Physiotherapy March 2001/vol 87/no 3

166

I WAS interested to read and reflect onthe article by Ellis and Connell in theFebruary Journal highlightingimportant issues for the physiotherapyassistant role in the future. With reference to the potential toextend their roles in a communitysetting, this has significant implicationsfor the fast pace of change nowoccurring in the primary careenvironment. Our domiciliaryphysiotherapy service in Blackpool iscurrently piloting locally developedguidelines for assistant provision ofwalking aids in the community. Ourassistants have undergone a trainingprogramme ensuring thatcompetencies are met and sustained,this being part of securing theirtechnical instructor III grading status.The pilot involves the delegation ofappropriate referrals to an assistant

caseload and although they are the firstpoints of contact with patients, eachassistant follows a structured guidelinein this provision. Consistency,mechanisms for support and fulldocumentation are integral to this.

The pilot has promoted change,innovative ideas and confidence ofboth qualified staff and assistants totake this forward, knowing that there isroom for modification and change asits effectiveness is evaluated.

I can identify with concerns aboutdiversity of role and variations in taskdelegation to physiotherapy assistants.However, I do feel it is dangerous todelegate solely as a consequence ofshortages of qualified staff. We needevidence-based physiotherapy andphysiotherapy assistant-based practiceto determine working boundaries indifferent clinical environments. The

CSP and the Specific Interest Groupscan promote and lead on this to easethe uncertainty.

Formal training and support forcareer progression must be resourced,assistant CPD programmes andpersonal development plans canpromote this as they are doing withqualified staff. Clinical governance hasa pivotal role here if we are to ensurepatient standards of care are improvedand maintained, reduce variability inassistant delegation betweendepartments/trusts and ensure thepractice is safe for the assistant, thetherapist and the patient.

I gladly support and am enthusiasticto see future research in this area --assistants are a stable workforce formany of us physiotherapists, and wemust recognise and act on theirpotential. The recent publication of

Valuing the Role and Development of Physiotherapy Assistants

ON June 1, 2000, the Multiple SclerosisResearch Group at the University ofUlster at Jordanstown was formed withfinancial support from the MultipleSclerosis Society of Northern Irelandwho awarded the RehabilitationSciences Research Group a granttotalling £341,000.

This five-year project has beendesigned to establish definitively the current clinical management ofpeople with multiple sclerosis by theprofessions allied to medicine. In addition, a further survey will beconducted to assess the experiencesand perceptions of people withmultiple sclerosis on the use ofconventional therapies in the treatmentof multiple sclerosis.

Depending upon the results of thesurvey, areas which use the currentresearch expertise within theRehabilitation Sciences ResearchGroup will then be developed intofurther research projects on thesymptom management of multiplesclerosis.

To facilitate this, we are currentlydeveloping a list of members of the

professions allied to medicine who arespecifically interested or are directlyinvolved in the treatment of multiplesclerosis, and who would be willing toparticipate in the survey. Any suchreaders of Physiotherapy, who have notalready been in touch with us, areinvited to contact our group as shownbelow.

Andrea Lowe PhDSenior Research Fellow

Gareth Noble PhDResearch Officer

Multiple Sclerosis Research GroupRoom 50K 15University of Ulster at JordanstownShore Road, NewtownabbeyCo Antrim, Northern IrelandBT37 0QB

Direct tel +44 (0)28 9036-8052/8825Fax +44 (0)28 9036-8044e-mail A.Lowe@ulst.ac.uk

JG.Noble@ulst.ac.uk

Multiple Sclerosis Research Group Second request for participants

Meeting the Challenge by the Departmentof Health (2000) provides positivechannels to take this forward in thefuture.

Helen RawleBSc MCSPBlackpool

References

Department of Health (2000). Meetingthe Challenge: A strategy for the alliedhealth professions (arts therapists,chiropodists and podiatrists, dieticians,occupational therapists, orthoptists,paramedics, physiotherapists, prosthetistsand orthotists, diagnostic radiographers,therapeutic radiographers, speech andlanguage therapists), DoH, London.

Ellis, B and Connell, N A D (2001).‘Factors determining the current use ofphysiotherapy assistants: Views on theirfuture role in the South and West UKRegion’, Physiotherapy, 87, 2, 73-82.

Keep on Writing!

Letters for publication arealways welcome. If possible

please send them by e-mail towhitehousej@csphysio.org.uk