The Role of Physiotherapy Helpers in Out-patient Physiotherapy Services

Abstract

Summary The role of physiotherapy helpers was surveyed at ten sites in Trent Regional Health Authority, where the Regional physiotherapist: helper ratio was the lowest in the United Kingdom in 1992/93. Managers at the sites were interviewed and questionnaires left for both physiotherapists and helpers. The object of the survey was to find out what tasks helpers were carrying out, and to establish the attitudes of physiotherapists and managers to enlarging the helpers' role. The response rate was good at 94%. There was a large variation in the tasks being carried out by helpers at the different sites. Some were carrying out all electrotherapy techniques, while others were helping with clerical and housekeeping tasks only. The majority of physiotherapists expressed concerns about enlarging the role of helpers and felt that training should be “on the job” with some formal lectures from physiotherapists. Managers were unlikely to employ more helpers to meet increasing demands on their service. A scientific approach to task delegation and supervision is called for to formalise task allocation between physiotherapists and helpers.