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PCRF Winchester Team
Regionally, PCRF Winchester has moved from the south to the southwest region and lost some of the additional PCRFs it had provided support to. RRU Tidworth will, now support Middle Wallop and HQ Andover. Our primary task is to provide assistance to Worthy Down as it increases in population and size during project Wellesley. This is scheduled to become Operational in late 2019 as the new gymnasium, medical centre and PCRF are currently being built.
Recent success includes the development of ERI lead CPD for the units P&RTC staff which is delivered on a monthly cycle. Inclusion of ERI Clinics at Worthy down to support the growing number of soldiers during the development of project Wellesley and integration of a 12 week rolling rehab programme which facilitates progression in all areas consisting of rehabilitation. In June this year, both the OC and Sgt Gates will be leaving the department to pastures new.
Within the PCRF at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS), there are 4 Physiotherapists and 2 ERIs – SSgt (SSI) Rich Rowley and Sgt (SI) Charlotte Spence RAPTC.
The team has recently had a full military staff change around with the physiotherapists, Capt Sally Curtis replacing Capt Morag Morris- Patterson RAMC and ERIs, SSgt (SSI) Rich Rowley replacing SSgt (SSI) Rhydian Slade-Jones RAPTC. SSgt Slade-Jones has said good-bye to the military and departed to spend time building his house in Wales and ultimately join the Fire Service.
SSgt (SSI) Rowley and Sgt (SI) Spence at PCRF RMAS
Sgt (SI) Spence at the CrossFit European Championships
The PCRF has continued as normal with the main offensive being to rehab, educate and return to training those injured during the rigours of officer development. A diverse range of injuries has continued to walk through the doors at PCRF RMAS. However, the team surprisingly has had a high number of concussion patients, which has seen the ERIs and Physiotherapist work collaboratively to establish the correct procedures and treatment post injury. This saw Miss Haryett and Mrs Davis (physiotherapists) presenting at the Regional In Service Training on this subject, which was gratefully received by all who attended.
Sgt (SI) Spence has continued to represent on the highest stage competing at the CrossFit European Championships. She hopes to place in the top 20 of this year’s CrossFit Open competition and compete in the European Regionals Event in May. SSgt Rowley is training hard at Jiu-Jitsu and looking to start a Club at RMAS soon.
PCRF Pirbright is split over 2 locations, which means that the OC and civilian physiotherapist staff are situated within the Medical Centre, while the ERIs SSgt (SSI) Kev Bell, Sgt (SI) James Dean, Sgt (SI) James McWilliams RAPTC and Helena Knightingale (recruit physiotherapist), are located within the Rehabilitation Gymnasium on the other side of the camp. Along with this split of locations, the recruit classes run in a similar way to that of an RRU, with typical numbers of 60–70 attending daily class therapy sessions. PCRF Pirbright treats the Permanent Staff from the Army Training Centre, personnel from 1st Battalion the Welsh Guards, Frimley Park Hospital and The Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre, Headley Court.
SSgt Bell, Sgt McWilliams and Helena Knightingale focus on the rehabilitation of the recruits that have picked up injuries within their Combat Military Syllabus training and been referred into Gold Platoon, Sword Company. One expects a variety of challenges when dealing with injured Phase One Army recruits, but with the recent spike in recruit referrals presenting with a vast array of musculoskeletal injuries, we have been pushed to our limits. Due to this, we have had to recruit the assistance of locum civilian ERIs on short-term contracts, each of whom provided the support necessary to ensure effective clinical delivery was maintained.
SSgt Bell is the senior ERI, and brings a wealth of experience, knowledge, and direction to the team. Throughout the last year, SSgt Bell has invested a considerable amount of time developing, re-evaluating, and improving the 6-week rehabilitation programme delivered to the recruits. His experience has been invaluable at