PhysioUpdate 14th September 2022

A former superintendent physiotherapist at a pioneering south London hospice ‘drilled’ members of her team to ensure they had washed their hair and polished their shoes in preparation for a visit by the Queen in 1988.

Betty O’Gorman said the Queen’s visit to St Christopher’s Hospice in Sydenham took place during an event to celebrate its 21st anniversary. Betty, whose reminiscences feature prominently on the hospice’s website, said: ‘I drilled my team that if they were going to wash their hair and have a clean uniform it was that day and not the day after and not the day before.

‘I must have spent twice as long ironing my top and all our shoes were polished and we were all gleaming and it was just amazing. And of course, the buzz that the patients got, put them on a high for days. The fact that the Queen had stopped at their bed or with them in the day centre and they couldn’t quite get over it.’

Physiotherapist Jehan Yehia has praised an ‘empowering’ approach to decision-making, in which practitioners and patients have ‘authentic conversations’.

Ms Yehia, a first contact practitioner (FCP) lead who also acts as an ambassador on behalf of the Personalised Care Institute (PCI), said: ‘Discussions around what is important to a patient, as well as giving the patient all available options is really empowering for you as a clinician as well as the patient.

‘Being able to then offer your clinical opinion after you have discussed the options removes all the bias on what you would like to happen and opens up an authentic conversation. These components can really help patients and clinicians to align their plans, taking away any unsaid expectations.'

Ms Yehia recommended the PCI’s shared decision-making training module to fellow physios and other FCPs, saying it reinforces the importance of presenting all the options to patients – including that of ‘doing nothing’.