Red Flags : Serious Spinal Pathology and Systems Thinking - Online Course

Course Tutor: Prof Andrew Cuff

DipMSKMed BSc (Hons) MSc PhD MMACP DFSEM (UK) MCSP

Who is this course suitable for?

Due to the changing nature of MSK service delivery, this course is suitable for all musculoskeletal practitioners. It will be particularly useful to first contact practitioners, aspiring Advanced Practice clinicians within MSK/Orthopaedic triage or experienced APPs looking for an update.

Case studies are used to aid transfer of theory into practice with a focus on the development of Clinical Reasoning. There is a strong focus on ‘Systems Thinking’ to help clinicians identify those non-Musculoskeletal conditions that may be masquerading as such.

Topics covered include:

• Hierarchical Red Flags & Red Herrings
• Systems Thinking
• Cauda Equina Syndrome
• Metastatic Spinal Cord Compression and Spinal Tumours
• Traumatic Red Flags – including Fractures

Event platform:

Microsoft TEAMS will be used for this online event. The link will be issued one week before the course date.

Lecturer:

Andrew is the Clinical Director for our Community Services Division at Cora Health, where he plays a central role in the development and execution of our Clinical Strategy. In addition, he is accountable for clinical quality, innovation, AHP leadership, and health inequalities across our FCP, MSK, Pain, Rheumatology and Talking Therapies services.

Andrew is an ex-Army Officer having previously commissioned into The Royal Yorkshire Regiment. He joined Connect Health (one of the organisations that formed Cora Health) in April 2017 as Clinical Lead.

An experienced Consultant MSK Physiotherapist, he subsequently progressed to Head of MSK, responsible for our FCP, Tier 1 and Tier 2 MSK Services. In May 2023, Andrew was promoted to Director of Clinical Strategy, joining the Executive Team, and assuming responsibility for all specialities within our Community Division.

Andrew has a reputation as an expert clinician and thought leader on an international scale. His PhD focused on the indications and rationale for diagnostic imaging within primary and community care. As an active researcher with numerous clinical papers in peer-reviewed journals, he is a regular speaker at worldwide conferences. In 2025, Andrew was appointed Visiting Professor at Liverpool Hope University in recognition of his considerable experience, expertise, and standing in healthcare.

Andrew has held Executive positions in several organisations including EUSSER (Chair of Comms); the Musculoskeletal Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (Chair of Education), and most recently the Faculty of Sports and Exercise Medicine (Diplomate Chair) – the first AHP (Allied Health Professional) to join the FSEM Executive Council.

Andrew sits on the Board of Trustees at St Oswald’s Hospice ( a North East-based charity) and attempts to practice what he preaches around physical activity, as a very average runner and cricketer.