New guidance following the announcement of national restrictions by the Welsh Government

Following the announcement of national restrictions by the Welsh Government, we have issued guidance to registrants in Wales. You can read it here. 

 If you have any questions about your practice and how this guidance applies to you, please do not hesitate to contact me on registrar@basrat.org

 Stay safe and take care. 

Oliver Coburn - BASRaT Registrar 

Updated information for registrants about PPE guidelines and the NHS QR code for Track and Trace.

PPE Update

Since our last update on the 8th September, there have been ongoing discussions between professional associations, regulators and Public Health England regarding the use of visors (eye protection). 

As a result of the discussions, we can now advise that the use of visors (eye protection) can be risk assessed for patients in the medium risk pathway. A type 2r mask, gloves and apron must be worn. 

Your risk assessment should consider whether there is a risk of aerosol transmission, in such cases, a visor should be used. If you deem there is no or low risk of aerosol transmission, you can opt not to use a visor. 

If you are performing Aerosol Generating Procedures, a visor must be worn. A list of AGPs can be found on page 34 of the PHE Guidance. 

Public Health England are sharing this update with Track and Trace. 

This update applies in all four nations of the UK and in all settings, including home visits. 

A link to updated guidance document his here. 

NHS QR Code for Track and Trace

Designated venues in certain sectors must have a system in place to request and record contact details of their customers, visitors and staff to help break the chains of transmission of coronavirus.

Venues providing close contact services, including sports massage, are required to display a code in order to assist Track and Trace with case tracking. 

Further information can be found on the Government website here, including the link to generate your code. 

Sport Rehabilitation supports all patient populations

Chris Peil, a Sport Rehabilitator, has gone from working with the World’s strongest man to invaluable work in a care home, illustrating the diversity of patients supported by Sport Rehabilitation.

                                                

Chris is now making a valuable difference within the NHS, having recently started working to help in the fight against Covid. Chris applied for the NHS redeployment scheme and was appointed as a Band 5 ERI to deliver rehab in a nursing home for Covid affected patients. The role was originally a support request for a Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist. 

In previous roles Chris has worked with a wide array of athletes including World’s and Britain’s strongest competitors, deadlift record holders, an Olympic gold medal winning athlete and a GB triathlete, Chris has also worked in private practice in Sports Rehab. The nursing home residents who Chris is now working with have become less mobile during the outbreak, from being confined to their rooms for a significant period of time. Due to lack of movement, some now have less mobility.

Chris is implementing a modified version of the NICE Recommended Falls Reduction Strengthening and Proprioception Programme to engage residents and improve their functional ability where possible. Despite the role being challenging, due to the day to day variation in physical condition, motivation and energy levels for nursing home residents, Chris is keen to get the greatest benefits for the affected residents as long as the programme is in place.   

Chris loves being able to make meaningful changes for people whether this is with athletes, the general population or those with significant medical considerations. The principles remain very similar across that spectrum. 

Chris’s role is proving to be invaluable as carers have to focus on immediate, acute safety first and use mobility aids to enable them to get their job done without accidents/incidents. The extra resource of someone with the relevant understanding and time to encourage residents to use the full extent of their physical ability will be invaluable so that residents can retain that functional ability for improved health and well-being. 

Sport Rehabilitators are trained to treat patient populations from day 1; completing a clinically focussed BSc degree and gaining experience in varied clinical settings.

Read more about Chris and his previous roles in this fantastic article from Sport Bible.

Regular asymptomatic testing required for all healthcare professionals

We have jointly written to the Department of Health and Social Care to call for increased Covid testing. We have joined forces with The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy,  ARMA, the British Chiropractic Association, the Institute of Osteopathy, PhysioFirst and SST to call for routine testing of asymptomatic MSK professionals who treat Covid patients, at risk patients or who are themselves at risk.

We have requested testing to be available regardless of sector. It highlights the heightened levels of need for MSK care post lockdown and the restriction on access to care home residents without testing as some care homes are refusing access to clinicians who have not been regularly tested. 

Changes including Local Lockdowns, Outdoor Training and Indoor Training.

Following changes to restrictions in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, we have produced this updated guidance for registrants. 

The document also provides updates on: 

• ?Local lockdowns 
• Outdoor training and rehabilitation
• Indoor training and rehabilitation (including classes)

Any members with questions about the updated guidance can direct them to the BASRaT Registrar, Oliver Coburn, by contacting registrar@basrat.org 

The guidance is available to read here.