Paediatric Orthopaedics
Royal Manchester Children's Hospital
Paediatric Orthopaedics at Royal Manchester Children's Hospital
The Paediatric Orthopaedics service at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital provides specialist assessment and management for children and young people with a broad range of orthopaedic, musculoskeletal and trauma-related conditions. The service forms part of a major UK children’s hospital environment where orthopaedic care is delivered alongside paediatric surgery, neurology, neurosurgery, rehabilitation, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, orthotics, imaging and specialist nursing teams.
Our programmes are designed for internationally trained and aspiring clinicians seeking supervised exposure to paediatric orthopaedic practice in the NHS. Visiting professionals may observe paediatric orthopaedic clinics, virtual fracture clinic processes, ward-based review, theatre pathways, multidisciplinary decision-making, imaging review, peri-operative planning and the interface between orthopaedic care and wider paediatric services.
For international trained and aspiring doctors, the service offers a valuable opportunity to understand family-centred paediatric orthopaedic care within a high-volume children’s hospital setting, including how NHS teams triage, investigate, manage and follow up children with acute, elective, developmental, neuromuscular and complex orthopaedic needs.
Fellowships and observerships at Manchester Specialist Health Academy provide international clinicians with structured opportunities to experience high quality healthcare training within a leading NHS environment. Both pathways offer consultant oversight, a clear induction, and access to modern clinical settings that support a strong understanding of advanced patient care. Participants are welcomed into a professional community that encourages learning, collaboration, and engagement with the culture of Manchester.
While fellows take part in more in depth clinical development, gaining exposure to subspecialties, procedures and research, observers focus on shadowing and understanding multidisciplinary practice within NHS services. Both groups benefit from involvement in clinics, team discussions, and wider learning activities such as simulation sessions, CPD opportunities, and quality improvement insight.
Academic contributions and awards
• Miss Ghazal Hodhody’s has authored book chapters and peer-reviewed publications within paediatric orthopaedics.
• Mohamed Kenawey: Surgical considerations with the operative fixation of unstable paediatric pelvic ring injuries. International Orthopaedics, 2017; and Unusual femur stress fractures in children with osteogenesis imperfecta and intramedullary rods on long-term intravenous pamidronate therapy. Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics, 2016.
• Emmanouil Morakis' publications include: Prognostic factors for failed Pavlik harness treatment in infants with developmental dysplasia of the hip: a retrospective cohort study. International Orthopaedics, 2023; and The true pelvic volume change with various corrective osteotomy techniques for exstrophy-epispadias complex spectrum: the value of computer-assisted virtual surgery. Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics B, 2024.
Rare and complex cases
- Neuromuscular and spinal orthopaedic conditions, including scoliosis management.
- Spina bifida and complex musculoskeletal presentations.
- Paediatric trauma, fracture assessment and virtual fracture clinic pathways.
- Gait disorders, lower limb alignment and equipment planning.
- Developmental, congenital and acquired orthopaedic conditions.
- Surgical assessment, operative planning and follow-up where appropriate.
- Multidisciplinary care involving orthopaedics, spinal surgery, neurology, therapies, orthotics, specialist nursing and family support.
Why Manchester?
Manchester is a city of innovation and progress, renowned as the world’s first industrial city and still leading in science, healthcare, and technology. With excellent transport links and a vibrant, multicultural atmosphere, it offers an inclusive environment for learning and professional growth.
Beyond your placement, Manchester offers something for everyone - from watching the iconic Manchester derby to exploring world-class museums and galleries. With vibrant music, sport, and culture, the city truly has it all. Combining heritage and modernity, it creates a unique setting for personal enrichment and memorable experiences whilst you develop professionally.
Our signature programmes
Observership
Paediatric Orthopaedics
Objectives
By the end of the placement, the visiting professional should be able to:
- Describe the structure of a paediatric orthopaedic service within a major UK children’s hospital.
- Understand how outpatient, emergency, fracture clinic, ward, imaging, theatre and MDT pathways interact.
- Recognise approaches to common and complex paediatric orthopaedic assessment and management.
- Describe clinical reasoning in trauma, fracture care, developmental orthopaedics, gait disorders, neuromuscular orthopaedics, spina bifida-related care and spinal presentations.
- Understand how family-centred communication, consent, safeguarding, chaperoning, reasonable adjustments and transition planning are incorporated into care.
- Recognise how multidisciplinary teams support safe paediatric orthopaedic care.
- Understand the role of triage, virtual fracture clinic review, imaging, follow-up planning, conservative management and operative escalation.
- Describe how audit, research, evidence-based practice, service improvement and teaching support quality in paediatric orthopaedics.
Eligibility
- The visiting professional must have sufficient English language skills to engage meaningfully in the observership.
Fellowship
Paediatric Orthopaedics
Objectives
By the end of the placement, the visiting professional should be able to:
- Demonstrate enhanced understanding of paediatric orthopaedic service delivery, governance and patient pathways.
- Apply learning from supervised exposure to common and complex paediatric orthopaedic assessment and management.
- Develop clinical reasoning in trauma, fracture management, developmental orthopaedics, gait disorders, neuromuscular orthopaedics, spina bifida-related care and spinal presentations.
- Reflect on family-centred communication, consent, safeguarding, chaperoning, reasonable adjustments and transition planning in clinical practice.
- Work within supervised multidisciplinary pathways involving physiotherapy, occupational therapy, orthotics, specialist nursing, radiology, neurology, spinal surgery and wider paediatric services.
- Understand how triage, imaging, virtual fracture clinic review, follow-up planning, conservative care and operative escalation support safe decision-making.
- Relate audit, research, evidence-based practice, service improvement and teaching to quality in paediatric surgical services.
Eligibility
- Postgraduate Qualification: Applicants must hold an overseas-recognised postgraduate medical qualification (MD, MS, Masters) in ophthalmology or a relevant specialty.
- Experience: Minimum of 3 years’ recent experience in ophthalmology or a related specialty within the last 5 years, including at least 12 months of continuous practice before applying.
- Training Level: Equivalent to ST5 or above, or post-CCT clinicians seeking subspecialty exposure.
- Language Proficiency: IELTS Academic with 7.0 in each band and overall 7.5, or OET Medicine with Grade B in all domains, with certificate validity within 24 months.
- Registration: GMC registration is required for fellowship activity. Sponsorship support may be available through approved routes where appropriate.
- Applicants must not have failed PLAB exams previously.
- Visa sponsorship is only available through approved routes; self-funded visas outside agreed schemes are excluded.