Your comments: 3 February 2016

I wanted to tell you about the new band 5 physiotherapy role in the cancer therapies team at University College London Hospitals NHS Trust.

 

The position, which started last October, is part of the band 5 rotations. I am currently undertaking this rotation and am keen to inform other therapists about it.

 

My caseload includes adult, teenage and paediatric oncology patients. 

 

I offer advice and education on exercise through their treatment process, therapeutic exercise sessions, provide independent exercise programmes and assist with running an outpatient groups at the Macmillan Cancer Centre. 

 

I believe we are one of the only hospitals in the country to offer an exercise-specific service for this patient group. 

 

The position is funded from the inpatient therapies team’s budget and came about as a result of growing research findings. 

 

We read with interest the articles titled Removing the blocks and Prime movers in the 6 January issue of Frontline (pages 16 and 22) about advanced practitioners moving into roles in primary care.  We have just started a 12-month pilot project working within a GP team in Edinburgh. 

 

Our role involves complex case management, anticipatory care plans and social prescribing. So far it has been a steep learning curve, which has been mostly exciting and sometimes daunting, within a very supportive team. We have been made to feel a valued part of the team and we are all working hard to make this project a success and improve the care of complex patients in the community.

 

 

As the husband of a physiotherapist, and a regular Frontline reader, I am contacting you regarding extended scope practitioners (ESPs). My wife has been working in an ESP role for a number of years now. Her skill set and knowledge base (and that of her colleagues) constantly amazes me, but I have become frustrated at the title of ESP.  

 

Discussing her role with friends, family, and patients, there seems to be a constant need to explain what an ESP is; most people assume that she will be producing some kind of scope which she will be extending and using to assess them! 

 

I believe that this common misconception does not allow the general public to understand the highly specialised role of an ESP, and does not help promote the profession to the level it truly deserves.

 

When the general public are told that they have an appointment with a medical professional with the title of consultant, they immediately understand this language and associate a level of expertise with it.

 

The title ESP is ambiguous to most people. I would be interested to know if any of your readers/members have similar experiences.

 

 

Thanks for your letter. It supports the CSP’s position on the need for clarity on the use of terminology and the meaning of advanced practice in physiotherapy. 

 

Since 2008, the CSP has moved away from using the terms ‘extended scope of practice’ and ‘extended scope practitioner’ in order to reduce any confusion.

 

Physiotherapists working at an advanced level undertake a range of roles which draw on their professional skills and knowledge.

 

To reflect this, the CSP now advises that where a role has been developed to reflect advanced level practice the term advanced practice physiotherapist should be adopted. The society is developing a resource, Advanced Practice in Physiotherapy, which will present the CSP’s position on this topic.