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Patients in the North West denied long term physiotherapy
PATIENTS with
long term conditions are being denied ongoing physiotherapy by the
NHS reveals a report published by the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign.
The clinician and
physiotherapist led report, Focus on Physio, found that for many
adults and children with neuromuscular conditions, physiotherapy is
essential in maintaining the best possible quality of life, for as
long as possible. However, physiotherapy is often restricted
to patients where an improvement can be demonstrably measured by
physiotherapists. Patients with progressive neuromuscular conditions
fail to meet these criteria and are often refused physiotherapy on
the NHS. They are then forced to pay for these services privately or
go without.
On May 12, 100 families, clinicians and campaigners lobbied
Parliament, and petitioned Number 10 Downing Street, to call on the
Government to recognise the specialist nature of neuromuscular
services and improve access to ongoing therapies as a matter of
urgency. A number of families and healthcare professionals made the
journey from the North West to Westminster for the lobby.
Following a Freedom of Information request and a survey of patients,
Building on the Foundations: Focus on Physio, reveals:
· many patients with neuromuscular conditions do not receive
continuous, specialist physiotherapy or any physiotherapy at all; 2
out of 3 PCTs fail to provide ongoing physiotherapy for patients
where required; [Example: One 45-year-old mother and her
23-year-old daughter from Lancashire both have FSH Muscular
Dystrophy. Neither have ever been offered or seen by a
physiotherapist on the NHS.]
· 1 in 5 NHS Trusts and PCTs fail to provide financial support for
physiotherapists to attend training courses in neuromuscular
conditions despite the NHS’s commitment to Continuing Professional
Development (CPD);
· almost 2 out of 3 Trusts say they do not have any physiotherapists
with specific training in neuromuscular conditions; [Example:
One patient from Stockport was seen by an NHS Physiotherapist with
no specialist training and was sent home as there was nothing they
could do to help. This same patient now receives ongoing fortnightly
physiotherapy at the specialist Neuromuscular Centre in Winsford.]
· the situation is particularly difficult for young adults making
the transition to adult services – their current physiotherapy is
often immediately withdrawn as soon as they turn 16 - 18 years-old;
· specialist physiotherapy services are vulnerable where they rely
on charitable sector funding. [Example: Flintshire Local
Health Board refuses to pay the physiotherapy of five patients
referred to the Neuromuscular Centre in Winsford.
The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign’s report Focus on Physio is the
second stage in the Building on the Foundations campaign, launched
last December, calling for a specialist neuromuscular service across
the UK.
Commenting on the report and travelling to Westminster today,
Co-founder of the Neuromuscular Centre in Winsford, Kate Fox from
Cheshire, said:- “NHS Physiotherapy that is available to
individuals with a neuromuscular condition is still very much a
postcode lottery. There is a shortage of community physiotherapists
for both adults and children. Unfortunately, neuromuscular
diseases are rare conditions and many physiotherapists may not meet
anyone with the conditions in their professional working life. This
is why I’m Lobbying Westminster today to ensure that access to
physiotherapy is at the top of the Government agenda.”
Co-author of the report Rosie Paver, Head of Physiotherapy at the
Neuromuscular Centre in Winsford, commented on the importance of
physiotherapy:- “It is vital that health and social services
acknowledge the importance of access to regular and ongoing
physiotherapy for patients affected by muscle disease. We have
been increasingly successful in obtaining funding from NHS Trusts
for the patients we provide therapy to at our centre. This is a very
positive step and recognises the real and lasting contribution we
can make to the quality of life of patients with neuromuscular
conditions.
I urge all NHS Trusts to recognise the importance of physiotherapy
in the care of patients with muscle disease.”
Robert Meadowcroft, Director of Policy at the Muscular Dystrophy
Campaign, said:- “It’s ludicrous to force patients with long
term conditions to be re-referred by their GP again and again for
ongoing physiotherapy. Parents are also rightly concerned about
their children’s access to physiotherapy once they reach adulthood
as it is often immediately withdrawn.
