***To Friends, Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Public Representatives, It’s out of grave concern for my future livelihood that I write this post. I’m a Physical Therapist registered with the Irish Association of Physical Therapists. In 2016 the then Minister for Health Leo Varadkar included the Irish Association of Physical Therapists amongst the professions to be regulated by CORU (the State’s regulatory body for health professions). Through Codes of Professional Conduct and Ethics, CORU’s role is to protect the public by ensuring high standards of professional competence and conduct in Irish healthcare. This would allow for any healthcare practitioner operating outside of their professional knowledge, skills and scope of practice to be subject to investigation and sanction. This professional regulation is to be established under The Health and Social Care Professionals (Amendment) Bill 2017. The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health is due to consider this bill on Tuesday next, July 11th. My concern is this. The Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists don’t accept that CORU is capable of fulfilling its regulatory function. They have taken it upon themselves to push for a late amendment to this bill that would legally require me and my IAPT Physical Therapist colleagues to “confine their practice to musculoskeletal therapy”. If such a narrow definition is allowed to be imposed, it could unfairly and unnecessarily restrict our professional development and ability to make a living. For example, it could actually be used to prevent us from upskilling and engaging in specific courses covering specialist areas of physical therapy itself. This is effectively one group of professionals seeking to prevent another group of professionals from continuing to evolve and develop in the work for which they are trained, qualified and professionally insured to do. Furthermore, I see it as an attempt to secure an unfair advantage in the market place. It would simply serve to limit options for the general public in how they manage their own healthcare needs. CORU exists to provide the public with the highest standards and best choices in healthcare, by ensuring that its registered members operate within their scope of practice and training. The purpose of the Health and Social Care Professionals Bill is: • not to provide a professional advantage to one registered group of practitioners over another • not to allow one membership group to impose restrictions on another • not to restrict its members constitutional right to progress in their profession or livelihood • not to restrict the public’s access to a wider, safer and enhanced healthcare market Oirechtas Committee on Health Please consider that this additional sub-section to the bill would be purely superfluous. Other than simply restricting the professional services offered by the IAPT registered members, it does nothing to enhance how CORU would operate. (Section 6 - ‘Page 5, line 26 c). Please accept meetings with the IAPT representatives to discuss this late amendment. Public Representatives I urge you to please meet with IAPT representatives. Please discuss this matter with your colleagues on the Oireachtas Health Committee before next Tuesdays vote! Friends I never thought I’d have to discuss my livelihood in such a public manner. If you could show your support on social media or directly with any representatives, need I say how grateful I’d be.*** Bernard Durkan TD Billy Kelleher TD Alan Kelly TD Kate O'Connell TD Margaret Murphy O' Mahony T.D. Louise O'Reilly Sinn Fein Senator Dr. Keith Swanick Senator John Dolan Senator Colm Burke Senator Rónán Mullen

Plantar Fasciitis explained and indications for treatment. Be sure to visit your Physical Therapist for tailored treatment and rehabilitation plans to suit your needs. Thanks to www.sports-health.com

Neck pain and its many different forms from spine-health.com

MRI before treatment and what do they mean?

Best of Luck to all those taking part in the VHI Women's Mini Marathon today! http://www.vhiwomensminimarathon.ie/

MRI scan results... Important for everyone to know what is normal on a scan and what is not for your age group! Important read for those back pain sufferers!

Ever wondered why the muscles in the back sometimes experience spasm?? Spasm is often a protection mechanism for an underlying problem that can be identified with the help of your physical therapist. Good read from spine-health.com http://www.spine-health.com/blog/what-your-back-muscle-spasm-telling-you

Exercising in water is a great way to overcome pain! Article from spine-health.com

***COMPETITION TIME*** Like our page and Share this post to win a free 1 Hour Physical Therapy session!! Visit us on www.elmphysicaltherapy.ie or email for more information emma@elmpt.ie

Don't forget to sign up for the Women's Mini Marathon! Keep your fitness at its peak by visiting your local qualified Physical Therapist for treatments and homecare exercises to maximise your potential while you train! www.elmphysicaltherapy.ie

Weak Glute Medius effects the stability of the pelvis and can lead to a number of injuries. You're Physical Therapist can test for pelvic instability and create a homecare rehabilitation plan to secure pelvic stability and reduce the likeliness of injury recurrence. Contact ELM Physical Therapy to arrange your PT appointment www.elmphysicaltherapy.ie