Letters - 21 May 2014

Website launch

I work as an extended scope physiotherapist in London, and have been lucky enough to work alongside colleagues who have trained as (MSK) sonographers.

I have since started my own training on the CASE-accredited MSK ultrasound course at Canterbury Christ Church University.

As I started to utilise musculoskeletal ultrasound in my practice, and while chatting to sonographers, GPs  and sports medicine physicians on the course, I became aware that although we all use ultrasound, there are subtle differences in how it fits into our practice.

Through many lunchtime discussions, it also became apparent how much we could learn from each other.

There were very few resources available online at the time which offered advice on training, and certainly little was available in terms of forums and clinical case studies.

As a result, I decided to set about developing a free access educational website, http://theultrasoundsite.co.uk

It is the clinical context of the ultrasound findings which is key, and that is a clear focus of the website.

The aim was not to provide a gallery of images, but describe their clinical significance, associated assessment findings and how this impacts on the patient journey.

We are becoming increasingly aware as health professionals that imaging cannot only demonstrate a significant amount of asymptomatic pathology, but can also be damaging to a patient’s rehabilitation.

It needs to be used responsibly. For this reason the site also has details on training, competency and regulation. Stuart Wildman

We are not a luxury

I have worked full time as a physiotherapist since 1965, apart from an odd month on return from an overseas posting, all musculoskeletal.

I had an aunt in a ‘care’ home locally for eight years.

I feel very strongly that all nursing homes above a certain size should have a physiotherapist, or a suitably-trained physiotherapy helper at least, on the management team, and a room, albeit small, with equipment such as parallel bars, steps and so on.

The world seems to say exercise is imperative for good health, and more people are living to an age where they may need help, yet we leave them in nursing homes where ‘if physiotherapy is requested by a medic’ they see a domiciliary physio perhaps twice if they’re very lucky.

As you may notice, I think this is a most important issue, as I’ve always loved being a physio, and highly rate what we can achieve, but I feel we still get labelled as a luxury rather than a necessity. Hilary Toyn 

Read all about it

I would like to draw your attention to a report titled Surviving is one thing: Living quite another.

This highlights what people living with traumatic brain injury need to live well in the context of persisting changes to physical, psychological, emotional and social life post injury.

The report, commissioned by the Ajahma Charitable Trust, integrates first-hand knowledge from people who live with traumatic brain injury and their families, together with evidence from current research and specialist practitioners and service providers.  

The publication aims to:

• identify the opportunities and outcomes associated with providing appropriate community support to those affected

• by traumatic brain injury

• identify the risks of failing to provide support of this kind

• illustrate examples of good practice

A  PDF can be downloaded from the website of Headway East London. Surviving is one thing, living is quite another  Suzanne Hunt, Ajahma  Charitable Trust

Tell us about your involvement in this summer’s Commonwealth Games

The Commonwealth Games, Scotland’s biggest-ever festival of sport and culture, take place in Glasgow this summer.

The CSP will throw a spotlight on the behind-the-scenes roles played by up to 400 members who have signed up as volunteers.

For the duration of the games – 23 July to 3 August – the volunteers will be known as Clyde-siders.

The name is taken from the River Clyde which flows through the city. As well as working in the polyclinic in the athletes’ village, the physio volunteers will also be based in the various sporting venues where they will support athletes to perform to their full potential.

Physio Liz Mendl, general manager for medical services for the games, said: ‘This is a fantastic opportunity for physios to work in a major event and deliver their skills as part of a multidisciplinary team.’

If you are a Clyde-sider, Frontline invites you to tell us about your participation.

On 16 June we plan to publish a Clyde-sider profile page on the CSP website. This will mirror the ‘online wall’ of members, produced by the CSP for the London 2012 games

If you’re a physio Clyde-sider, submit your details to Glasgow 2014 volunteers