Professor Sir Paul Curran, Chair of the National Joint Registry
During the past year, I have been delighted to join colleagues in our celebration of the National Joint Registry’s (NJR) twentieth anniversary. We have reflected proudly on the evolution of the registry since data collection began in 2003 and the significance of our achievements. We are now the largest registry of joint replacement surgery in the world (the 4 millionth operation was recorded on our database in May) and a recognised ‘global exemplar’ of an implantable medical devices registry.
A highlight of our anniversary celebrations was an event held in central London that provided a wonderful opportunity to look back over twenty years of registry work. It was a pleasure to be joined by colleagues, past and present, and representatives from our diverse range of stakeholders, to enjoy a programme of presentations. These showcased significant milestones in the development of the NJR, and our contribution to patient safety and improved patient outcomes. We were honoured to hear Professor Sir Stephen Powis (National Medical Director), our guest speaker, describe the NJR as ‘the jewel in the crown of patient safety initiatives’, a clear endorsement of the importance NHS England (NHSE) attaches to the contribution the NJR makes to patient safety.
Over the last year we have delivered an ambitious programme of work, and both funded and facilitated world-leading research. The NJR Annual Report provides the opportunity for us to reflect on our achievements. Further details of this year’s developments can be found here: Developments. It also provides a valuable opportunity to look to the year ahead, where we aim to build on our success and seek new opportunities to develop the registry further. Highlights for the coming year include collaboration with the NHSE Outcomes and Registries Programme, development of the NJR Patient Network, and implementation of an ambitious development programme. This multi-year and multi-million-pound programme will see the NJR undertake exciting new initiatives that will enable us to further enhance patient safety and maintain our global leadership position.
NJR’s standing is, of course, due to a dedicated team of committed professionals, who strive tirelessly to ensure its success. There are some important individual contributions which I would like to acknowledge. First, during the year there have been three changes to the NJR Board (NJRB, previously NJR Steering Committee). It has been a pleasure to welcome co-opted members, Mr Chris Gush, HQIP CEO, who succeeded Ms Jane Ingham in August 2023 and Mr Simon Hodkinson, who succeeded Professor Deborah Eastwood as BOA President in September 2023. We look forward to welcoming his successor, Mr Mark Bowditch, who takes up post in September 2024, and continuing our much-valued relationship with the orthopaedic profession. I would like to thank Chris and Simon for their valuable contributions. I would also like to thank NJRB orthopaedic surgeon member, Professor Amar Rangan, who stepped down at the end of his final term of office in May, after nine years of dedicated service to the NJR. I am delighted that Amar will continue to be involved with NJR work.
My grateful thanks also go to the NJR Regional Clinical Coordinators (RCCs) who underpin and champion NJR’s work locally. There have been some changes to RCC committee membership, as terms of office expire, and new members are recruited. I would like to thank all those who left us over the year, for their valuable contributions and welcome their successors. I look forward to working with you.
I would particularly like to thank all members of the NJRB and NJR committees, and specifically the chairs of those committees for their clinical expertise and leadership: Mr Tim Wilton - Chair, NJR Medical Advisory Committee (and NJR Medical Director and Vice Chair); Mr Peter Howard - Chair, NJR Surgeon Performance and NJR Implant Scrutiny Committees; Professor Mike Reed - Chair, NJR Editorial Committee; Professor Mark Wilkinson - Chair, NJR Research Committee (and PROMs Working Group); and Mr Derek Pegg - Chair, NJR Data Quality and NJR RCC Committees (and MDSv8 Working Group). Also, my sincere thanks to NJRB patient representatives and new joint chairs of the NJR Patient Network, Ms Gillian Coward and Mr Robin Brittain. Without the dedication and commitment of these members the NJR would simply not be a world-leading joint replacement registry. I would encourage you to read the reports from each of the committee chairs at Work of the NJR Committees, as these provide strategic overview of their main areas of work.
My appreciation also goes to our contract partners NEC Software Solutions UK Limited and the Universities of Bristol and Oxford. They provide the high quality and professional data collection and outcome analysis that enables us to serve patients, surgeons, hospitals and industry.
I would like to end by extending my thanks to the NJR Management Team, for supporting us in our work and providing sound operational, contractual and financial management.
Finally, at the beginning of my third year as NJR Chair, it continues to be a great honour to lead this organisation and work with such dedicated professionals. I look forward to the coming year and continued evolution of the NJR.