Professor Sir Paul Curran, Chair of the National Joint Registry
As Chair of the National Joint Registry, it is always a pleasure to write the Foreword to our Annual Report and update you on our work and achievements over the previous year. The registry has continued to mature and with nearly 4.5 million records, it remains the largest registry of joint surgery in the world and is recognised as both a ‘global exemplar’ of an implantable medical devices registry and a significant contributor to patient safety.
As in previous years, we have delivered an ambitious programme of work, improved patient outcomes and facilitated world-leading research. The NJR Annual Report provides the opportunity for us all to reflect on the progress we have made, and this is summarised in the section on NJR Developments.
The Annual Report also provides a valuable opportunity for us to look forward to the year ahead, where we will be building on our successes and seeking opportunities to develop the registry further. A key milestone for next year is the development of the NJR Strategic Plan 2026-2030, as the current NJR Plan ends in December 2025. This important document will set out the vision, mission, and long-term ambition for the registry, provide clear direction and shape our objectives and annual work programme. We recognise that the next five years will be a period of change, with new developments in innovative technologies such as big data/AI, orthopaedic industry evolution, NHS structural changes, long-term demographic changes, and greater international collaboration, all of which will shape the NJR environment. The planning process, started with a lively engagement day back in June, with over forty participants representing the broad range of our key stakeholders. Breakout sessions explored the NJR’s potential as attendees proposed a wide range of ideas, that aligned with our emerging priorities. Valuable outputs were captured from the consultation, which will, in turn, underpin and shape the ongoing development of the new Strategic Plan, a final version of which will be presented to the NJR Board for approval in January 2026.
This year a national database for all implantable devices has been introduced by NHS England. Known as the Medical Devices Outcomes Registry (MDOR), the aim is to have a central repository of all implantable devices to enable patient tracing if needed and investigation of interactions between different implants and different specialities. Currently, the MDOR covers a small number of registries and specialities and applies only to NHS patients in England. The NJR has agreed to a limited upload of data to the MDOR, on assurance that the intention is not for the MDOR to supplant the NJR. The NJR will continue to collect and analyse data about joint replacement and will continue to work with NHS England to ensure improved access to data in the central NHS repository.
The standing of the NJR is, of course, due to a dedicated team of committed professionals, whose efforts ensure its success. There have been a few changes to the NJR Board (NJRB) during the period. My sincere thanks to outgoing members, Dr Hassan Achakri, industry representative, for his valuable contribution and Gillian Coward, patient representative and co-chair of the NJR Patient Network. We thank Gillian for her outstanding contribution to promoting the patient perspective over nine years of dedicated service. Also, to co-opted member Mr Mark Bowditch, who will step down from the NJRB as BOA President in September 2025, and whose contribution has strengthened further our important relationship with the orthopaedic profession. I look forward to welcoming their successors.
I have also been delighted to welcome new members to the NJRB over the last year. Professor Steve Gwilym, orthopaedic surgeon, who succeeded Professor Amar Rangan in September 2024 and Mr Andrew Porteous, orthopaedic surgeon, who succeeded Professor Mike Reed as Chair of the NJR Editorial Committee in October 2024. Mike continues as an NJRB member in his new role as Chair of the NJR Surgical Performance Committee, succeeding Mr Peter Howard who stepped down as Committee Chair at the end of September 2024, after many years of exemplary service. Peter continues as a NJRB member in his capacity as Chair of the NJR Implant Scrutiny Committee, until the end of the year.
I would particularly like to thank all members of the NJR Board and NJR committees, and specifically the chairs of those committees for their dedication and leadership: Mr Tim Wilton - Chair, NJR Medical Advisory Committee (and NJR Medical Director & Vice Chair); Mr Peter Howard - Chair, NJR Surgeon Performance Committee (to September 2024) and NJR Implant Scrutiny Committee; Professor Mike Reed - Chair, NJR Editorial Committee (to September 2024); Professor Mark Wilkinson - Chair, NJR Research Committee (and PROMs and Data Alignment Methodology Oversight Working Groups); Mr Derek Pegg - Chair, NJR Data Quality and NJR RCC Committees and from October 2024, to the new Chairs of the SPC, Professor Mike Reed and Editorial Committee, Mr Andrew Porteous. I would encourage you to read the reports from each of the committee chairs at reports.njrcentre.org.uk which provide strategic oversight into their main areas of work.
My grateful thanks also go to the NJR Regional Clinical Coordinators (RCCs) who champion the NJR’s work locally and to our contract partners NEC Software Solutions UK Limited and the Universities of Bristol and Oxford, for the excellent data collection and outcome analysis, that supports the NJR’s work.
I would like to end by extending my thanks to the NJR Management Team, led by Elaine Young, Director of Operations, for supporting us all in our work and providing sound operational, contract, financial and communications management on our behalf.
Finally, it continues to be a privilege and a pleasure to Chair the NJR and to work with such a dedicated team of professionals. I look forward to the coming year and next stage of the NJR’s evolution.