Hospital Sector Newsletter

Nell Dawson produced a Hospital Sector newsletter from 1996 until August 1997 with very good feedback.[1].

The first public sector column appeared in the September 1997 Newsletter,  when Executive felt that the issues facing the profession were the same whether the physiotherapist was in the public or private sector.  They noted a new concept to look at career pathways and remuneration for physiotherapist..  It was pointed out the Charge physiotherapists are a rare breed having been replaced by Physiotherapy co-ordinators,  Physiotherapy Managers,  Physiotherapy Professional Advisors,  Directors of Physiotherapy , or Clinical Co-ordinators.  Nell agreed to retain her role in building networks with the public sector when her term on National Executive ended in 1997.  There was a need for a network to support public sector physiotherapists through the various issues and changes they were facing in 1997.  Fiona Murdoch,  Nell and Gail presented the Society’s role at the Community Physiotherapists Conference in mid March. 1997.

Gail reported on a meeting organised by the New Zealand Hospital Association to discuss a proposal for the establishment of nationwide quality standards within the health sector and implementation of a system for monitoring health provider organisations.  A Working Group was established to present a model to the Minister of Health by 31 May 1997.  Lee Gardiner attended the Hospital Manager’s Group at Conference in August 1997.  She was very much aware of the need to work together,  and make new contacts and networks.  She felt it was vital that the profession work together on issues such as integrated care,  contracting,  identification of gaps in services,  defining standards,  marketing etc to protect and promote the right for patients to access physiotherapy.[2].  Fiona Murdoch,  Nell Dawson and Gail de Boer presented the Society’s role at the Community Physiotherapists Conference in mid March 1997.

Fiona attended the Physiotherapy Managers Conference held at Lower Hutt.

Christchurch Hospital was awarded ISO 9002 certification in October 1997.  NZSP Branches were asked to establish a public sector liaison role whereby relevant information could be communicated to branch members working in the public sector.  The Working Party for physiotherapy career pathways and a framework for appropriate remuneration for physiotherapists was announced in the November 1997 Newsletter,  and the  Public Sector Column considered research in the Public Health sector.  Raising the profile of the Society to Public Sector physiotherapists continued in 1997 with the Society recognising the differing needs of hospital and community physiotherapists.  The public sector liaison officer’s teleconference in July 1998 discussed the benefits of NZSP membership and membership fees and other issues of importance to the public sector.

The PSA approached the Society again in October 1998,  acknowledging that they had not always achieved the best for physiotherapists in the past,  but hoping to work more closely with NZSP in the future.  A report was given on a meeting between the National Executive and PSA representatives in Auckland.  Concern was expressed from a number of CHEs that the PSA was not providing good representation for physiotherapists. A briefing paper was prepared on physiotherapy and sent to the PSA National Office as background for PSA negotiators.  National Executive agreed there was a need for training courses on contracts,  conditions of employment,  negotiation skills etc.  The PSA indicated they would be available to lead workshops on these topics.[3] 

The Newsletters for December 1997 and February 1998 considered the Dannevirke Community Hospital from a physiotherapy perspective,  and Hutt Valley Health Physiotherapy were congratulated for attaining accreditation for 3 years.  Other issues discussed were career pathways,  Ministry of Health Review of nursing and equipment assessors. [4] 

Jane Cumming wrote about College accreditation of in-service programmes with some CHEs.  Some branches still needed to appoint a Public Sector Liaison Officer in February 1998.  Fiona Murdoch reported on processes for the credentialling of health professional which is beginning to be introduced in CHEs.  Accredited Assessors were discussed in the April 1998 column,  and the National Environment Support Services Framework Project described[5]

It was noted in May 1998 that the short term post natal policy was eliminating physiotherapy services after childbirth.

Physiotherapy in education for the Pre-school and School aged child featured in June 1998[6]

A Public Sector Liaison Teleconference was held on 1 July 1998.  Issues raised were - NZSP membership fees,  Professional Liability Insurance;  Career pathways,  Pay Scales,  NZSP/PSA liaison,  ACC contracts with CHEs,  Non- funding for outpatient services,  Accredited Assessor Accreditation,  Promotion /marketing of Public Sector Physiotherapy ,  continuing education  requirements,  increase in workload for community physiotherapists,  use of hand symbol in Hospitals.[7]  Further details from the July Teleconference were discussed in the August Newsletter, 

Jane Cummings also discussed accreditation of in-service programmes with some CHEs[8].

