Making a difference while learning

Training to be a registered physiotherapist through the apprenticeship route means I’ve been able to help patients directly and effectively from my first year of studies.

I spend two days a week at university and the other three working for Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. I work mostly in an orthopaedic and MSK outpatient clinic. 

As I have progressed through my studies, I have been supported by my employer and mentors to apply my learning in practice. This, in turn, has strengthened my understanding of what I am learning. 

In my first year, we were learning about exercise prescription. At the same time, in clinic, I was seeing lots of knee replacement patients. Combining my new knowledge with my background as a personal trainer, I saw an opportunity to improve patient care. 

I audited our waiting list, noticed the long delays and combined my learning with research to approach Blackpool Council. I secured leisure space and launched a six-month knee rehab class pilot. Waiting lists dropped, and demand grew so much we’ve added another class long term. 

Later in my studies, the course covered respiratory and neurological physiotherapy. With my growing knowledge, in clinic I’ve been able to support patients with long term conditions to be more physically active, identify complications such as pulmonary embolism, and pick up abnormal neurological findings in a patient presenting with a simple fracture, supporting an earlier diagnosis of Parkinson’s.

Through the apprenticeship, I get the opportunity to use the tools and knowledge that I am learning to help people more and get great satisfaction from the impact I can have now.

I am loving that, through the apprenticeship, I get the opportunity to use the tools and knowledge that I am learning to help people more and get great satisfaction from the impact I can have now, which will continue to grow as I move towards becoming a registered physiotherapist.