’s in them. Comprehensive lab results are regularly published on their website.
If you like to frequent Holland & Barrett on the high street, you might have come across this hemp CBD oil from Jacob Hooy. Because it’s so affordable, it’s a viable choice if you’re taking the first steps of your CBD journey. It’s not the most potent oil in the CBD industry, so it's important to have realistic expectations.
It’s also not the most palatable, but you can always wash it down with a generous drink of water. Overall, it’s a reliable starter CBD oil for those who don’t need higher potencies just yet.
Hempura is an up-and-coming brand that offers a wide range of quality CBD oil products. Aside from oils, they have edibles, e-juices (for vaping devices/vape pens), and capsules. Even though it’s not full-spectrum, the oil contains a decent amount of cannabinoids. It’s by no means ineffective.
They also use the CO2 extraction method, which is considered the most efficient and safest technique of getting CBD out of hemp plants. We also love Hempura’s packaging, which is important to some folks.
Hempura is also part of the Cannabis Trades Association, which shows their commitment to creating high-quality products for their customers.
Endoca Raw is the CBD oil of choice of those who want make more environmentally sound choices. Endoca Raw’s operations all happen in Northern Europe. It’s worth noting that they use supercritical CO2 extraction, which is the best way to isolate cannabinoids and flavonoids.
The growing process of the hemp crops used in their products all pass strict regulations. They’re non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free, pesticide-free, herbicide-free, and 100% natural.
Their range of products include CBD tinctures, CBD capsules, gummies, CBD vapes, CBD e-liquid and skincare options.
Medterra dominates the worldwide CBD oil products market (especially in the USA) and they have only just made their products available for UK residents. Their oils comes in 500mg to 3000mg potencies, so you have a decent range to choose from depending on the symptoms that are ailing you.
One thing that we love about the Medterra's CBD range is its tastelessness. It doesn’t smell like anything either, making it extremely easy to consume. Plus, the dropper cap of this product has marked measurements, so you can measure out your dose every time you take it.
If you’re a stickler for quality and always want to go for the premium, look no further than Holistic Herb. They offer strong straightforward potencies of CBD, at 4.2% or 8.2%. If you think you’re going to need higher doses to treat your ailments, then by all means go for this oil. Just so you know, it’s very hard to overdose on CBD oil anyway. You would have to consume gallons of it for it to become detrimental.
Every batch of their CBD oil sprays are so pure and contain no amount of THC whatsoever. You’re guaranteed to get only the holistic goodness of the crop and not its psychoactive side effects. Since it’s a premium product, it’s the most expensive one on this list, but it’s never really a bad idea to splurge on quality.
Hemp oil is not exactly the same as CBD oil, but it’s a good place to start if you’re on the fence about using pure CBD. Hemp oil is considered a superfood because of its high amount of fatty acids and bioactive compounds. Unlike CBD oil, Hemp oil is extracted particularly from the crop’s seeds and nowhere else.
With a 4000mg potency, you can take this oil as is or mix it in with your creams and serums. It’s more affordable than the other picks on this list, but it is also slightly less potent.
This is another hemp oil. As mentioned above, hemp oils are not to be confused with CBD oils. It’s extracted from the seeds of the hemp plant, while CBD oil is extracted from the leaves, flowers, and steams.
Hemp oils are mainly used to treat skin problems like acne and visible signs of aging. A lot of folks combine them with their sunscreens and moisturizers to get evenly toned clear skin. Hemp has anti-inflammatory properties which help reduce the appearance of spots.
This is also a great starter oil for those who only looking to get their feet wet in the wonderful pool of CBD products.
There you have it, our top picks for the best CBD oils to buy in the UK.
As a friendly reminder, its best to work your way up if you’re unsure about dosing. Start with a lower potencies and check if it relieves your symptoms. There is some trial and error involved in this. But when you find that sweet spot, you’ll soon realize that CBD oils may work wonders on your physical and mental health.
If you're looking for the best and most reliable CBD oils and CBD creams in the UK, look no further than Blessed CBD.
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CURE Carols by Candlelight 2019.pdf
University of Nottingham Foot and Ankle Evidence update