Matthew Chappell

• I am currently working within private practice, treating a mixed caseload, including musculoskeletal pain, chronic neurological rehabilitation, paediatrics and NDIS cliental.
• I provide rehabilitation across a variety of settings, including 1:1 clinics, gym, hydrotherapy and home based rehabilitation.
• This role has provided me an great introduction to Australian healthcare and the range of referral systems utilised, including Medicare, DVA, private and NDIS clients.

Responsibilities:

• I maintained a busy and varied caseload, assessing and treating a vast range musculoskeletal conditions in individual clinics, lower limb rehabilitation group gym classes, independent GP surgery clinics and hydrotherapy.
• A caseload consisting of acute traumatic injuries referred from A+E and Urgent Treatment Centres, sub-acute and chronic conditions, and post elective / trauma surgery. Presenting conditions included upper limb, lower limb and spinal related pathologies.
• Rehabilitation planning for assessed patients, providing onward referrals to additional services where required, to provide outstanding patient centred care.
• Communication with multidisciplinary team doctors within Trauma and Orthopaedics, GP practices and inpatient physiotherapy teams for ongoing treatment planning.
• I worked independently at a local GP practice one day per week, demonstrating the ability to safely and effectively work independently.
• Non-clinical responsibilities detailed below.

Responsibilities:

• I was the lead club physiotherapist, alongside my NHS work, coordinating twice weekly 1 hour MSK clinics at rugby training, treating a range of acute soft tissue and joint injuries.
• I provided acute injury assessment, and treatment utilising a broad range of techniques, including exercises, manual techniques, taping and education.
• I led pitch-side trauma and pre-hospital immediate care cover on match day afternoons once per week, liaising with emergency services when required to provide thorough handovers of injury.
• I implemented concussion management strategies abiding strictly by the RFU guidelines throughout.
• I communicated effectively with players, captains and the coaching team regarding their timing of return to play, and match-day injury management.

Responsibilities:

• Rotations in Acute Neurology, Hyper-acute and Acute Stroke, and Critical Care.
• Development of my caseload prioritisation skills, and increasing daily assessment / treatment capacity.
• Active participation in departmental teaching and progression towards more senior roles within the wider therapy team.
• Working as part of the overnight on call physiotherapy service for acutely ill respiratory patients requiring urgent treatment.

Responsibilities:

• The start of my physiotherapy career, completing rotations in Trauma and Orthopaedics, and an extended 7 month MSK Outpatients rotation.
• Initial development of my patient prioritisation, ward assessment and treatments skills, maintaining my own caseload throughout.
• Initial development of my MSK assessment and treatment in an individual clinic setting and in gym sessions.
• Honing my communication skills, working closely with translators in one of the most ethnically diverse regions of the UK, increasing my cultural competence.