Physiotherapy Placements

On your physiotherapy elective in Takoradi, you’ll see how a sense of community can help patients on their way to rehabilitation. The department’s gym fosters positivity and this motivates both patients and staff. You’ll spend most, if not all of your time with outpatients, as the majority of patients have to self-refer. A big part of the rehabilitation process here is counselling patients so they can continue with their treatment plans at home. Straight away, you’ll see that the department is under-resourced. The funds aren’t there to replace broken equipment, so staff have to improvise, doing what they can with what they have. Read stories from those who’ve already travelled with us to Takoradi.

If you do your physiotherapy elective in Kandy, you’ll get experience with local staff who actively promote patient interaction. Compared to what you’re used to at home, equipment is outdated in Sri Lanka. You’ll see how local physiotherapists have adapted to this by making and improvising their own equipment. The physiotherapy OPD here is busy, and local therapists often have to deal with three or four patients at a time. Spend time here and you’ll get experience with advanced cases, some you might not have seen before. Despite being understaffed, the system works for patients. This is because local therapists are passionate about helping their patients — just as we are in the UK. Read stories from those who’ve already travelled with us to Kandy.

15% of Vietnamese people live with a physical disability, so there’ll be no shortage of patients. Disabilities and injuries result from RTAs, stunted growth in childhood, some even from the Vietnam war. Many Vietnamese people strongly believe that exercise and mobility are directly linked to good health. Physiotherapy is a highly-respected profession because of this. Patients are much more likely to follow treatment plans too. Space is restrictive in the department, so local staff rely heavily on machinery as opposed to open movement. You’ll meet other student physiotherapists while you’re on the wards, adding another level to the learning experience.

On a physiotherapy placement abroad In Dar es Salaam, you’ll get the best of your experience in the physio department of our partner orthopaedic institute. In Tanzania, road safety and traffic etiquette are relaxed compared to what you’re used to. This has led to RTAs being Tanzania’s biggest cause of critical injury, so you’ll see plenty of RTA-related cases. You’ll see how long waiting lists can and do lead to severely advanced cases in the outpatient clinic. The hospital is actually a government institute, but it caters to private patients too. That said, you’ll see just how few patients can afford private care.

Read stories from those who’ve already travelled with us to Dar es Salaam. 

Physiotherapy is quickly developing in Nepal, so you’ll find our physiotherapy student placements in Kathmandu eye-opening. The country’s focus on physiotherapy has shifted a lot over the last 10 years. To give you some idea, there were only 30 qualified physiotherapists in 2007. In 2012, there were 500. But even though physiotherapy is progressing, resources are still low. You’ll see improvised apparatus like makeshift wheelchairs and traction devices, but local therapists’ knowledge more than makes up for the shortfall in equipment. Read stories from those who’ve already travelled with us to Kathmandu.

On a physiotherapy placement in Iloilo, you’ll see all the contrasts between physiotherapy in the Philippines versus the UK. One example is how widespread the use of electrotherapy is — don’t be surprised if you see the vast majority of patients receiving this treatment. Another difference is that patients can often come for treatment more frequently. In our partner hospital patients can continue receiving treatment as long as they can afford to pay for it. Some stroke patients have been known to attend the clinic for more than two years. On the other hand, many patients don’t follow the prescribed home treatment plans — many simply can’t afford to take time off work. Read stories from those who’ve already travelled with us to Iloilo.