Overseas Opportunity

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letters

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MACP Drives On MADAM - As one of the trio of original founders of the Manipulation Association of Chartered Physiotherapists I applaud Agneta Lando’s Personal View (Physiotherapy, April) It is gratifying to note that the impulse which prompted us, almost 25 years ago, is still the engine which drives the MACP today Here’s to the next 25 years1 Gregory P Grieve FCSP DipTP Halesworrh Suffolk

ago following a year I spent as a physiotherapist on the West Bank I have written to many managers personally, so please forgive me for repeating myself Do help if you possibly can

Val Jourdan MCSP WaPPlng Long Crendon Buckinghamshire HPl8 9AL

S e e also page 363. - Editor

This Could Happen to You! Elective Placements for Palestinian Students MADAM - Many colleagues will already know about the CSP endorsed. Physiotherapy Degree Programme at Bethlehem University, training 20 Palestinian students from the West Bank and Gaza. The course is now in its fourth year and is directed by Lesley Dawson MSc MCSP DipTP, formerly of Bradford School of Physiotherapy. The students will be qualifying early in 1993. We have been asked to help find placements for an elective from August 17 to September 11 this summer. The British Council has agreed to pay for the flights of all the students, provided they all fly together. Lesley, whom some will have met at the WCPT Congress last year, has already found placements for several pairs of students. Action Around Bethlehem Children with Disability (ABCD) is now looking for placements for two more pairs. We would like to give these students every opportunity possible. If there is a possibility of help, please will you contact me at the address below. It would also be helpful to know if there is a possibility of accommodation and at what charge. ABCD is a registered charity whose main aim is to bring improved medical and paramedical skills to the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, particularly in the field of childhood disability. It was set up five years

MADAM - I was working part-time in the NHS when I sustained fractures of T12 and L1 in a fall from a height at home. My job was terminated and I was advised to retire After a few months of job-hunting, it was obvious that my dismissal had labelled me ‘a legal liability’, and in the face of this I applied for medical retirement. My request was not supported by the orthopaedic surgeon and not granted, and, after a career spanning ten years in the NHS and over twenty years in various teaching and university superannuation schemes, I was plunged into a financial crisis by a ‘catch 22’ situation. I had signed an agreement to abide by the opinion of the occupational health doctor as to my fitness to work, which rendered me powerless. I did not take up the offer of the industrial relations officer to press the Health Authority to redeploy me because I wanted to work full-time (having completed some research un-funded). This proved to be a mistake. Had I resigned and remained unlabelled, I might have been better off. If my pension had been.all in the NHS, retirement might have been granted. A varied career has led to my changing superannuation schemes and at the time of the accident I had only been back in the NHS for 18 months. I have in the meantime found some short-term work. N a m e and address supplied

Best Wishes for Physiotherapy Day We hope that all your efforts are successful and the day helps to bring physiotherapy to the forefront in the minds of the public. If you are not yet committed to a specific event, do inquire locally to see how you can play your part.

Physiotherapy Day, 1 9 May 1992

And may everyone have a good time!

~.~ ~

Physiotherapy, May 1992, vol78, no 5

Misleading Title MADAM - ‘Loading of the lower limb when walking partially immersed’ by R A Harrison, M Hillman and S Bulstrode (Physiotherapy, March) describes the metisurement of the relief of loading on the sole.of the foot, rather than the ‘lower limb’. The upthrust is related to the mass of the water displaced by the immersed trunk and/or lower limbs, and will be less at the hip or thigh than. under the sole. Conditions of the hip or thigh requiring relief of loading during rehabilitation would therefore need deeper water to achieve the same percentage relief of body weight as the sole of the foot (depicted in figure 6). Elizabeth Grieve MCSP DipTP London N19

Back Schools MADAM - I am at present looking into setting up a back school in our hospital. I would be very grateful for any information and advice from fellow physiotherapists who have experience with back schools. I look forward to receiving this at the address below. Agni Phillipou MCSP Physiotherapy Department BUPA Roding Hospital Roding Lane South llford Essex IG4 5PZ

Overseas Opportunity MADAM - As your readers are no doubt

aware, VSO recruits health professionals to work in developing countries. At the moment we have ten unfilled posts for physiotherapists. We would welcome applications from qualified physiotherapists with at least two years’ work experience. I would also like to appeal to local groups of physiotherapists to help us spread the word ahout VSO. We have a number of returned volunteer health professionals who are willing to speak to groups about their experience overseas. As well as helping us to foster interest in VSO, a visit from a returned volunteer can also provide an interesting discussion point for a local group meeting. For more information about local group speakers, readers can telephone Kate Roe on 081-780 2266. Information about physiotherapy posts can be obtained from Anita Payne on the same number. Kate O’Malley Acting Health Postings Officer

vso

317 Putney Bridge Road London SW15 2PN