We are calling on all
regional Specialised Commissioning Groups to undertake a review of
services in their region and we call on the Government to recognise
neuromuscular services as being specialist.” |
HALF OF PARENTS DREAD THE MAY BANK HELLIDAY GETAWAY
NEW research
reveals that far from looking forward to the break this May, parents
in the North West are considering it a Bank Helliday, with 57%
worrying about how to keep the children entertained and occupied
over the long weekend; especially when it comes to long car
journeys.
The research, commissioned by learndirect, the UK’s largest provider
of numeracy and literacy skills and qualifications, surveyed parents
with children aged up to 12, and found that braving the country’s
roads and motorways with the children causes the most stress for 13%
of parents. Findings further reveal that 56% kids get bored in
just 15 minutes if they have nothing to do. And with the RAC warning
of unprecedented bank holiday congestion, cars and kids are a recipe
for raised blood pressure amongst parents, warns learndirect.
When it comes to long car journeys, traditional car games continue
to be one of the most popular ways to keep the kids occupied, with
70% of parents in the North West opting for the likes of ‘I Spy’
or ‘counting cows’. A similar number of parents (72%) also
bring books to keep their kids busy on long journeys. However, 59%
are forking out for the latest games consoles and portable DVD
players to keep their cherubs busy.
Celebrity parents Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford know only too
well the stress that long car journeys can cause. Says Ruth:-
“Our young son gets very bored on long car journeys, so I need to
plan ahead with ways to keep him entertained. This Bank Holiday,
learndirect is encouraging parents to pick up their free copy of ‘Where
Did The River Go?’ as a way of keeping your kids occupied. We
love it because there are maths & English puzzles as well as a great
story by famous children’s author Peter Corey. Our Jack calls it the
magic book!’
Eamonn, who helped
create the story book alongside Ruth, says:- “We worked
closely with Peter on this book and some of the puzzles really made
me question my own maths skills. It’s a good way to test yourself
but it doesn’t take away from the enjoyment of reading with your
kids – especially on long car journeys where everyone needs to be
occupied – even us adults! And even if you’re not facing the roads,
the story book is a great way of entertaining the kids at home this
Bank Holiday.”
To help combat boredom and restlessness in the car, top Child
Psychologist and author, Dr Richard Woolfson, has devised a simple
way of calculating the number of distractions needed to keep your
child happy whilst on the move:-
D =
L__
A x E
According to Dr
Woolfson, the Length of the journey (in minutes) divided by the
Amount of time (in minutes) it takes before your child gets bored,
multiplied by how Excited your child is about getting to the
destination (on the scale 1 = exceedingly excited; 10 = not
bothered) will determine how many Distractions are required for the
journey. But Dr Richard Woolfson warns:- “Although many
parents rely on the latest gadgets to keep their kids occupied,
watching a DVD or listening to music doesn’t benefit them
intellectually when compared to playing real games, reading books or
doing puzzles or quizzes. These types of activities will stimulate
their brains and keep them engaged for longer.”
Visit the learndirect website
www.wheredidtherivergo.co.uk to find out more on how
to get your free copy of ‘Where Did The River Go?’. You can also
find your nearest learndirect centre by logging onto
www.learndirect-skills.co.uk or by calling the
freephone number 0800 101 901.
Patients say Trust continues to improve
IN the latest
inpatient survey, 80% of patients said the care they received was
either very good or excellent, 80% said they were always treated
with respect and dignity and 77% thought the doctors and nurses
worked very well or excellently together. In each case this is an
increase on last year. Some of the areas where our score had
improved significantly included questions about how they rated the
food and whether they received help from staff to eat their meals,
how much information they were provided with on discharge from
hospital and whether they had to share accommodation and facilities.
The results from 2007 show that the Trust's scores have improved in
31 of the 55 questions asked last year. We have fewer questions than
last year scored in the lowest 20%, a drop from 9 to 5. In the
answer to five questions we scored within the top 20% and in all
other questions we scored within the middle 60%. This year
there were 7 additional questions including whether the patient ever
felt threatened by other patients or visitors and we were scored
among the top 20% for that question. For the others we were within
the middle 60%.
Liz Yates, Director of Nursing said:- "It is, of course,
pleasing to see that overall patients are more impressed with their
care than last year, but we are by no means complacent. We will be
studying the report in some detail, particularly those areas where
we are still in the lowest 20% or where we have scored less than
last year to see what we can do to improve in those areas." |
