Working Party of Hospital Physiotherapists

Through 1993 Robin assisted the co-ordination of a Working Party of hospital physiotherapists,  the aim of which was to come up with a national set of criteria for “Senior/Clinical Specialist” positions for hospital employed physiotherapists.

Hospital physiotherapists gave feedback to contribute to NZSP submissions throughout 1993 - Mutual Recognition agreement,  Health Information Privacy Code,  GP referral letter,  “Seeking Consensus”  discussion document and draft guidelines for clinical post-audit methodology for CHEs.  Because hospital physiotherapists on a low salary felt the NZSP membership fees were too high the NZSP introduced a new category for those earning under $32,000.  Hospital physiotherapists showed their appreciation of this by joining the Society in increased numbers.[1]

Robin established a data base on terms and conditions of employment in the public sector in February 1994,  and in April 1994 she met with Physiotherapy Managers to discuss models for career structure.  The Senior physiotherapists group met to discuss this draft career structure document in July 1994.[2]  It was decided in August 1994 that in the career structure physiotherapists must be accountable to a physiotherapist.  A working party convened to discuss career structure in September 1994.[3].  Robin kept herself up to date with average pay rates and negotiations being undertaken by public sector physiotherapists.[4].  The Physiotherapy Board declined in September 1994 to be involved in the updating of a number of documents previously compiled by the old Department of Health - including  “Code of Safe Practice, Standards for Area Health Board physiotherapists and Roles and Functions of the Physiotherapist.  The Society decided to take responsibility for reviewing these documents.[5]

When Robin McGlashen resigned at the end of November 1994 her resignation gave Executive the opportunity to re-think the professional advisory role.  Comments from people present at the 1995 AGM indicated that the liaison with hospital based physiotherapists was less than desired in some areas,  making Executive keen to see the professional advisor take up the role.[6].  Eventually it was decided to appoint a new Executive Officer and Office Manager instead of a Professional Advisor.[7].  Hospital departments were encouraged to appoint liaison persons in 1995[8]. 

Gail de Boer started as Executive Officer in February 1996.  In February 1996 there was discussion about the recommendation that there should be lower NZSP subscriptions for 1 year after graduating.  Executive members and the Executive Office Gail de Boer attended various meetings to improve the lot of physiotherapists working in the public sector.  Lee Gardiner,  Nell Dawson and Gail de Boer visited Hutt and Wellington Hospitals on 9 May 1996.

National Executive met PSA representatives in Auckland in 1996 where concern was expressed from a number of CHEs that the PSA was not providing good representation for physiotherapists.  The Executive Officer prepared a briefing paper on physiotherapy and sent it to the PSA National Office as background for PSA negotiators. 

Nell Dawson acted as co-ordinator physiotherapists working in the public sector and called a short meeting  at the 1996 conference.  It was agreed a newsletter would be an effective way of keeping up-to-date.[9].  Vice-President Nell Dawson wrote an article in the July 1996 Newsletter.  Executive had targeted different areas to work on- Nell was developing a structure to look at marketing the Society the four RHAs.  She felt it was important to unite public & private sectors instead of competing as in the past.  Each had a role to play.  Disability Support Services were still generally delivered by a multidisciplinary team and still traditionally done through CHE services.[10]  Lee Gardiner reiterated this principle when she spoke at the Hospital Manager’s Group Conference in August 1997 saying that she felt it was vitally important the profession work together on current issues. 

NZSP branches were asked to establish a public sector liaison role to facilitate communication between branch members working in the public sector and National Office.  Physiotherapists working through the various issues and changes the public sector were facing in 1997 were encouraged to communicate with Executive and National Office.

[1] A/R 1993

[2] E/M 24-7-93

[3] E/M  25-9-93

[4] N/L December 1993 page 2

[5] E/M 17-9-94

[6] E/M 21-5-95 -

[7] A/R 1995

[8] N/L October 1995

[9] N/L April 1996 - page 5

[10] N/ L July 1996 page 1 -