Cauda Equina Syndrome is rare but it is one of the most serious conditions we are likely to come across in clinic and missing or delaying this diagnosis can have life-changing consequences. Question and Safety Net Always screen back pain patients for bowel and bladder and sexual function changes and saddle anasthesia. There is a need to be really clear about what symptoms you are looking for – difficulty going, difficulty stopping, going without realising, knowing when you have stopped. Numbness in a saddle distribution is also a key symptom. Continue Reading »
This is the third article in a series looking at the proposals of MSK Reform from an osteopathic perspective. The education work I do is as a visiting post-graduate lecturer so my insights on this section are limited. I’d be pleased to hear the thoughts of any with more insight into the application of these proposals in an osteopathic context. MSKR propose a clinical education online learning resource to support clinical educators offering MSK placements. In osteopathy not all clinical educators have teaching qualifications and some may not be applying Continue Reading »
REFORMING CLINICAL GOVERNANCE This is the second in a series looking at the proposals of MSK Reform and applying them in an osteopathic context. The first article is available here. Clinical governance is the means by which healthcare “continuously builds quality of services and safeguards high standards of care by creating an environment in which excellence in clinical care will flourish.” There needs to be a synergy between bottom up and top down aspirations for improvement. The reforms aim to provide assurance that: MSK services in the UK are continuously Continue Reading »
I’ve been working as an FCP for just over a week. Of course, it’s all training and supervision to begin with but I thought I’d bring a few insights into the role. Patients The patient group is diverse with lots of acute presentations but also some chronic. Last week I saw a ruptured biceps tendon for the first time. One patient was referred for DVT investigations and I viewed a few injections which was interesting. Other than that it’s plantar fascitis, acute back pain and lots of shoulder pain as Continue Reading »
Reforming our relationship with Evidence MSK Reform (www.mskreform.org.uk) is a movement which has recently published their manifesto. It is the culmination of 2 years of collaboration recognising that MSK is a huge area of healthcare spending and work days lost, and that there is a need to reform MSK practice to improve patient care. There needs to be more consistency of care, more preventative work and professions working together to improve MSK care in the UK. This project emphasises joined up working between healthcare professions striving for MSK reform. In Continue Reading »
I have just been appointed as a First Contact Practitioner in West Essex. I hope to share on the blog some insights into the role as I get established for anyone that is interested in pursuing the role. What is a First Contact Practitioner? This is a fairly new and developing role based in GP surgeries. Patients can make an appointment directly with a First Contact Practitioner. They will then be assessed for their musculoskeletal problem and given appropriate exercises, advice or referral. This is my understanding at the moment Continue Reading »
In the recent chiropractic court case the coroner recommended that first aid training should be compulsory for chiropractors. You may have wondered whether it is compulsory for osteopaths? Is it compulsory? The standards state that you must comply with health and safety legislation and that you should have appropriate procedures in place in the event of a medical emergency (D5). The health and safety executive provides comprehensive advice on first aid provision available here. http://www.hse.gov.uk/firstaid/legislation.htm There is a lot of flexibility for interpretation. Whether you are self-employed, working from home Continue Reading »
The Professional Standards Authority (the Ofsted of healthcare regulators) has commissioned research into professional boundaries and sexual misconduct. It is important to understand the risks in these areas in order to maintain professional standards. GOsC has been working on research into boundaries with the Chiropractic council, recognising this is a high risk area for complaints. This article will discuss the PSA reports and as the GOsC boundaries work develops we’ll discuss that in a future newsletter. From recent courses I’ve run it has been highlighted that these are important Continue Reading »
Some people suggest that the patient group that visits private osteopaths are not likely to have any safeguarding issues. I personally don’t think we should judge in this way. Do vulnerable adults or vulnerable children never come to osteopaths? For the last couple of years I have taught a safeguarding children lecture on one of the SCCO modules. At each session there have been stories of practitioners who have had concerns about children. The important thing is to be prepared so that you know what to do should you have Continue Reading »
Working in many of the well-known professions within healthcare and wider requires a certain level of conduct. There are expectations for your personal and professional behaviour. Some people consider this is an intrusion of their privacy. But when you sign up to a vocation you sign up to the accompanying lifestyle. Nobody wants to meet their GP in the gutter on a Friday night and then in the consulting room advising on lifestyle on Monday. For osteopaths there are occasions where conduct falls below the expected level. The misconduct may Continue Reading »
