Extended scope practitioners

Summary

Area of interest The group has members from several of the major specialities, ie musculoskeletal medicine, rheumatology, paediatrics, orthopaedics, neurology and respiratory care, and aims to support those members who have extended physiotherapy practice to encompass tasks that may previously have been undertaken by the medical profession. Members are employed in primary and secondary care settings and interface clinics.
Contact Marion Rutter - email Marion@mrutter39.freeserve.co.uk
Membership 400
CSP status recognised group
Subscription details £25.00
Publications
  • 'Chartered physiotherapists working as extended scope practitioners' PA29 which contains a reference list of the major articles pertinent to the CIG
  • 'Horizon' (ESP quarterly newsletter)
  • ESP leaflet available: this leaflet gives similar information as the PA29 document but in a glossy leaflet format. For more information on this contact Public Relations Officer Mark Knight-Davis via email mark.knightdavies@gwent.wales.nhs.uk
Who can join? Full membership is available to clinicians fulfilling all aspects of the definition of an ESP: 'a clinical physiotherapy specialist in any recognised speciality, with an extended scope of practice.'

Extended scope of practice implies working beyond the recognised scope of practice, for example: requesting investigations eg blood tests, scans, nerve conduction studies; using the results of investigations to assist clinical diagnosis and appropriate management of patients; listing for surgery and referring to other medical and paramedical professionals
Why join?
  • Quarterly journal ' Horizon'
  • Reduced rates for ESP conference and study days
  • ESP course listings & reviews
  • Increase political awareness: ESP issues & developments
  • ESP research reference list
  • Aid networking through regional groups
  • Access to ESP database - option of being involved in ESP research, networking
  • Vote at ESP AGM / EGM
What is expected of members? ESP expects members to be actively involved in achieving its objectives to support and promote all aspects of the ESP role. This is reliant on an interactive network of clinicians communicating and sharing information effectively.
How does the group support members' continuing professional development/lifelonglearning? Website
The ESP group has a dedicated network on iCSP. This provides up to date news and an excellent method for discussion and exchange of information. As a membership group we strongly advocate this medium as a way of improving communication between ESP's.

Information for physiotherapy managers, clinical physiotherapists and other health professionals is available on this website.

Regional network
There are currently ten regional ESP groups who hold regular meetings on ESP issues: South Wales, Bristol, Taunton, Trent and Yorkshire, North East England, Stoke and Stafford, East Anglia, South West London, North West England and Scotland.
For further information/contact details for these groups contact Public Relations Officer Mark Knight-Davis via email mark.knightdavies@gwent.wales.nhs.uk

Peer support/mentorship
Members are encouraged to visit colleagues in an established role for mentorship, especially when setting up new posts. Members in the same department support each other and where available, branches offer support. The ESP Executive Committee answers queries relating to the ESP role. Names and addresses of officers are available through the CSP.

Publications
Horizon is a quarterly newsletter co-ordinated for publication by the ESP Executive Committee. Contributions are invited from all members. An up-to-date reference list is sent to all new members on application. In addition, the group has developed a flyer explaining the ESP role.

Suggested reading list
CSP (2000), Chartered Physiotherapists Working as Extended Scope Practitioners, PA29, CSP. Includes a reading list. Byles SE, Ling RSM (1989), Orthopaedic Out-patients - A Fresh Approach, Physiotherapy, 75, (7) 435-437
Daker-White G, Carr AJ, Harvey I, Woolhead G, Bannister G, Nelson I, Kammerling M (1999), A randomized controlled trial. Shifting the boundaries of doctors and physiotherapists in orthopaedic outpatient departments, Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 53, 643-650
Hattam P, Smeatham A (1999), Evaluation of an orthopaedic screening service in primary care, British Journal of Clinical Governance, 4(2) 45-49
Hockin J, Bannister G (1994), The Extended Role of a Physiotherapist in an Out-patient Orthopaedic Clinic, Physiotherapy, 80, (5 )281-284
Weatherley CR, Hourigan PG (1998), Triage of back pain by physiotherapists in orthopaedic clinics, Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 91:377-379.

Conferences and study days
There is an annual conference and study day with the AGM in February of each year. If resources are available, the Executive Committee organises a second study day on a relevant topic at low cost to members.

Formal courses offered/recommended
Many members hold postgraduate qualifications, for example MSc, Manipulation Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (MACP) membership, Society of Orthopaedic Medicine (SOM) membership. The Executive Committee is currently involved in discussions regarding setting up recognised M-level modules of study.

Links with other groups/organisations
ESP is linked with the British Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Manipulation. Many ESP members also belong to other specialist groups such as the MACP and SOM. In addition, the ESP Executive is currently working with the British Orthopaedic Association.

How does the group promote research and evaluation? Promoting research awareness
The ESP research officer monitors members' involvement in projects and writes updates of work underway and of new interest in the newsletter. The research officer (with the financial backing of the group) is also leading a working party, with an established researcher, to develop an outline proposal for research on the orthopaedic ESP role, to submit for NHS research and development funding.

Published evidence-based material
The ESP Executive was involved in the steering group for: Leverson R, Vaughan B (1999), Developing New Roles in Practice, An Evidence Based Guide, Kings Fund, Sheffield University School of Policy Studies (SCHARR) and University of Bristol.

Outcome measures No outcome measures are formally recommended by the group due to the diversity of extended roles and patient case mix although members are advised to access the CSP outcome measures available on this website.
Useful information Relevant legislation/policy developments
Making the best use of a department of Clinical Radiology - Guidelines for Doctors, The Royal College of Radiologists, London. ISBN 1 872599 37 0
Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2000 (IRMER): individuals are advised to contact their hospital's radiological protection officer.
By law, any practitioner who requests radiological investigations (eg X-rays) must receive radiation protection training to protect patients undergoing medical exposure. Contact your local radiology department or local or regional radiation protection service.
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