News Letter

From the Chairman; Mac Thacker

It’s that time again. It seems as soon as we put one Newsletter “to bed” we have to start on the next. But this time I have had some response, if only from a few members. One suggested a couple of speakers for the A.G.M., which I will take to the next Committee meeting.
However, I was expecting some comment on the Clinic Health item in the last Newsletter but no one commentated so perhaps you are all doing the suggested procedures.

One thing I must say is at a recent seminar I attended I was overwhelmed by the fact that some although I must say not all massage practitioners had a very deep inferiority complex regarding their ability to address certain conditions and it seems that some belittle their abilities. As a practitioner I can tell you that massage is one of the most powerful tools any practitioner can use. In competent hands it is surprising what can be achieved and so long as you make sure that there are no contra indications have faith and believe in yourself and you’ll be surprised what you can achieve, (although don’t show surprise in front of your
patients.)

At this point it is worth telling you all the training schools associated with NAMMT are excellent at teaching and giving you all the tools of the trade for you to be a competent
practitioner and its only your own self doubt that can hold you back. To paraphrase the NIM’s motto use the “power in your hands”. Remember if you have any problems or doubt
then either contact your training school and ask them and then if you are still not sure contact NAMMT. There are always events asking for volunteers to massage participating entrants (See the London Marathon below). This is a great way to “Do a good deed” but also in talking to“like minded” practitioners it builds up your confidence, shows you other techniques (but becareful), and it is good to be part large well run organisation. It adds to your CPD hours and gives you a rewarding day out.

We are also putting on a Paediatric Massage at the Tiny Tim Centre where we will be able to have actual hands on experience with babies and small children. I think that this is a good and useful CPD that may be of help with practitioners in the future.
                 London Marathon

Tracey and I have worked at the London Marathon for quite a number of years with other sports massage therapists treating the runners after the Marathon and to see the runners hobble in and walk out, some even saying that they could do a lap of honour and that they felt good is one of the most rewarding things that a therapist can have. In fact regular runners actually seek their favourite massage therapists year after year. The day started when we caught the 7.25 train to London and after stopping at every station
on the way including being shunted into a siding fora“scheduled” stop so the driver could get from one end to the other we set off backwards to London finally arriving at 10.20. We went straight to the underground to catch the tube to Charring Cross station only to have the tube doors not open when we arrived there, so we had to stop on to the next station and then
walk back to the Banqueting House where we were treating the runners who were running for the Charity Children with Leukaemia.

Preparations were well under way when we arrived and I just had time to go across Horse Guards Parade to catch the winner crossing the line before getting back for the briefing. A number of therapists were sent up to the Banqueting Hall for their lunch while a few stayed behind to treat any “elite “runners that might be needing a massage. At about 1.00pm the waiting area started to fill up. At the start the therapists were allowed 10 minutes to treat the
runners but as more and more runners came through the door we were asked to cut the time down to 5 minutes (as I do a different form of massage this did not affect me). I was situated next to the physiotherapists plinths so that if needed they could simply refer a runner to me for adjustments and / or massage, which happened a few times as well as treating the other runners. It was said that we had 1200 runners running for the Charity, as this is a relatively small charity this is the main fund raising event of the year for them. I have a couple of incidents that stand out; I had a young woman who literally hobbled in and so after being checked by the doctor and physiotherapist she was sent to me! I must say that I have seen some states but this must be one of the saddest, when I asked how long it had taken to run the 26.2 miles she said 7hrs 13 minutes. “How much training have you done for this?” I asked, she said that she had run 6 miles three weeks ago and that was all that she had done! She said that she had come down from Scotland on the bus and was intending to go back on the bus that night, after the treatment had got her walking again. (I had to have a quite word with her, on the folly of not getting adequate training in!!). On the other hand I was asked by the paramedic and event organiser to treat a young man who had just finished the run. It transpired that he had survived having three heart transplants, he had completed
the marathon and was “a bit sore in his calf’s”. Knowing what he had gone through and how fresh he looked, I had to “take my hat off to him.”

