Physiotherapy UK 2012 - dragons’ den

A self-confessed foot obsessive walked off with a cheque for £1,000 at the end an entertaining finale to the conference.

Dr Kathleen Reilly, a research physio at the Oxford-based Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, won the prize money at a Dragons’ Den-style event, which is based on the popular television programme.

Sharing the stage with her son Tom Traill, a London-based economic consultant, Dr Reilly initially sought the full £5,000 that was up for grabs, courtesy of the CSP Charitable Trust.

But the four ‘physio dragons’ decided not to invest the full amount in Dr Reilly’s plans to produce an elasticated anti-pronation sock. Instead they gave her the smaller amount, which should fund the creation of a prototype.

If that proves viable, more money could be made available, they said.

The cheque was handed to Dr Reilly and Tom by Sue Rees, CSP vice chair.

CSP vice president Ann Green took the ‘Evan Davis’ role as panel host.

Paraphrasing one member’s comment, she asked the panel to decide whether Dr Reilly’s pitch was ‘brilliant or bonkers’.

Dr Reilly, who hopes to market the ‘Socks with a Smile’ to people with conditions such as plantar fasciitis, said she was ‘very thrilled’ to be the winner.

‘I have been working – almost obsessively – with feet for about 15 years. Having this idea approved by my peers gives it greater credibility.’

The ‘physio dragons’ were Dr Karen Barker, clinical director of the musculoskeletal directorate at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Dr Lesley Holdsworth, director of NHS 24, Sammy Margo, a CSP spokesperson in private practice in London, and Professor Graham N Smith, a rehabilitation and sports injury consultant.