- Email: [email protected]
Parkinson's Disease
653
Outsmarted by Osteopaths
-
MADAM Once again our profession has been outmanoeuvred on national television. ‘Doc Martin’s Casebook’ (BBC 1 July 21) was both misleading and very melodramatic. It was however, a very clever and calculated publicity stunt by the osteopaths. Members of our profession should be well aware by now about the dangers of becoming involved in such debates. We obviously are still too naive about any ‘power struggles’ within this arena of musculoskeletal treatment. This
programme was obviously intended to promote the supposed benefits of osteopathic treatment over any other intervention, and it is vital that we as a profession do not participate in this sort of pathetic one-upmanship. Physiotherapistsshould consult the CSP, MACP or any of the special interest groups to seek guidance before getting trapped into this sort of emotional publicity.
Gavin Cummings MCSP PGDMT
Dorothy Simpson MCSP Physiotherapy Department Charing Cross Hospital Fulham Palace Road Hammersmith London W6 8RF
Welton, Lincs
Statement to the Physiotherapy Journal BBC - Doc Martin’s Casebook, July 21, 1993
-
MADAM Physiotherapists at Epsom General Hospital are appalled and outraged at the way in which they were misrepresentedin the above programme. The physiotherapy management and the progress made in reality bore little resemblance to that shown in the film. While it is not possible to discuss confidential patient details, we also feel that the amount of improvement achieved with osteopathy was rather misleading. We were assured by the BBC that no comparison was to be made between physiotherapy and osteopathy, and that nothing would be done to make our profession appear inferior. As members have seen, and rightly commented, this was clearly not the case, and the osteopath was portrayedas being more professional than ourselves. Although the programme apparently followed the patient throughout the course of her illness to the present this was not how it was filmed. The physiotherapy section was shot only a few weeks previously, and took 4% hours. Presumably the rest of the programme was also shot in retrospect with the patient and others ‘acting’ the part. During the filming, there was always considerable pressure from the director and producer to ‘get on and film the important bits’. These were the parts that made good visual images - hence the steaming hot pack! Despite our request to demonstrate other physiotherapy management of this patient in more detail, we were told that there was not enough time. The osteopathy sequence had already been filmed and so, presumably, there was no benefit to the BBC in filming a second assessment, and a second manual therapy approach which might have looked similar to the viewers. A great deal more physiotherapy activity was filmed than was shown. For example, none of a long interview that the physiotherapist gave at the end was used, and unfortunately we had no involvement in the editing process. In contrast to the impression given by this programme, our out-patient physiotherapists are skilled in a wide variety of manual therapy techniques, and our senior I is currently undergoing MACP training. All our patients are fully assessed and we have regular in-service training. We have recently completed an anonymous patient satisfaction survey on
Parkinson’s disease and the Parkinson’s Disease Society. The project is in its initial fact-finding stage where areas of good practice or initiatives are being identified. It is then hoped that this information can be used to establish centrels of excellence on the basis of good practice already developed. Iwould be grateful to hear from readers who have any vlews or information or experience on any aspect of care, although I am specifically concerned with physiotherapy management.
physiotherapy discharge of 302 patients of whom 49% had spinal conditions: 98% of these were either ‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ with their treatment. 86.5% categorised their improvement on discharge as either having ‘considerably less pain’, ‘very little pain’, or ‘no pain’.
With hindsight, perhaps we were a little naive to allow the BBC to involve us in such a programme, but we felt that it would not reflect well on our profession if we did not co-operate at all. However, we hope that others may learn from our experience. Having discussed this with the CSP Public Relations Department, both before and after the event, we hope that if others are in a similar situation in the future they would benefit from specific guide lines and advice to prevent this misrepresentation happening again.
Measuring Stress We are currently undertaking an evaluation and audit project of anxietyktress manage ment groups run in the Directorate of Psychiatry of the United Bristol Healthcare NHS Trust. We would be interested to hear from anyone who has been involved in similar work and would like to know what means of measuring outcome for anxiety management are being used. Alison Luker MCSP Vanessa Wren DipCOT Replies to: Alison Luker Superintendent Physiotherapist Barrow Hospital Barrow Gurney Bristol BS19 3SG
Chris Whiteway MCSP
Superintendent Physiotherapist Epsom General Hospital
Helpers The Sheffield Community Physiotherapy Service, assisted by the Sheffield Hallam University, is evaluating the effect of introducing helpers into its skill mix. If anyone has undertaken any similar researchlprojects,we would welcome any supporting information.
Contact Point Poiyneuritis Hypertrophic progressive polyneuritis is a very rare disease affecting the nerve pathways and consequently patients experience considerable pain in all areas of their body. I would be grateful for any information regarding pain management for this disabling condition. If anyone has any relevant documentation on its treatment I would be grateful for them to contact me with references, etc. Nicola Proctor-Smith MCSP Low Wood Physiotherapy Clinic Low Wood Hotel Windermere Cumbria LA23 1LP
Parkinson’s Disease The Todes Project Steering Group has been established to look at good practice in the care of Parkinson’s disease. The group has representatives from the medical, social work, nursing and therapy professions, as well as sufferers of
Jacky Samworth MCSP Community Physiotherapy Service The Lodge St George’s Hospital Winter Street Sheffield S3 7ND
Exercise and Anorexia We are starting to run a safe exercise group with anorexia sufferers as part of a community programme. We would be grateful to hear from anyone with experience of working with this client group. Dawn Sewards MCSP Jill Bailey MCSP Physiotherapy Department Mental Health Unit Prestwich Hospital, Bury New Road, Prestwich Manchester M25 7BL (tel 061-733 9121 ext 3070)
Physlotherapy,September 1993, vol79, no 9
Outsmarted by Osteopaths
-
MADAM Once again our profession has been outmanoeuvred on national television. ‘Doc Martin’s Casebook’ (BBC 1 July 21) was both misleading and very melodramatic. It was however, a very clever and calculated publicity stunt by the osteopaths. Members of our profession should be well aware by now about the dangers of becoming involved in such debates. We obviously are still too naive about any ‘power struggles’ within this arena of musculoskeletal treatment. This
programme was obviously intended to promote the supposed benefits of osteopathic treatment over any other intervention, and it is vital that we as a profession do not participate in this sort of pathetic one-upmanship. Physiotherapistsshould consult the CSP, MACP or any of the special interest groups to seek guidance before getting trapped into this sort of emotional publicity.
