Page 4 P H Y S I O T H E R A P Y December, 1964

E D I T O R I A L
In the Press recently there was a report of the 

Editorial in the S.A. Nursing Journal From this 
report we learnt that there appeared to be a lack of 
understanding between nurses, occupational thera­
pists and physiotherapists. It was implied that a 
certain amount o f professional jealousy crept into 
the matter and that one branch looked down on 
another.

Surely this is a gross misrepresentation o f the 
whole approach. How could such remarkable 
results have been achieved over the last years if 
we did not all pull together ?

However there probably is a certain amount o f 
misunderstanding which can easily be cleared up. 
This can best be done by a better knowledge o f 
each others training and capabilities.

The South African Council of Paramedical 
Professions has been aiming at this through the 
years by arranging clinical meetings when the 
various paramedical professions have demon­
strated to their colleagues, either special features o f 
their own work or something of the scope o f their 
field of work. Symposia have been arranged when 
all the members o f PARAMED have joined 
together to show how they work as a team for the 
benefit o f the patient. This was carried one step 
further just recently in Johannesburg when the 
S.A. Nursing Council arranged a Symposium 
“Teamwork in the Hospital for the Patient” . At 
this gathering a nurse, a radiographer, a physio­
therapist and an occupational therapist all con­
tributed a paper.

Such demonstrations and discussions are impor­
tant in the spreading o f knowledge, but the most 
important thing is the working together in actual 
practice. Nurses, by very virtue o f the fact that they 
have charge of, or authority ovei the patient for 24 
hours a day feel that the patient “belongs” to them. 
Meanwhile the close relationship which develops 
between the physiotherapist and the patient 
necessarily creates a strong bond and feeling of 
confidence between the patient and the therapist. 
This is important in achieving the maximum results 
and the therapist naturally looks upon the patient 
as “my patient”. By developing a good relation­
ship between the nurse and the therapist the patient 
will benefit to the utmost.

The nurse should understand fully what the 
physiotherapist is aiming for and how the physio­
therapist is trying to achieve those aims. On the 
other hand consideration for the nurse and her 
routine and duties must be shown and recognition 
o f the responsibilities that rest on her shoulders 
must be fully realized. Already in some o f the South 
African training schools physiotherapists and 
nurses are receiving reciprocal lectures to their 
mutual benefit. This has also been carried forward 
to lectures for medical and paramedical students, 
which is another important link in “teamwork” 
for the future. Together the paramedical and nurs­
ing services can achieve great things for the most 
important member of the team “The Patient” .

C o n t e n t s

Teamwork in the Hospital
Causes, Effects and Bronchial Secretions
“ Breathing Exercises—please”
W.C.P.T. .....................................
An Alternative to an Artificial Hand ..
G e n e r a l .................................................
Branch News
Students’ Column .........................
Vacancies

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