BUPA launches physiotherapy quality programme

5 February 2002

BUPA is launching a new programme that will guarantee thehighest quality physiotherapy treatment for its insured members. Using criteriaestablished by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, BUPA is invitingpractitioners to participate in its quality assurance programme, initially inLondon, followed by the rest of the UK during 2002.

In 2000 BUPA spent 36m on physiotherapy treatment for its2.6 million members. With an increasing number of BUPA members undergoingphysiotherapy for pain relief and rehabilitation to treat most medical andsurgical conditions, the programme demonstrates BUPA's commitment to providingthe highest standards of quality and care.

There are currently about 6,000 independent physiotherapypractitioners throughout the UK. The quality assurance programme is aimed atall physiotherapists who are members of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapyor are state-registered physiotherapists with at least five years' clinicalexperience.

Jane Gallagher, BUPA's physiotherapy commissioningmanager, said: "We are very keen that BUPA members should have access tothe highest quality care and services. We want to ensure that physiotherapiststreating our members are qualified professionals with the right experience andskills and that the treatment is delivered in an appropriate environment. Indelivering prompt and effective treatment, we can assist patients to make aspeedy recovery and prevent recurring long term illness."

A pilot scheme for the programme in north-west England inApril 2000, found a wide variation in effective clinical practice. While theaverage number of physiotherapy treatment sessions per BUPA member is aroundsix to eight, some members were receiving more than 30 treatment sessions,suggesting that the condition was not being treated effectively. Using thesefindings, BUPA's quality assurance programme will ensure that practitioners:

are appropriately state-registered or hold current fullmembership of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy

have appropriate clinical experience and expertise

are committed to updating their clinical training andspecialist skills on a regular basis

are complying with statutory health and safetyrequirements

offer service and facilities which meet standards thatBUPA members expect and offer best value for money.

Chartered physiotherapist, David West, is the former teamphysiotherapist to the Crystal Palace football club and managing director ofMetis UK Ltd. In support of BUPA's quality programme, he said: "I amdelighted that BUPA is leading the way in setting up quality assurance for therecognition of chartered physiotherapists in this country. With such a growthin popularity, it is essential that we protect the integrity of thephysiotherapist title to ensure that practitioners have the necessaryexperience and skills to treat patients properly and effectively."

For furtherinformation contact:

Elaine Finch/Simmone Miller
BUPA Corporate Communications
Tel: 020 7656 2291/2638

Notesto Editors

As part of BUPA's overall commitment to improving clinicalquality, the physiotherapy quality programme follows the establishment over thepast three years of 156 BUPA breast care units, 19 specialist bone marrowtransplant centres and 95 BUPA approved bowel cancer units, nationwide. Theseunits are kept under continuous review to ensure they provide BUPA members withthe best quality health care and have shown evidence of improving recoveryrates.