583

Prepare for Action MADAM - May I support the remarks made in recent leading articles by Stuart Skyte (May) and Patricia Phillips (June) concerning management attitudes in the present day NHS. My own experiences although now in the past lead me to believe that the macho and paranoid approach to management is increasing rather than the opposite.

Unfortunately it is the professional staff such as physiotherapists who eventually have to pick up the pieces as they are in thereat world of patient care. Many of the changes instituted by management often have little to do with patient care but everything to do with political dogma and are part of a need to be seen to be ‘doing something’.

Patient care is what the NHS was originally about. It is not good to hark back too much to the past, and of course progress must be made, nevertheless unlike the matrons of old, present-day managers rarely visit wards and depart- ments to talk to patients and staff. Thus they lose sight of the realities of the

situation in a welter of paperwork and meetings.

As a result of this approach, patients and professional staff suffer to the extent of being told not to talk to their professional colleagues ‘down the road’ in case those colleagues ‘steal’ ideas. If the situation were not so dreadful it would be laughable.

The new chairman of the British Med- ical Association, Dr Alexander Macara, recently gave a succinct account of the problems on radio and television. It is an account which physiotherapists as well as doctors could take to heart. It is quite clear that the service, as well as still being underfunded, is now also very over-managed.

Something must happen soon to save some remnants of a service, so the sooner physiotherapists make ready for another ‘reorganisation of the NHS’ the better. I saw at least five of these during my career, each one larger and worse than the previous one. The present reorganisation began in 1989, so surely we must be due for more changes any day now? J F Britton BA MCSP DipTP Bristol

Choose Your Branch MADAM - At this time of year the profession welcomes a large number of newly qualified physiotherapists who will be allocated to a Branch by the Society’s Membership Department. Many of these new members will not realise that this is based on the the address they give the Society when they register.

While, of course, it is perfectly in order for people to attend a meeting of a Branch of which they are not a member, there are certain advantages to belonging to a Branch of one’s own choice, which is normally the one close to home or work. One advantage is that the member is on an address list held by the Branch and therefore will receive any information which the Branch circulates individually to members.

May I suggest that members should check their Branch cards and, if they have not been allocated to the Branch which is most convenient, they should contact the CSP. Brenda M Williams MCSP Chairman, London Branch

Urgency in Equal Opportunities MADAM - I commend the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy for a long overdue statement (Physiotherapy, June), on its position in relation to equal opportunity in physiotherapy education. One recognises that a stated policy need not be translated into practice. Never- theless it serves as a framework for possible action by the profession.

However, if the Society hopes that the dissemination of a leaflet entitled ‘Physiotherapy - Taking care of you and.your family’, printed in English and several Asian languages, will raise the awareness of the benefits of physiother- apy services and hence improve recruit- ment to the profession from the ethnic minority population, then it is likely to be disappointed.

The implicit assumption in the policy statement and the leaflet campaign is that language has been a barrier in the past, ignoring the fact that many members from the ethnic minority populations who could be attracted to physiotherapy as a career already have a working knowledge of the English language. It is therefore inadequate to elevate this approach above other potentially more productive strategies.

More effective strategies may lie in the selection and recruitment procedures for physiotherapy adopted by individual institutions. For example, schools and colleges where there are high percentages of students from ethnic minority popul- ations might be targeted with the aim of providing the appropriate information,

either directly or indirectly but preferably the former.

This should consist of not only in- formation on physiotherapy as a career but also, more importantly, on how to make a successful application through UCCA or PCAS.

A similar strategy might be adopted in respect of the other two categories of applicants highlighted in the Journal.

If the Society is to be seen to be taking positive action then guidance of a more effective nature must be employed and disseminated as a matter of urgency. Me1 Stewart MEd MCSP DipTP Coventry

Adverse Effects of Electrotherapy MADAM -We are undertaking a study to investigate any unwanted side effects of electrotherapy. Yellow report forms are being sent to all Health Districts and they are also available from the address below.

We would urge all those using electro- therapy to look out for adverse side effects and to report them wherever possible so that we can get a good overall picture and ensure safe and effective practice. Cecily J Partridge PhD BA FCSP Physiology Department King’s College London Kensington Campus Campden Hill Road London W8 7AH

Contact Point Low-level Laser It has been suggested that we should treat patients with paraesthesia of lingual and inferior alveloar nerves following oral surgery with low-level laser.

Could I ask through the Journal whether anyone else has used this treatment and if so with what technique and what results? Lyn Mitchell MCSP (Mrs) Physiotherapy Department Bolton General Hospital Minerva Road Farnworth Bolton BL4 OJR

Advanced Neural Tension Derek Stevens and I are intending to run advanced neural tension courses in the autumn.

Would anyone who has done any research into this area please contact me as we realise many physiotherapists are undertaking such projects and are not submitting them for publication. Elaine Mason MCSP Deputy Superintendent Physiotherapist Poole Hospital NHS Trust Longfleet Road Poole Dorset BH15 2JB

Physlotherapy, August 1993, vol79, no 8