Learning and education

South Tees has had a CCG commissioned falls service since 2007 and has had significant year on year growth in referral rates. Despite this, the team have operated on the same resource and the service had become reactive rather than proactive.

Proposed key outcomes of the review were: A mapping exercise of existing services against NICE guidance was used to identify areas for improvement which created an opportunity to review the current service with a view to develop a system-wide approach to falls prevention.

• Reduced falls and injuries
• A region-wide falls pathway
• Coordinated, individualised risk assessment and interventions
• Improved partnership working

The purpose of this service evaluation was to help better understand the impact and value of running a Recorded Physiotherapy Webinar (RPW) programme to Nuffield Health Physiotherapists.

RPW's are a series of 20-40 minute presentations recorded with both visuals (PowerPoint) and audio (presenter's voice). They are delivered by subject matter experts from across Nuffield Health and aim to promote learning on clinical topics (i.e. ACL rehabilitation, Shoulder red-flags and Cervicogenic headaches).

A total of 14 self-selected RPW's are currently available and can be accessed from anywhere, at any time after the recording via a Learning Management System (LMS).

The purpose of this project was to reduce the effects of deconditioning and promote functional independence on an elderly care ward, with the ethos inspired by the End Pj Paralysis campaign. The first aim was for over 55% of patients to be sitting out daily for lunch on the ward. The aim was also for over 20% of patients to be wearing their own clothes daily on the ward. Secondary aims including improving patient experience, increasing staff knowledge on deconditioning and maintaining and reducing length of stay.

The requirement for a balance exercise class was identified whilst working in a musculoskeletal clinic that receives many referrals for patients who attend with balance deficit. We needed a class that would allow patients to improve upon confidence, mobility, functional balance and lower limb strength whilst being fun and augmenting individual Physiotherapy care. This class would also free up the popular assistant rehabilitation clinics.

1 in 4 people experience mental health problems in any given year, 1 in 6 experience work related stress, depression or anxiety. Only 25% of those experiencing emotional distress seek and receive treatment, with many being dependent on the informal support of family or colleagues.

Physiotherapists are also encouraged to investigate Biopsychosocial issues with their patients, through management of persistent pain conditions and may not feel equipped to successfully interpret or manage the information that they receive from the patient. This additional stress can also impact on the Physiotherapists emotional wellbeing and have an impact on patient care.

The aim of this project was to ensure that all Physiotherapists have an appropriate level of emotional literacy so that they are able read/notice the signs of emotional distress in themselves and others and then act appropriately to support themself and others.

Physiotherapy role-emerging placements can occur at sites where there is minimal or no physiotherapy service or established physiotherapy role. Lack of physiotherapy provision has been identified in care home settings, and this lack impacts on the quality of care in managing complex physical and mental health conditions such as dementia.

The Care Home Liaison team uses a multi-disciplinary model to develop interventions to support individuals living with dementia to have positive lived experiences of the care home setting. However, where physical health is a component of the individual's mental well-being, the team is limited to over-stretched community physiotherapy services.

This gap in knowledge and practice highlights the unique role physiotherapy could offer in managing such a complex client group. Physiotherapists working in dementia care offer an important role in the management of physical conditions, together with promoting and maintaining mobility and function. This has a positive impact on the behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia and so reduces the use of pharmacological interventions.

Role-emerging placements can highlight the value and impact physiotherapy has, and allows students to develop skills and experience in increasingly diverse, complex and evolving workplaces.

Congenital heart disease is a lifelong condition. Many patients will require repeated open heart surgeries during their lifetime and others may go on to develop heart failure, arrhythmia or other problems associated with acquired heart disease. The benefits of regular exercise are well known. The overall aim of this pilot study is to determine the feasibility of introducing a supported exercise programme in to clinical practice to support physical and psychological well being in adults with congenital heart disease living in Scotland.

To publish the newly developed Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy website for the NHS GGC and to collect patient feedback on the website.

To share how and where the stratified care approach (SB) for low back pain is being used globally and to capture barriers and facilitators to its uptake.

Adults with long-term neurological conditions have low levels of participation in physical activities and report many barriers to exercise. This study used a mixed methods approach to evaluate participant experiences and outcomes following participation in student-led, community-based neurological groups and to explore the feasibility of performing a full-scale study.