The BESS-ORUK Meeting 2026
Pathways to performance: Navigating challenges and controversies in shoulder and elbow surgery – 2026
Overview
The British Elbow and Shoulder Society (BESS) and Orthopaedic Research UK (ORUK) return in November 2026 to discuss and debate the key issues and controversies that continue to challenge the shoulder and elbow fraternity.
This symposium is specifically tailored for consultant surgeons, AHPs and Trainees, focusing on the systemic shifts required to maintain excellence in upper limb care. By moving beyond standard surgical techniques, the programme addresses the leadership and service improvement skills necessary for advancing orthopaedic practice in the current clinical climate.
The 2026 curriculum focuses on the strategic themes of establishing sustainable business models for delivering care to our patients, managing post-operative surveillance under GIRFT guidelines, and navigating the clinical governance of new implants and techniques in the NHS. These sessions will explore the practicalities of funding, safety considerations for innovation, and the data-driven decision-making processes essential for modern registries and surveillance. This event offers a unique forum for BESS members to build networks, collaborate on streamlining pathways and ensuring that the introduction of new technologies remains safe, evidence-based, and effective.
In partnership with:
Programme
Programme coming soon
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68 spaces remainingPathways to performance: Navigating challenges and controversies in shoulder and elbow surgery – 2026
Sponsors
Convenor:
Mr Amol Tambe
Consultant Shoulder and Elbow Surgeon, University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust
Amol was appointed as a consultant at the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Trust in 2010. Prior to joining the team here, he spent a year undertaking his fellowship in shoulder surgery at the Wrightington Upper Limb Unit. He was also awarded the travelling fellowship by the British Elbow & Shoulder Society.
He specialises in shoulder & elbow surgery including arthroscopy, management of sports injuries, joint replacement and complex revisions, shoulder girdle trauma and post-traumatic reconstruction.
He was appointed honorary associate professor by the University of Nottingham in 2014 in recognition of his teaching and research commitments. He currently chairs the BESS Education Committee.
Mr Mustafa Rashid
Consultant Shoulder Surgeon, Colchester General Hospital
Mustafa Rashid is a Consultant Shoulder Surgeon at Colchester General Hospital and a member of the BESS Education Committee. He is a passionate advocate for the essential partnership between surgeons and therapists and is honoured to help organise this year’s forum for shared learning and professional growth within the BESS community.
Mr Matthew Guilliatt
Upper Limb Extended Scope Practitioner, East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust
Matthew Guilliatt is an Upper Limb Extended Scope Practitioner at East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust, working alongside another ESP and upper limb consultant colleagues in Trauma and Orthopaedics since 2020. Together, they contribute to elective and trauma pathways, supporting high‑quality, efficient patient care.
He holds an MSc in Advanced Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy (2017), is a Non‑Medical Prescriber, and has a Postgraduate Diploma in Musculoskeletal Ultrasound. These qualifications underpin his advanced clinical practice, including established ultrasound‑guided injection clinics and service improvement initiatives.
Matthew specialises in shoulder and elbow rehabilitation, with specific expertise in the development and implementation of rehabilitation protocols following lower trapezius tendon transfer, supporting complex rotator cuff and shoulder reconstruction pathways. He also utilises advanced digital decision‑support tools, including the Glentrak AI system, to support assessment and shared decision‑making for patients presenting with shoulder instability, particularly in the evaluation of on‑track and off‑track pathology.
In addition to his clinical role, Matthew contributes to MSc Advanced Physiotherapy teaching at the University of Hertfordshire and has recently been appointed as an AHP representative on the BESS Education Committee, supporting education and best practice in upper limb care.