Chartered Physiotherapists working as Extended Scope Practitioners

1980-2001

5 files

This special interest group defines its members as "clinical physiotherapy specialists, with an extended scope of practice, who see patients referred to the consultant's unit for assessment, clinical diagnosis and management of neuro-musculoskeletal disorders". The "extended" role includes such actions as autonomous referral for x-ray, blood tests, referral to consultants etc. The professional positioning of physiotherapists has previously been a concern of the CSP (see SACSP/F/5 for example) and this special interest group was established to judge boundaries in which it is safe for specialists to practice (including legal issues such as liability and negligence), to advise those considering setting up new ESP roles and to act as a conduit to communication between members and other interested parties, GPs for instance. The group has its origins in clinical physiotherapy specialist meetings held in 1995-1996, had its inaugural meeting in September 1996 and continues to function at time of cataloguing (February 2015).