We spoke to two physiotherapists, Ethan and Isabelle, to find out their journey to CUH and why they love being an AHP.
AHPs’ Day is an annual opportunity for AHPs to come together and celebrate being part of the AHP family, and the day gives an opportunity to showcase to others the impact they make to the delivery of high quality care.
Ethan Lewis is a band 5 rotational physiotherapist, he qualified in 2020 from the University of Hertfordshire, and after enjoying placements at CUH, knew this was the place for him.
I love working in a vibrant hospital with a variety of rotations to get stuck into. I have previously completed rotations in medicine of the elderly, Rehab, surgery, and ICU. Since working here I have started working on the ‘on call’ rota, which means I am the responsible physiotherapist for all emergency chest physiotherapy overnight.
Ethan Lewis
As CUH is a large major trauma hospital, Lewis has been able to see a wide range of complex patients with guidance from specialist and very experienced physiotherapists.
I love being a physiotherapist because my day is always different, I get to help people change their quality of life and manage new challenges!
Ethan Lewis
Isabelle started out at CUH as a healthcare assistant on the specialist rehab ward (J2) where she was inspired to pursue a career in physiotherapy.
Following her Bsc in physiotherapy at Sheffield Hallam University, she worked at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals and then returned to our hospital in 2020 during the pandemic.
I was overwhelmed by the departments' warm, welcoming and supportive approach. I have completed rotations as a band 6 in medicine for the elderly, peri-ops, general medicine and am excited to move to other areas such as rehab and paediatrics as my career progresses.
Isabelle Hitchcock
One of the four pillars of physiotherapy is “exercise movement and rehabilitation”, physiotherapy work closely with occupational therapists to rehabilitate our patients to allow them the best quality of life.
Often this can involve helping support patients to develop new skills to allow independence after life changing injury and illness.
At CUH we are fortunate to be provided high quality teaching opportunities.
Isabelle Hitchcock
Pictured below is a wheelchair skills course that physios and occupational therapists CUH recently attended.
The course was run by the spinal cord injury charity ‘Back Up’ and taught the team both basic and more advance wheelchair skills, such as back balancing and getting up steps.