Day 1

Full uniform is worn (polo shirt if preferred) and ID Badge required to be always displayed. ID badges are provided during your induction. More information will be sent out by your PLF before your placement starts.

Directions: Click here or visit www.chesterfieldroyal.nhs.uk for directions and map of the hospital. The site is accessible via public transport.

Parking: Parking is available on site, a fee is charged for all patients, visitors and members of staff using these facilities. Parking permits are available, information will be sent out to you about these by our Practice learning facilitator before your placement starts.

General Information

N.B. As each of the above supervisors has their own specialist clinical area, the actual focus for each placement will be dependent on which clinical supervisor(s) the student is allocated to.

Much of the work on this placement is based in the out-patient setting with some virtual clinics and service user education sessions. Although opportunities may be available to gain experience within cardiac rehab or the inpatient respiratory setting.

The patients range from those with sputum clearance difficulties through to breathing pattern disorders, and those with long covid. Workload is mainly based within the respiratory out-patient setting, however there will be links across to the long covid service, and effective MDT working is essential for this area, along with effective time management and prioritisation skills.

Common Conditions

The placements offer the opportunity to treat patients with a wide variety of pathologies. Some of the most encountered conditions are:

Bronchiectasis
COPD
Asthma
Interstitial lung disease
Breathing pattern disorder
Post covid syndrome
Chronic cough

Knowledge And Skills Required

Students will be expected to:

Have a knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the cardio-respiratory system and be able to link this to patient presentations and pathologies.
Undertake subjective and objective assessments utilising, where appropriate, the skills of observation, palpation, auscultation, CXRs, assessments of exercise tolerance and functional capacity.
Identify problems, goals and outcome measures from assessment findings and plan and progress treatment regimes.
Implement techniques to:

Reduce Work of breathing.
Optimise lung volumes
Improve strength and function and exercise capacity
Educate patients and build their confidence.
Improve sputum clearance.
Optimise secretion management.
Correction of inefficient breathing patterns
Develop strategies for manging breathlessness.
Aid relaxation

Liaise with all members of the MDT to optimise patient care.

Learning Outcomes

On completing this module, you should be able to:

Assess a patient confidently.
Identify problems and plan an appropriate course of physiotherapy treatment based on assessment findings.
Implement the treatment plan with regular reassessments and progression of treatment.
Implementing evidence based practice.

Learning opportunities

Shadowing multiple members of the MDT such as: OT, Health and wellbeing advisors, psychology, IP respiratory teams
Attending post covid exercise group
Breathing pattern re-education groups
Cardiac rehab classes
Post covid virtual education
Post covid assessment service.

Practice Learning