THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1976
GRADUATION CEREMONY FOR STUDENT PHYSIOTHERAPISTS
*****
A FORMER DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES TODAY TOLD PHYSIOTHERAPY GRADUATES THAT THEY WERE ENTERING A WORTHWHILE AND SATISFYING CAREER AND WERE NOW REGARDED AS MEMBERS OF MEDICAL AND SURGICAL TEAMS.
DR. D.J.M. MACKENZIE, WHO HEADED THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT 20 YEARS AGO, WAS SPEAKING AT A GRADUATION CEREMONY OF 14 STUDENTS WHO HAVE JUST COMPLETED A THREE-YEAR COURSE AT THE PHYSIOTHERAPY TRAINING SCHOOL IN QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL.
HE TOLD THE GRADUATES THAT THEY WOULD BE DEALING WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE PHYSICALLY AND, IN MANY INSTANCES, MENTALLY AFFECTED BY ILLNESS.
A PHYSIOTHERAPIST'S WORK, HE SAID, WOULD REQUIRE A DEGREE OF SYMPATHY, UNDERSTANDING AND ENCOURAGEMENT THAT COULD BE DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN WHEN THE PERSON WAS TIRED, HOT AND
IRRITATED BY A LONG DAY WITH PERHAPS A FEW +STUBBORN AND SOMETIMES CAPRICIOUS PATIENTS+.
+TO INSPIRE THE CONFIDENCE NECESSARY TO MAXIMISE PERFORMANCE OF YOUR WORK WILL OFTEN DEMAND GREAT PATIENCE AND WILL DRAW ON THE RESERVES OF YOUR STRENGTH, HE TOLD THE GRADUATES.
DR. MACKENZIE SAID MODERN PRACTICE WAS TO ACCEPT PHYSIOTHERAPISTS AS MEMBERS OF A TEAM, EACH MEMBER GIVING HIS OR HER BEST IN THE PRACTICE OF HEALING.
HE SAID DOCTORS, NURSES, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS, PHYSIOTHERAPISTS, SOCIAL WORKERS, SHOULD ALL BE REGARDED AS MEMBERS OF THE THERAPY TEAM, EACH MAKING A CONTRIBUTION ACCORDING TO THE NEEDS OF THE PATIENT AND THE SPECIAL SKILLS THEY HAVE ACQUIRED.
THE FORMER DIRECTOR RECALLED HOW THE PHYSIOTHERAPY DEPARTMENT DEVELOPED FROM ONLY ONE ASSISTANT PHYSIOTHERAPIST IN TRAINING IN 1958 TO A STRENGTH OF MORE THAN 100 TODAY.
LAST YEAR ALONE, PHYSIOTHERAPISTS AT GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS HELPED SOME 80,000 PATIENTS REGAIN THE IR NORMAL PHYSICAL STRENGTH.
15