Page 127 - Mind, Body & Spirit Number 104 2020/21

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REHABILITATION WITHIN THE LONDON SOUTH (LS) REGION
Regional Rehabilitation Unit Aldershot
WO2 (QMSI) S Fisher RAPTC
Having returned to work as the RTSA in the RRU Aldershot from maternity leave to a global pandemic and a complete turnover of staff at all levels (the only staff remaining from a non-Covid time are the MIAC Dr and the Admin Team) has been a challenging period, it has however been great to see how the RRU and Region have come together to assist each other where required, showing how well the DPHC units have managed during these times.
Within the RRU the general look of courses has changed, they have been reduced to 8 days with a maximum of 6 patients (to allow for social distancing) and are focusing on education and the patients taking ownership of their injury and rehab care pathway. The staff have become accustomed to wearing full PPE when treating patients which has really tested and developed their instructional skills.
Sgt (SI) Barrigan and Sgt (SI) Body, two newly qualified ERIs from their JSSERI course at Stanford Hall started with us in Jan 21 and have taken all these changes and complications in their stride and fitted in seamlessly with the team.
The rest of the region has also risen to the challenges that Covid has presented ensuring first class rehabilitation has continued to be delivered across the different stages of initial training and field Army units.
PCRF Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Sgt (SI) D Pun RAPTC
Alongside the other Phase One Training Establishments within the Region RMAS have adapted to the changes the pandemic has brought. One of the main changes the department had to make was structural. We have transformed the rehab gym into two separate treatment rooms and converted our office space into changing rooms.
We have also welcomed two new members of staff to the team, Capt McGillion has recently taken over the role of OC PCRF from Capt Curtis and Sgt (SI) Glass has been posted in from ATC Pirbright to take over from SSgt (SSI) Spence. Capt McGillion and Sgt (SI) Glass have both brought fresh ideas and new perspectives to the team, which will improve and develop the department within the current climate and the future.
Patient assessment RRU Aldershot
PCRF Pirbright Team
PCRF Army Training Centre Pirbright
Sgt (SI) D Ballard RAPTC
Thankfully during the first lockdown Pirbright PCRF worked hard behind the scenes to support all the injured recruits that were sent home for virtual rehabilitation. This achieved one of the highest recovery rates Pirbright had ever seen.
Sgt (SI) Matt Glass designed and delivered an online DOfit package that could be completed remotely, this was modified so that the main focus would educate them on injury recovery and mental resilience. Sgt (SI) Glass was awarded the Corps Sergeant Majors coin for his commitment towards rehab excellence
PCRF Winchester
SSgt (SSI) D Grenier RAPTC
This year due to the influx of recruits from all over the country starting initial training, inevitably it wouldn’t be long before positive Covid cases were confirmed. The Covid recovery pathway, designed by DMRC Stanford Hall, was to be used to monitor and build these patients back to full fitness. This became our responsibility, so Fox Rehab Platoon and the PCRF team created a separate platoon to house them, Fox Charlie.
There has been no stopping ATR Winchester from achieving its recruitment goal which has in turn placed pressure on the team. Even with these additional pressures the PCRF team has done incredibly well to maintain output while adhering to the Covid guidelines.
While the year has been certainly been an adaptable one, challenging both flexibility and time management skills with ever fluctuating staff availability, ATR Winchester, DCPLA Worth Down and 17 Port and Maritime Regiment have combined into one working medical practice which has gone smoothly and proved to be a very effective move. With Covid showing a light at the end of the tunnel, I can only see good things on the horizon for the Winchester Group Medical Practice (WGMP)
PCRF Worthy Down
SSgt (SSI) D Jerrams RAPTC
Located within the Worthy Down Medical centre, DCLPA Worthy Down PCRF has remained working throughout the pandemic. We have continued to provide physiotherapy and exercise rehabilitation to Phase 2 trainees undertaking catering, logistics, policing and administration courses across the Tri-Service.
Having recently welcomed in our new OC, Capt Sally Curtis to the team. Sgt (SI) Scott Craft and SSgt (SSI) Dan Jerrams are now fully established ERI’s in their second year in post. With the ever- growing population at DCLPA the challenges can vary from day to day. The ERI’s work closely with the Tri-service mainstream gym