Here are your comments on topics covered by us. We look forward to hearing your views and opinions on all related articles. Please email us at frontline@csp.org.uk.
Lessons from the chalk-face
I am responding to the article titled ‘Managing pressures in practice’ by Gwyn Owen. It’s good to know what you’re getting into, professionally speaking. As a one-time teacher with 12 years at the chalk-face, I can appreciate the impact of being asked to shave time off appointments or taking on additional duties.
I was particularly interested in Gwyn’s suggestion on how to challenge problematic situations through using professional standards and duty of care. Most definitions of a ‘profession’ include not only highly-skilled learning but a moral and ethical code. For physios, this exists in the Health and Care Professions Council standards, but is more actively embodied in the CSP.
It’s one reason why I joined the CSP: to engage with a professional body, to learn from those with experience, to be involved in professional discussion and have a voice. It’s why, when the chance came, I stood for the role of CSP rep and why I intend to continue this role when I begin working. It’s also why I believe it’s important to engage my cohort in discussion and why their voice should be heard.
Challenging an employer is not easy. Even if they have unreasonable expectations, there is a power balance that is hard to fight. The more involved students (and experienced physios) are with CSP debates and discussions, the better. The more students can voice a professional opinion, the more they are able to define their own standards, the more they question what is best for their patients, the better prepared they are for a working environment.
- Alec Newton, physiotherapy student
Leap of faith
I am currently a physiotherapy student at Manchester Metropolitan University about to go in to second year.
I thoroughly enjoyed your student focus article on students’ back stories on pages 30-33 in the 7 September issue of Frontline.
I could really relate to the stories you published from the different students, and I have started this course after being out of education for 12 years. I was a professional Irish dancer from the age of 16 and travelled the world for 10 years with various shows and companies
However, I always had an interest in how the body works and spent half my time asking the tour physios loads of questions about their job.
I finally took the leap and did an access course at college, which I was so pleased to have gained a place on.
I thought I’d let you know a little bit of my story and thank everyone at Frontline for their brilliant articles, which really help to keep me interested throughout the course!
- Tom Blishen, physiotherapy student
In favour of IT
I followed with interest the IT developments in the NHS last week. I am really passionate about this topic as I worked in IT running my own website design company before I was a physiotherapist. I used it to fund my time at university.
Since graduating, I have always tried to use both of my skill sets and was recently heavily involved in our team’s introduction of electronic patient records in the community paediatric physiotherapy service.
- Anna Evans, paediatric physiotherapy team lead for North Worcestershire Health and Care Trust
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