Concern over the erosion of physiotherapy services and salaries in the public sector led the Society to develop the frame work for a working party to look at these issues in 1998[9]  The Working group meeting was reported in September 1998,  as well as discussion about effective services for children and young people .  A meeting was held with representatives from Health & Education to identify workforce and training issues was reported on by Pat Caswell[10]

An article about the PSA appeared in the Society in October 1998,  when they acknowledged that they had not always achieved the best for physiotherapists in the past.  In the same newsletter an update from SE 2000 gave key messages for therapists working with children & young people.[11]  It has not been easy over the years to get Hospital liaison officers to communicate about public sector affairs. 

Executive discussed future topics for the Public Sector column of the NZSP Newsletter (restructure of the Health Funding Authority,  liaison with PSA,  information technology issues.) in October 1998.  There was also discussion on whether “public sector” was the most appropriate name to use and it was agreed that this would be reviewed next year[12].

The HFA published a document “What can I expect from Health & Disability services in NZ” in November 1998.  Copies were sent to branches[13].  ACC contracts at Public Hospitals and the Cochrane call for physiotherapy research papers on breathing exercises as a treatment for adult asthma were the subject of the December 1998 column.

Gail de Boer reported on a joint presentation with the New Zealand Association of Occupational Therapists to a PSA

Health delegates seminar held at Massey University on 28 January 1999.  Information was presented on the Society,  current issues affecting the profession as raised by public sector liaison officers,  and the delay in the review of the health occupational registration legislation.[14]  The column for February 1999 featured neonatal chest physiotherapy,  with an update on Environmental support Services Project[15]  The Environmental Project was further updated in March 1999[16].

Seven physiotherapists at Taranaki Healthcare sent a letter in 1998 expressing their concern at price of NZSP membership subscriptions and suggesting that fees should be lower and membership compulsory.  Executive replied saying that membership of the Society cannot be compulsory and fee structure was reviewed by the Finance Committee in 1998 with resulting new categories in 1999.[17]

In April members were informed of the new categories of membership for 1999 subscriptions. [18]   Information about US style information technology was written about in May 1999 page 11.  How the Accident Insurance Act 1998 would affect Hospital and Health Services was described in June 1999 page 11  Some hospital physiotherapists do not recognise the role the Society plays in presenting the physiotherapist’s point of view to government and to the funders of public hospitals.  A full report about the Neonatal chest Physiotherapy Inquiry at National Women’s Hospital was given in July on page 4 together with information about an ACC-funded Head Injury clinic opened in Wellington on page 8.[19]  Lessons to be learned included the need for peer review,  adequate outcomes information,  detailed record keeping an good audit procedures.

The need for Successful Networking by physiotherapists in hospitals was featured in September 1999,  as well as a report of the Physiotherapy Managers Conference [20]  Here it was pleasing to see how far advanced the hospital and health services are with quality management,  accreditation credentialling and standards of practice.  Several hospital are accredited,  with one hospital Physiotherapy Department accredited by the New Zealand Physiotherapy Accreditation Scheme..

The need to develop a framework for physiotherapists who wish to re-enter the workforce was recognised.

29 representatives from the 22 New Zealand Hospital and Health Services (HHAS) attended the Physiotherapy Managers’ meeting held in Rotorua in September 1999.  Helen Easton reported to the September 1999 Executive meeting on this meeting.  The group recommended that NZSP should send a letter to all HHAS CEOs seeking their support for Physiotherapy Mangers to attend their annual conference meeting;  and also that in order to maintain good professional standards the professional advisor roles should be retained in any restructuring.  There was also a recommendation that consideration be given to establishing a coding working party to co-ordinate a national framework for physiotherapy data collections.  Considerable work has already been done in Australia on coding systems for physiotherapy services.

The University of Otago and the Physiotherapy Students Association hosted a careers seminar in Dunedin in October 1999,  with the keynote address by Fiona Murdoch (Waikato Hospital) providing an excellent overview of where public sector physiotherapists were situated in the changing health environment.

[1] A/R1996 - page 2 -

[2] N/L August 1997 page 1 -

[3] E/M 14-9-96

[4] E/M 28-2-98-

[5] N/L April 1998 pages 5 & 10

[6] NlL N/L June 1998  page 7

[7] N/L N/L July 1998  page 6

[8] N/L N/L August 1998 page 8

[9] A/R 1997 - President’s Report  page 2 -

[10] N/ L September 1998  page 7

[11] N/L  Otober 1998   page 8

[12] E/M 3/4 10 98

[13] N/L  November 1998 page 9

[14] E/M 13/14 -2 -99

[15] N/L February 1999 page 6

[16] N/l March 1999 page 10

[17] 13/14 February 1999

[18] E/M 9/11 April 1999

[19] N/l July 1999

[20] N/L September 1999 - page 5