Cerebral Palsy Therapists

Concern was felt in 1977 when letters from Charge Physiotherapists in Hastings were received expressing concern at the appointment of  untrained Visiting Cerebral Palsy Therapists.  A letter was sent to the Health Dept and the Occupational Therapy Assn[1].  Discussions took place in 1978 with Dr. Mirams to define the role of Visiting Therapists.[2]  A Cerebral Palsy Trust Course was held in December 1978 with Kate Hedges doing the first part & Miss Shepherd the final section.[3]  The Society wrote to the Department of Health in May 1986 asking for detailed information regarding a course for Visiting Cerebral Palsy Therapists [4]

A problem arose at the Matariki Unit in Dunedin in 1987.  The Society wrote to the Otago Education Board offering assistance to resolve the issue.  Barbara Hetherington and Margot Skinner were the Society’s representatives. [5]  They did meet members of the Otago Education Board on the matter of physiotherapists employed at Matariki.  A job description was prepared and a physiotherapist would be on future appointment boards[6].

The Cerebral Palsy Trust asked for an Auckland course in 1988.  Material gathered from members to answer the Cerebral Palsy Trust’s request for support of its Auckland course was forwarded to the Education Committee for discussion and comment.[7]

[1] E/M 23 - 7 - 77

[2]  E/M 23 - 9 - 78

[3] e/m 2 - 12 - 78

[4] E/m 23 - 5 - 86

[5] E/M 22 - 2 - 87

[6] E/M 25/26 - 4 - 87

[7] E/m 23/24 - 9 - 88