Physiotherapy unit an exception to the rule

THERE is a lot of criticism of the health service in the media and most of it is warranted and constructive. I would like to give a little credit where it is due to the Southern Health Board.

Early this year, I had a fall and broke a bone in my leg. When the plaster was removed, I was referred to the physiotherapy unit in the Cork orthopaedic hospital. This extremely busy clinic impressed me for the following reasons:

1. Despite the fact that most of the patients are coping with serious disabling injuries, the staff maintain a light-hearted environment where very often the prevailing sound is the laughter of people receiving therapy.

2. The staff are ultimate professionals and work hard every day encouraging the recovery of their patients and get great results.

3. The individuality and dignity of each patient is maintained in difficult circumstances, where people are coping with, to them, embarrassing disability.

4. Despite the numbers they cope with the staff make appointments with out-patients which they keep to the minute in my experience this is a most exceptional and perhaps unique grace in any medical facility.

Well done to these exceptional physiotherapists and other clinics, please study and copy.

David Prendergast,

Ravenhill,

Tivoli Estate,

Cork.