Re: Getting therapeutic hands-on experience Healthplus, March 18th
Dear Sir,
I refer to an article in the Irish Times Healthplus Supplement on March 18th, "Getting therapeutic hands-on experience".
The article indicates that HETAC has approved a three-year BSc degree course in physical therapy. This is not the case. The degree that has been approved is a BSc course in Applied Health Sciences.
The World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) recognises the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists (ISCP) as the sole authoritative body for physical therapy in Ireland.
To practise as a physiotherapist in the public health service, one must be a member of or be eligible to be a member of the ISCP. The ISCP is recognised by the Department of Health and Children as the designated authority for physiotherapy in Ireland.
The article includes a claim that "physical therapists"(in the Irish context) treat similar conditions to physiotherapists.
Chartered physiotherapists are educated in three core areas of physiotherapy/ physical therapy (in the international context): cardio-respiratory, neurological and musculo-skeletal. Chartered physiotherapists are independent practitioners who assess, diagnose and treat patients with many conditions, for example, COPD, stroke, acquired brain injuries, cerebral palsy, low back pain, bony fractures/dislocations, lymphoedema, to mention but a few, as well as sports injuries.
Chartered physiotherapists work both publicly and privately in partnership with the medical profession and other health professions.
The article also includes a claim regarding different approaches from "physical therapists" (in the Irish context) and physiotherapists in the treatment of patients. Chartered physiotherapists include all of the treatments described, plus a wide range of other evidence-based treatments within their scope of practice, and are bound by the ISCP code of conduct. The scope of practice of a chartered physiotherapist is extensive and commences with a four-year full-time degree education (from University College Dublin, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Trinity College, University of Limerick or their equivalent universities abroad) in line with the WCPT standards.
Karen Gunn
ISCP president
Royal College of Surgeons Ireland
Dublin 2
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