Rising to a challenge

It’s been another difficult year as we continue through this pandemic.

We are in better shape now because of the vaccine but we are still in a state of flux, being neither at the height of the pandemic nor at its end, and we will be dealing with the lasting effects for some time to come. 

I know that for many of you, the pandemic will have taken a personal and professional toll and now, many of you are exhausted. Day in, day out, members have given their all to provide the best possible care or patients. 

In our cover feature this month we explore how the pandemic has impacted some of you on the frontline, including how what you’ve learned has affected your practice, reflecting the seismic changes across the profession.  

We have developed new ways of working, especially in the digital sphere – and while this has been a necessity because of circumstances in many cases, we continue to take this and apply it to practice for our patients.  

One person familiar with – and indeed a driver of – change in our profession is Natalie Beswetherick, director of practice and development at the CSP. 

She has been extremely influential in raising physiotherapy standards across the profession and across the international stage in terms of world physiotherapy. As she retires from the CSP, Natalie talks to Frontline about her career and the state of the profession. 

As we look ahead to a new year, we know there’s increasing pressure to restore services, which includes addressing the wider impact of the pandemic. We have seen a general deconditioning of the population and those effects will continue to be felt for some time. 

The inspiring story of three physios’ bid to row around GB in world-record time shows how resourceful and resilient we can be in the face of difficulty. I wish them every success.

And as we take time to pause and reflect on the year passed, and look ahead to these challenges in 2022, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you, each and every one of you, for your incredible work this year.