Now, as a P&O at KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH), Nigel channels this passion into aiding children to regain their mobility, or prevent further deterioration, by designing, making, and fitting orthotic devices.

Nigel's profession as a P&O is a multifaceted one which combines both technical and people skills. He often switches between the workshop, clinics and wards.

In the workshop at the KKH Paediatric Orthotic Centre, Nigel works together with technicians to design and fabricate orthoses and prostheses for patients from the ground up.

Orthoses are devices designed to improve biomechanical function, encourage proper joint alignment or to protect an existing limb. Children are sometimes prescribed with orthotic devices to aid in the management of various physical conditions and to improve their mobility, stability, and overall quality of life.

On the other hand, a prosthesis is a device used to replace a missing part of the body. These are usually prescribed to individuals who have lost their limbs because of an injury or illness.

“Because Singapore has a small paediatric amputee population, we spend most of our time fabricating orthotic devices. Every device is custom-made to ensure that the device matches the shape of the patient's limb," explains Nigel.

“After we've taken the shape of the patient's limb and matched the design of the device accordingly, we move on to the rectification stage. This is where we'll apply forces to the device by shaping the resulting mould via removal or addition of material accordingly. Doing this allows us to design the device appropriately for the patient to correct or support the body part comfortably and functionally," says Nigel.

Once everything has been finalised, the technicians in Nigel's workshop will take over the fabrication work. The team uses a variety of materials like wood, plastic, leather, and even metal to create prostheses and orthoses. Because of this, Nigel and his colleagues make use of a variety of power tools to get the job done. This has led to the team humorously referring to themselves as mechanics working in a hospital.

  Nigel working with a lower limb plaster cast

“With so much going on and with the sound of power tools in the background, you'd be surprised to see a place such as this in a hospital," jokes Nigel.

Once all fabrication work has been completed, Nigel meets with patients to assess the fit of the prosthetic or orthotic device, and determine if any adjustments are needed. This ensures that the device provides the intended support and comfort which prevents potential issues such as skin irritation or mobility hindrance.

Nigel's journey into the world of P&O wasn't always so straightforward. In fact, it was only through a chance encounter that he would learn about and eventually decide to pursue a degree in P&O.

When he was serving his National Service, Nigel received an offer to pursue physiotherapy overseas. With that in mind, Nigel began looking into the types of scholarships that were available.

His research would eventually lead him to apply for the Healthcare Scholarships offered by MOHH. He then learned about P&O and decided to find out more about the profession.

“Back then, I wasn't quite sure what P&O was all about. Fortunately, my sister-in-law (who is an Occupational Therapist), helped put me in contact with several practising P&Os at Tan Tock Seng Hospital."

“When I reached out, they were immensely helpful and allowed me to shadow them for a few days to learn more. After witnessing first-hand what a P&O does, it changed and corrected my misconceptions about the profession. I initially thought it was a purely technical profession. But seeing the patient interaction coupled with the hands-on and technical aspects of the job piqued my interest."

The P&O who showed Nigel around was an amputee whose passion and sense of professionalism inspired Nigel. To this day, Nigel keeps this quote from the P&O close to his heart, “While we might not be saving lives, we can change them."

The experience stuck with Nigel, and he took a leap of faith to pursue P&O at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow after being awarded with the Healthcare Merit Award.

Nigel typically sees patients including babies, young children, and adolescents with a variety of conditions. These range from musculoskeletal problems like scoliosis, flat feet, skeletal deformities and neurological issues such as cerebral palsy and spinal injuries.

Given their young age, getting the patients to understand the complexities and importance of treatments can sometimes prove to be a challenge for Nigel.

“Singapore is a hot and humid country. So naturally, any child would feel uncomfortable wearing a brace. I have a responsibility to help them understand why they need to wear one even if they don't like it."

  The spinal mould that Nigel uses to make a Spinal Orthosis

While working with children was not something Nigel set out to do initially, he considers it a privilege to be able to work with them. In fact, he considers this to be a major job perk.

“One of the best things about this job is how there is an aspect of continuity I have with my patients. I get to accompany them on their healthcare journey and get a firsthand look at how they grow and mature along the way."

A particularly memorable moment for Nigel was when he was a P&O student during his university studies, where he participated in two clinical placements.

“My first clinical placement was in Stanmore which is located on the outskirts of London. Here, my clinical supervisor let me take the lead on a paediatric case where I was responsible for creating and designing the prosthetic limb for a bilateral child amputee."

“This was my first time doing everything on my own which was really exciting. What stays with me until this day is watching the patient take her first few steps with the prostheses before she suddenly started running."​

Watching his first patient with her prostheses gave Nigel an indescribable sense of fulfilment and immense satisfaction. It left a deep imprint on his heart and served to remind him of the responsibility that he held and the valuable role that he plays in the lives of his patients.

Nigel shares, “I'd say the closest feeling would be that of cooking a magnificent dish for someone and that person appreciates it greatly!"

As a practising P&O, Nigel intends to continue expanding his knowledge and improving himself professionally.

When asked to provide some words of wisdom, he has this to say, “The race doesn't belong to the swift, chance belongs to all. Keep trying your best and never give up on your dreams. You'll never know what's going to happen if you never try."

Nigel emphasises the importance of perseverance and resilience, especially in the face of adversity. He believes that every small step forward is victory and encourages aspiring healthcare professionals not only to dream big but also to embrace the journey with determination and hope.

"It's about making a difference, one life at a time," he adds, highlighting the powerful impact of individual efforts in creating positive change.