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513 Bobath Groups MADAM - There are now many therapists specialising in neurological rehabilitation who feel the need to further their own personal development within this field. Consequently, small groups of therapists have been formed with the common aim of improvingtheir knowledge and handling of patients with neurological damage through the Bobath concept. We feel that informal groups of this sort could be of great benefit to other therapists who feel that they are often alone in their quest for self-learning and progression. It would be of benefit to those who may seek advice on how to set up a group if we could supply them with a contact name from an existing group. We would, therefore, be grateful if existing groups could inform the Bobath Centre of a contact name and address for this purpose only. Many thanks. N M Owen MCSP Bobath Centre 5 Netherhall Gardens, London NW3 5RN ‘Sigh’ Mechanism MADAM - I am presently acting up as a senior I on the intensive therapy unit at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford. Recently, the ITU team decided to change its policy on manual hyperinflation during physiotherapy. It was agreed that the ‘sigh’ mechanism available on the Puritan Bennett ventilator would be more satisfactory in view of the potential benefits listed below. Pros 024-hour catheters are used for the majority of our ventilated patients, therefore it would not be necessary to disconnect the patient to administer physiotherapy/suction if the ‘sigh’ mechanism were to be used. .Use of the ‘sigh’ mechanism does not require administration of high oxygen concentrations as is the case with manual hyperinflation using the Laerdal C circuit. @Thereis less likelihood of the adverse effects associated with administration of high oxygen concentrations and dis- connection from ventilatory support as occurs during ‘bagging’. 0 The ‘sigh mechanism delivers a pre-set volume breath compared with the unknown volumes during ‘bagging’. Cons 0 ‘Bagging’ aims to stimulate a cough by producinga fast expiratory flow rate. Is this effect achieved with the ‘sigh’ mechanism? I have no experience in the use and benefits of the ’sigh’ mechanism in conjunction with physiotherapy and would, therefore, be very interested to hear from any physiotherapists who are using or have used this method of lung hyperinflation during their treatments. I would also be grateful for any suitable references on this topic. Thank you for your assistance. Gillian Fry BSc MCSP Physiotherapy Department John Radcliffe Hospital Headington Oxford OX3 9DU Too Hasty with Helpers Board MADAM - Following a meeting of the North Western Board on June 8, 1992, I am writing on behalf of the members to express our disquiet at what seems to be a somewhat accelerated move towards creating a Helpers Board which will ultimately give helpers voting seats on Council from April 1, 1993. The growing pressure for skills mix within the NHS is clearly going to increase the number of helpers employed and the possibilityof a situation arising where the chartered physiotherapist is ‘outvoted’ by the helper does exist. We all acknowledge the valuable contribution that helpers make to the care of our patients but we feel strongly that they do not have the professional status of the chartered physiotherapist and should not at any time be involved in managing our professional affairs. Janette Standring Honorary Secretary North Western Board Jane Langley, professional affairs officer, comments: The majority of replies I received following the consultation paper in the January 1992 issue of Physiotherapy were in favour of option C. This.would acknowledge the value of helpersand give them their own List and Board and two seats on a Council with 45 seats (plus two student representative seats). It would not be possible for helpers to out-vote qualified Council members. The timetable identified in the January article has not been accelerated and the final decision will be made at the Special General Meeting in October, where every member of the Society is entitled to vote in person or by proxy (see page 525). GradDipPhys MCSP DipTP Hospital Communications MADAM - I am involved in a study on communications within our hospital. I would be grateful if any members with information on questionnaires or surveys on this subject could contact me at the address below. Many thanks. Maureen Scott MCSP Physiotherapy Department Wexford General Hospital Ireland Better Use of CSP Resources MADAM - May 19 was National Physio- therapy Day - Physiotherapyand Children - and here at the Royal Liverpool Child- rens’ NHS Trust, events were organised to draw attention to the work we do. At the same time due to reorganisation of the Health Service and financial constraints within Trusts, we find that the role of the physiotherapist in some areas of paediatrics is being usurped by other professions. As members we feel that our interests would be better represented by the CSP if energies were channelled into supporting us in professional and clinical matters, rather than promoting time-consuming publicity-seekingevents such as this. C E Warren MCSP on behalf of the physiotherapy staff, Royal Liverpool Children’s Hospital NHS Trust Stuart Skyte, CSP director of public relations, comments: I feel that Mrs Warren and her staff have failed to appreciate three points. First, that no member was forced to take part in promoting physiotherapy and children on May 19 - the fact that so many did would indicate a certain amount of enthusiasm; second, that promoting physiotherapy to parents, GPs, doctors and others is part of ‘supporting’ members in their professional and clinical matters; and, third, that even if the two activities were quite separate, they are not mutually exclusive. I would have thought that the day was an ideal opportunity to counter the important point made in the second paragraph. U I2 0 Z National PhysiotherapyDay was marked in Stafford by an exhibition in the child development centre, North Walls. One of the first visitors was four-year-old Frances Murcott, shown here with Anne Holliday MCSP (left)and Lynn Walker MCSP A full report of nation-wide activities is given on pages 516-520 Physiotherapy, July 1992, vol78, no 7
