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Role of the the Physiotherapist
Physiotherapy takes a ‘whole person’ approach to health and wellbeing. This means that the person’s general lifestyle as well as medical condition is taken into account.
Physiotherapists work with people affected by injury, illness or disability through movement and exercise, manual therapy, education and advice. They facilitate the maintenance of health for people of all ages, working with patients to manage pain and prevent disease. Through their work, physiotherapists facilitate recovery, enabling people to remain independent for as long as possible and so to stay at work.
At the core is the patient’s involvement in their own therapy. This is achieved through education, awareness, empowerment and participation (CSP 2013).
Introduction to the Physiotherapy Department
Physiotherapists employed by Beaumont Hospital, incorporating St Joseph’s Hospital, Raheny, work with a wide variety of patients in different clinical settings (e.g. respiratory, neurosciences, musculoskeletal, pelvic health, care of the older person). The department provides in-patient and out-patient physiotherapy services. All patients are individually assessed and therapy is provided on an individual basis and in conjunction with other disciplines where appropriate. As well as the acute/out-patient setting we have Physiotherapists workin gin 'Advanced Practice' roles in Consultant led clinics. Physiotherapists work in Neurophysiology, Orthopaedic, Rheumatology, Spinal, Vestibular and Pain Consultant clinics as the 'first contact practitioner'. This improces timely access to appropriate care for may patients.
We also have a role in pre-hospital care in the form of the newly developed Pathfinder service in collaboration with Occupational Therapy colleagues and the National Ambulance Service as well as facilitating early discharge from thea cute or sub-avute setting in the form of early supported discharge teams.
In addition to providing a service for patients, members of the physiotherapy team are actively involved in areas of specialised research as well as under and post-graduate education.
About us
All physiotherapists working in the department are CORU registered and are eligible for membership of the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists and/or Chartered Society of Physiotherapists.
Physiotherapy Services
Physiotherapists work in a variety of clinical areas. These include
- Musculoskeletal (Orthopaedic/Rheumatology/Emergency Department/Pain)
- Pelvic Health
- Neurology
- Stroke
- Neurosurgery
- Care of the Older Persons
- Respiratory (Medical/Surgical/Critical Care/Cystic Fibrosis/Covid-19)
- Surgical & Medical Acute Rehabilitation Team
- Oncology
- Practice Education
Location
- Beaumont Hospital site: The department is located in the Rehabilitation Department on the ground floor.
- St Joseph’s Hospital site: There is a rehabilitation gym on the ground floor of the main hospital.
Contacts
Beaumont Physiotherapy Department
Beaumont Hospital
P.O. Box 1297
Dublin 9
Telephone +353 1 809 2526 / 809 2956
Email: physiotherapy@beaumont.ie
Physiotherapy Manager in Charge III: Ivan Clancy
Email: ivanclancy@beaumont.ie
Deputy Physiotherapy Manager: Niamh O'Reilly
Email: niamhoreilly@beaumont.ie
Undergraduate and postgraduate education
Beaumont Hospital is the recognised teaching hospital for the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI Hospital Group). Under and post graduate practice education of physiotherapy students attending RCSI and University College Dublin is facilitated through Beaumont Hospital under the supervision of physiotherapy practice tutors.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
CPD occurs across all the specialist services in line with the ISCP/CORU recommendations. It involves staff actively participating in journal clubs, in-service training, clinical supervision, clinical reasoning sessions and formal appraisal systems for all clinical grades of staff. Such structures help to ensure that the competence of each physiotherapist is maintained and that patient care is in line with best practice evidence.
Post graduate education is encouraged and supported within the department. A number of staff have completed or are currently involved in MSc programmes.
Research
Research plays a vital role in the development of the physiotherapy profession by ensuring the use of evidence based practice. Physiotherapists in Beaumont Hospital are actively involved in a number of research projects. Many members of staff have presented at both national and international conferences and have published in recognised peer-reviewed journals
Useful links
- Irish Society Chartered of Physiotherapists
- Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
- World Confederation for Physical Therapy
- Royal College of Surgeons
- University College Dublin (UCD)
Please note that Beaumont Hospital is not responsible for any information contained on external websites.