Gavin Cummings MCSP PGDMT
Dorothy Simpson MCSP Physiotherapy Department Charing Cross Hospital Fulham Palace Road Hammersmith London W6 8RF
Welton, Lincs
Statement to the Physiotherapy Journal BBC - Doc Martin’s Casebook, July 21, 1993
-
MADAM Physiotherapists at Epsom General Hospital are appalled and outraged at the way in which they were misrepresentedin the above programme. The physiotherapy management and the progress made in reality bore little resemblance to that shown in the film. While it is not possible to discuss confidential patient details, we also feel that the amount of improvement achieved with osteopathy was rather misleading. We were assured by the BBC that no comparison was to be made between physiotherapy and osteopathy, and that nothing would be done to make our profession appear inferior. As members have seen, and rightly commented, this was clearly not the case, and the osteopath was portrayedas being more professional than ourselves. Although the programme apparently followed the patient throughout the course of her illness to the present this was not how it was filmed. The physiotherapy section was shot only a few weeks previously, and took 4% hours. Presumably the rest of the programme was also shot in retrospect with the patient and others ‘acting’ the part. During the filming, there was always considerable pressure from the director and producer to ‘get on and film the important bits’. These were the parts that made good visual images - hence the steaming hot pack! Despite our request to demonstrate other physiotherapy management of this patient in more detail, we were told that there was not enough time. The osteopathy sequence had already been filmed and so, presumably, there was no benefit to the BBC in filming a second assessment, and a second manual therapy approach which might have looked similar to the viewers. A great deal more physiotherapy activity was filmed than was shown. For example, none of a long interview that the physiotherapist gave at the end was used, and unfortunately we had no involvement in the editing process. In contrast to the impression given by this programme, our out-patient physiotherapists are skilled in a wide variety of manual therapy techniques, and our senior I is currently undergoing MACP training. All our patients are fully assessed and we have regular in-service training. We have recently completed an anonymous patient satisfaction survey on
Parkinson’s disease and the Parkinson’s Disease Society. The project is in its initial fact-finding stage where areas of good practice or initiatives are being identified. It is then hoped that this information can be used to establish centrels of excellence on the basis of good practice already developed. Iwould be grateful to hear from readers who have any vlews or information or experience on any aspect of care, although I am specifically concerned with physiotherapy management.
physiotherapy discharge of 302 patients of whom 49% had spinal conditions: 98% of these were either ‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ with their treatment. 86.5% categorised their improvement on discharge as either having ‘considerably less pain’, ‘very little pain’, or ‘no pain’.
With hindsight, perhaps we were a little naive to allow the BBC to involve us in such a programme, but we felt that it would not reflect well on our profession if we did not co-operate at all. However, we hope that others may learn from our experience. Having discussed this with the CSP Public Relations Department, both before and after the event, we hope that if others are in a similar situation in the future they would benefit from specific guide lines and advice to prevent this misrepresentation happening again.
Measuring Stress We are currently undertaking an evaluation and audit project of anxietyktress manage ment groups run in the Directorate of Psychiatry of the United Bristol Healthcare NHS Trust. We would be interested to hear from anyone who has been involved in similar work and would like to know what means of measuring outcome for anxiety management are being used. Alison Luker MCSP Vanessa Wren DipCOT Replies to: Alison Luker Superintendent Physiotherapist Barrow Hospital Barrow Gurney Bristol BS19 3SG
Chris Whiteway MCSP
Superintendent Physiotherapist Epsom General Hospital
Helpers The Sheffield Community Physiotherapy Service, assisted by the Sheffield Hallam University, is evaluating the effect of introducing helpers into its skill mix. If anyone has undertaken any similar researchlprojects,we would welcome any supporting information.
Contact Point Poiyneuritis Hypertrophic progressive polyneuritis is a very rare disease affecting the nerve pathways and consequently patients experience considerable pain in all areas of their body. I would be grateful for any information regarding pain management for this disabling condition. If anyone has any relevant documentation on its treatment I would be grateful for them to contact me with references, etc. Nicola Proctor-Smith MCSP Low Wood Physiotherapy Clinic Low Wood Hotel Windermere Cumbria LA23 1LP
Parkinson’s Disease The Todes Project Steering Group has been established to look at good practice in the care of Parkinson’s disease. The group has representatives from the medical, social work, nursing and therapy professions, as well as sufferers of
Jacky Samworth MCSP Community Physiotherapy Service The Lodge St George’s Hospital Winter Street Sheffield S3 7ND
Exercise and Anorexia We are starting to run a safe exercise group with anorexia sufferers as part of a community programme. We would be grateful to hear from anyone with experience of working with this client group. Dawn Sewards MCSP Jill Bailey MCSP Physiotherapy Department Mental Health Unit Prestwich Hospital, Bury New Road, Prestwich Manchester M25 7BL (tel 061-733 9121 ext 3070)
Physlotherapy,September 1993, vol79, no 9