We were just about to pack all the plinths away, the Drs., Paramedic and Physio’s had all gone home, when an elderly runner came walking in, he was assessed as OK just needing a leg massage. As I was free I sat at his head talking to him to make sure he was OK as we always have an observer while the therapist has the runner in the prone position to massage his hamstrings and calf’s and cannot see their faces for any signs of problems. All went OK so he turned over to have his quads treated, I could leave him in the hands of the therapist. After a while I was called back as she “didn’t like the look of him.” I sat him up and was
concerned about him so decided that we should call an ambulance to have him checked over. As I was trying to phone he collapsed but as I had a no phone signal I had to go outside, so I called Tracey who like me is qualified as an Appointed First Aider, she took control and checked his vital signs and put him in the recovery position and waited for the ambulance and paramedics to arrive, by which time ‘Jim’ had come round. He was still in recovery position and the paramedics took over, slowly getting him to his feet and taking him to the Ambulance. Hopefully he was OK and he thanked us all as it drove away.

All the other therapists have similar stories to tell, hopefully not as bad as the last one. We
finally caught the 8.30 train back home having had a really great day. If ever you feel like
boosting your CPD’s and doing a thoroughly rewarding job I recommend that you volunteer
to help not only in the London Marathon but any events that are happening in your area.

   PORTABLE APPLIANCES TEST (PAT)   

  One item that did come to mind was the fact that quite a number, if not all of practitioners have some sort of electric items in their clinic whether it is plinths, heaters, massagers,
electrotherapy equipment, oil warmers and burners, computers or music players. (Remember to check with mpaonline.org.uk. to see if you need a licence for your music)

All electrical items that are not hard wired in place or work on batteries should have an annual PAT test and failure to have this done may affect your insurance if there was ever a problem. (Check your small print) Although this is not a legal requirement to hold a PAT Certificate, unless you are an employer, it is a fact that the Health and Safety Authority could call at any address at any time and ask to see that you’re electrical equipment is safe and sound and all practitioners have a duty of care to make sure their patient are in a safe and secure environment. The best way to do that is to have the PAT stickers on them. Again it should be annually but according to my PAT engineer computers and things that are not mobile or moved during the treatment may only need to be tested every two years. I’m afraid you would have to check with either the PAT engineer checking your equipment or with the local Health and Safety Authority.

It can cost from about £1.50 to £10 per item depending where you live or the individual charge of the electrician. Some electricians may have a basic charge then add on the cost of each item tested. Things with detachable leads like P.C.’s, Monitors, Kettles etc. may be classed as two items. Even two or three way adapters or extension leads need to be tested. Also microwaves have to have a special emission leakage test which can cost quite a bit more (around £ 7 to £20), so be careful which electrician you employ and shop around. I enquired on line to one electrical engineer who gave a very good rate and nearly commissioned him until he said that as he lived quite a distance away it would cost £140 for his travelling expenses! One thing I must say is that the actual PAT Test can affect P.C.’s so
please make sure that you back up everything before you have it tested.

Another point to mention is that some PAT engineers will not test ultrasound equipment or other electrotherapy machines because they could be classed as medical apparatus, they may test the leakage and earth side of the equipment but not the actual output side so make sure
you ask before commissioning them. I would recommend that you make a list of all the equipment in your clinic or that you use at any time no matter how infrequently to make sure you get everything tested. There is a distinction that you only need to have tested the things in your “Clinic / Treatment Room” and not anything that is for your personal use if you work from home.

This may seem over the top and maybe scare mongering but as the Chairman I have to make members aware of things that may have gone unnoticed or not touched on in training. As I say this is not the law so it is up to the individual to make his or her own decisions regarding this. One thing I might suggest is to make a mental note of your patient’s occupation. You might have a qualified electrician who happens to do PAT testing and may be able to come to
some arrangement. Some times it’s not what you know but who you know that counts.

From the Secretary; Alan Inger

Since being invited to join the NAMMT in 2009 I was quickly asked to become Secretary at the AGM. I have now attended 5 committee meetings over the last year and looking through the minutes the committee has worked through busy agendas. I decided to take this opportunity to outline some of the topics the committee has been dealing with. You will of course have the opportunity to hear more at our AGM on 12th September 2010.

