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Specialist physiotherapy
The role of the specialist physiotherapy team is to inform, reassure and encourage patients in their rehabilitation and recovery after surgery.
Patients first meet the physiotherapist before their operation for an assessment. This informs the hospital team of any factors which could influence their care or compromise their recovery.
The pre-operative assessment can take place at a clinic or on admission to Mere Ward.
The physiotherapists liaise daily with the ward nurses to discuss patient progress. The goal is to get patients independently mobile on the ward.
The multi-disciplinary team approach within the Exeter Oesophago-Gastric Cancer Centre gives physiotherapists the opportunity to flag up any issues with colleagues, for example Occupational Therapists, to promote safe and timely discharge.
The physiotherapists also give advice, for example, about exercise for when the patient is at home. They also attend the local Oesophageal Patients’ Association (OPA) to support newly diagnosed and post-operative patients.
The South West OPA shares our recognition of the important role of exercise in patient recovery and is providing equipment for Thoracic and Upper GI patients on Mere Ward.
Every patient is given an information booklet and an Incentive Spirometer to improve respiratory function after surgery, which Sarah Davies is pictured showing a nurse on Mere Ward, pictured right.
Team Leader Sarah Davies explains: These patients have a long anaesthetic for the operation and the surgery is close to the lungs, so we need to minimise the risk of respiratory complications. By knowing what they can expect, patients are less anxious and each patient is different so we work to their individual pace.
Qualifications
BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy degree, State Registered Physiotherapist
Courses Attended:
Oxygen Seminar (course organiser) (2008), Clinical Educators Course, University of Plymouth (2008), Topic in Advanced Respiratory Care (2008), Thoracic Surgery for Physiotherapists (2008), Minimally Invasive Oesophagectomy (2006, 2007)
Directorate / Specialty
Professional services / Surgery (Thoracic and Upper GI); with responsibility leading Physiotherapy team across 4 surgical wards.
Base Ward(s) worked on / with or department:
Primarily based on Mere ward, with team responsibility for Dinham, Exe and Dart wards.
The team provides clinical placements for Physiotherapy student from the University of Plymouth and medical students from Peninsula Medical School, and links closely with Physiotherapists working on the Intensive Care Unit, Respiratory Medicine, Paediatric and Cardiology wards.
Current membership(s) of professional, national and regional bodies:
Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Respiratory Care
Research
Surgical screening tool patient data collection, Post-operative Pulmonary complications (planning stages; national audit)
Contact details
01392 402436 (Physiotherapy Dept) and email: sarah.davies@rdeft.nhs.uk