I am a Physiotherapist, mostly working in Mental Health. I also have a
background in exercise, fitness and physical education. During recent
discussions with my colleagues and their attendance at the ‘Promoting
Physical Activity in Mental Health care’ symposium (Birmingham), I have a
number of questions on which I would value your professional opinion.
q If nursing staff (e.g. psychiatric nurses) in either a Hospital or
nursing home setting (mostly NHS owned), wish to run/supervise exercise
and/or games sessions, what is the legal responsibility by the NHS Trust to
ensure that the staff have a recognised qualification or training in order
for the activity to take place?
q What would the levels of competency/qualifications be to
organise/supervise informal sessions of the following (not exhaustive!)?
§ Relaxation classes
§ Circuit training
§ Badminton
§ 5-a-side soccer
§ Jogging
§ Basketball
§ Volleyball
§ Aerobics
§ Hydrotherapy (and aqua-aerobics)
§ Swimming (recreational)
§ Table Tennis
q Chartered Physiotherapists are trained to use exercise as part of
their prescription to injury recover and re-education in other
physiotherapeutic settings. Would this qualification be sufficient to allow
activities, such as the above, to take place?
q Would instruction/guidance by Chartered Physiotherapists to their
Physiotherapy Assistants on organising and running exercise/fitness/games
sessions for patients allow for any legal requirement for the activities to
take place?
q Are Chartered Physiotherapists empowered sufficiently to provide
in-service training courses for other health care staff to
organise/supervise similar sessions mentioned above?
Many of the above questions are born out of my own department’s proposed
move to a new-build unit. We will have a gymnasium and separate fitness
suite. It is proposed to have areas outside the building where small-sided
team games can take place. I am concerned that nursing staff may be putting
themselves at risk, should an incident occur and believe that it would be
our responsibility to provide accurate guidance on this matter.
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