One item in particular that we will be putting to the membership in September is a proposal to form a Company Limited by Guarantee within the association. This adjustment will not change our aims and objectives in any way but it will reduce any potential executive liability
within the association. As a not for profit organization we will need to ensure that our legal advisors include sufficient protection from corporation tax liability. In this respect I also understand that we should not trade in any way. If we were to trade then trade profit could be grossed in with our membership fees before tax calculation. We will of course need clear legal advice before the proposal is put before members attending the AGM.

We have carefully monitored developments within the GCMT and the CNHC whilst at the same time worked on maintaining good communication with these two organizations and
NAMMT. Formal registration for massage therapist will be important both for our profession and public safety. As massage therapist we believe that our association should
take an active part towards achieving this worthwhile goal.
The website has been kept as up to date as possible to ensure that our membership can accessgood information and be able to contact experienced people for advice and help. The general public also has opportunity to find a therapist under NAMMT banner.

The importance of continuing professional development is discussed at every meeting and checks are made to ensure members are recording their required CPD hours. The
association needs to be seen to keep their own rules and ensure the house is in order should any external auditors arrive. In a few cases some members have not met the requirement, we are therefore mindful of those who do meet their obligations in order to treat everyone
fairly. We are aware that for some members CPD can be expensive for them.

In order to help this situation I organized a CPD Paediatric Workshop at the Tiny Tim’s Children’s Centre in Coventry on 26th June. I am giving my time free of charge in return for a donation to the charity, places are limited but I am happy to run another day if necessary.

As a final reminder would everyone please make sure they send membership renewals direct to Joe Lloyd in Bolton, his address is on the form. Some forms and documents have come by mistake to me in Coventry and it has cost extra time and postage to forward their renewal correspondence on.
From the Membership Secretary;Joe LLoyd

Once again I feel I must bring this up! (it must seem like I constantly moan at you) But even though I included a document check and have changed the membership form even including a quote from the constitution that we the members wrote, many members did not fill the form in clearly and correctly, send the correct documentation or have renewed within the constitutional time limits that we set, It takes up a tremendous amount of my time to have to
complete forms for members, ring people up, e-mail people, send letters etc. as a volunteer committee member with a full time practise and other commitments it becomes very time consuming and stressful, so can I please ask people to read the forms carefully and fill them in correctly and clearly before sending them back with the required documents.

But onward and upward, I’m buzzing at the moment with our (the committee) recent meeting, I can’t say
much at the moment but the AGM is looking to be a cracker (and it’s 6hrs towards formalCPD).

Most if not all of us have heard about Red Flags, but do we know what this means? I’ve taken these sections from the physiotherapist magazine Frontline that had a feature article in September 2007 by Allison Carvalho.
Flags are markers of risk factors in musculoskeletal disorders. There are five at the moment:- red, yellow, orange, blue and black Their aim is to help Physio’s (it will help all therapists who deal with musculoskeletal problems) to identify the risk of disability in patients and pinpoint appropriate interventions to prevent it. They also aim to assess how potential barriers to rehabilitation may be managed.

Red Flags: Were introduced in the UK and US in 1994 and concern signs of serious pathology in patients with low back pain that require urgent surgical opinion.

Action: Triage for specialist medical opinion, reassess if appropriate

Yellow Flags: Were developed in New Zealand in 1997 to indicate psychosocial factors such
as depression and the patient’s belief about their condition.
Action: Biopsychosocial Management, Develop integrated approach to reactivation with removal of perceived obstacles to recovery.

Blue Flags: Introduced in 2000, relate to an individual’s perception of work.
Action: Identify modifiable work perceptions, Develop integrated approach to reactivation,
Consider liaison with employer in context of return to work or work retention plan.

Black Flags: Also introduced in 2000, denotes work conditions that could inhibit rehabilitation, such as a job requiring heavy lifting or the wrong height of desk in a fixed
work station.
Action: Appraise significance as potential rehabilitation “showstoppers”. Check black flags
with employer and investigate possibility of accommodation. Reset patient’s expectations and
develop integrated approach to reactivation.

Orange Flags: Introduced in 2005, signal abnormal psychological processes or drug abuse.
They indicate referral to a specialist is required.
Action: Triage to mental health specialist, reassess after specialist treatment.

From the Treasurer; Michael Berry
Capital  Expenditure Allowance For Small Businesses.

