PhysioUpdate 25th April 2023

A physiotherapist who started out with a career in the Royal Marines has broken the mould by using his previous military experience to make a difference in healthcare. David Williams grew up wanting to be in the Armed Forces, but his journey took an unexpected turn and he forged a new career as a physiotherapist.

Determined not to let his previous experience go to waste, David has worked hard to improve support for ex-military patients and colleagues in his role as chair of the Armed Forces Network at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust (UHDB) and has seen the network go from strength to strength.

David said: ‘When I finished my A-levels I joined a building firm and trained as a plumber, but I always wanted to be in the military. When I was 22, I joined the Royal Marines and I was there for three and a half years.’ Unfortunately, a serious training injury resulted in David being medically discharged and having to 'find a new job, new career and almost a new life’.

Areeba Qureshi is urging her fellow physiotherapists to develop their skills in shared decision-making processes through accessing a free training programme. A musculoskeletal physio, Areeba is an ambassador for the Personalised Care Institute (PCI), which unveiled an innovative virtual reality training course today (18 April).

She said: ‘The PCI’s virtual patient simulation is a fun and engaging way to test your personalised care skills,’ she said. ‘It makes you really think about how you are responding to patients and –from the comprehensive feedback you receive – you can see what areas you are stronger in and where you can improve your shared decision-making skills.'

Areeba, who works for Innovations in Primary Care in West Sussex, added: ‘It’s a great tool for developing communication skills and a good reminder of why personalised care is so important.’