 
It must be worth reminding existing practitioners together with the more recently qualified that as a business you can offset expenses for ‘ plant and machinery ‘ e.g. your equipment expenses such as couches, electrical equipment such as ultrasound units and the like, against your tax liability. This comes under the heading of ‘ Annual Investment Allowance ‘ (AIA) on Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs website (HMRC), and is to all intents and purposes a 100% first – year allowance for business expenditure on almost all plant and machinery,(apart from cars),capped at £50,000 per annum. It is available to businesses regardless of their size or legal form, and applies to expenditure incurred on or after the beginning of April 2008.

It is currently available to:
Any individual carrying on a qualifying activity (trades, professions, vocations, ordinary property businesses and individuals having an employment or office);
Any partnership consisting only of individuals.
The AIA is available for most expenditure on plant and machinery excluding cars.

Main Features
The AIA must be claimed by a ‘qualifying person ‘The maximum AIA is £50,000, but if the chargeable period is more or less than a year then that amount would be proportionately increased or decreased. Any reduction of a tax burden must be investigated in business, suffice it to say though that your records must be intact and accurate, with relevant copy documents easily accessible, and furthermore always go through the details with your Accountant first before involving the Inland Revenue.

From the Research Development and CPD Member; Pauline Stuttard

Due to Pauline’s health there is no Research, Development and CPD Report this time.

Although she is preparing a report about members current CPD situation and will bepresenting it at the AGM.

Save it to say that there are still spaces on the Tiny Tim CPD and I urge member to try to attend it looks like it will be a very worthwhile and useful day. (From Mac Thacker.)

From the Regulatory Affairs Member; Derek Turner

As there is a lot of uncertainty regarding the CNHC and other groups it is felt that it would be unwise and un professional at this point to make any comments but please rest assured
that as soon as anything develops it will be put on the Web site.

From Lay Member; Geraldine Alker

Can I say a BIG THANK YOU to all of those members who completed the NAMMT Directory forms legibly and with all the requested information. For those members who did
not complete all sections of the form and left off post codes, telephone numbers etc I have used the post code search on the internet and if you were already on the NAMMT website
and have not changed address I have used the telephone number from this data. If for some reason you do not wish potential new patients to contact you by telephone and want this to be omitted then please let me know. It would be really helpful, and appreciated, if everyone could in the future return fully completed forms as this would then take me only half the time to input the data for the printers.
Turning to our professional insurance, NAMMT recommend that Remedial Massage Therapist are Insured for a minimum of £3 million and Manipulative Therapist for a minimum of £5 million. It has come to light that some therapist are still only insured for £1 million and in some cases actually pay more for this level of cover than having £3 million with the Balens Scheme.

The Premium Rates are as follows:-

INDEMNITY £3,000,000 £5,000,000

Remedial Massage Practitioner £53.00 £65.00

Physiotherapist £145.00 £185.00

Manipulative Therapist £265.00 £305.00

Student-case study work £40.00

The full policy wording and application form can be downloaded from the NAMMT website.
You can also contact Balens Insurance Brokers by telephone on 01684 893006 if you have
any queries.
In these days of ‘no win no fee’ people are no longer reluctant to claim in case they lose. When I was obtaining quotations from various Insurance Brokers for the NAMMT Scheme all except one would not offer quotes of less than a £3 million indemnity. If you do any work for the NHS or local authority I understand that they also require a £3 million indemnity.
One Broker advised me that they currently had a claim outstanding for a Remedial Massage Therapist with a £5 million reserve on it. Most of us will never need to make a claim, but if
you do have a claim against you, do you want to risk being underinsured? Do you want to risk losing your home and all that you have worked hard for? Or, do you want the comfort
blanket of being adequately insured? Only you can answer these questions, but I would urge you to take the appropriate action before it’s too late.

With appologies to the Northern Institue of Massage.

The NIM was supposed to have theire CPD courses included in this Newsletter (The MSM had all their courses full) . But due to the lateness of the Newsletter (and my fault ) it was too late to include them, other than their last one .

July 3/4  ‘Stronger Abs & Backs & Prevention of Falls in Elderly
                And Infirm Patients”    Alan Elliott MBE

For further information please contact Rachel or Lesley 0161 797 1800  information@nim.co.uk

 Sorry,

 Mac.