All physicists and technologists working in the Regional Medical Physics Department (RMPD) know that their work is of great benefit to the region and often the UK. However, rehabilitation engineer, Mike Walker, is reminded more than most of the positive impact the Department has on people's lives.
Based at the Disablement Service Centre in Middlesbrough, it is Mike's job to provide rehabilitation services to the surrounding districts. He does this by giving technical expertise to other health care professionals and personally monitors the provision, repair and maintenance of mobility equipment including wheelchairs and artificial limbs.
His job puts him in daily contact with people from all walks of life with a wide-range of disabilities and his friendly, likeable personality has obviously contributed to the immense success he has had in building up the service. A recent early start at Caroline Street Health Centre in Hartlepool was typical of a Monday in Mike's working day where he and colleague, district wheelchair service manager, Sue Tuffin, prepared for the morning ahead. Sue's first task was to fit a special buggy with seating system that Mike had designed for baby Levi who, at two and a half, is suffering from microcephaly and needs special support for his back and head. Levi needs to be re-assessed every six months so Mike can expect to see him again in the near future.
The next patient is wheelchair user, Paul, who has multiple sclerosis. Mike has already been out to visit him at home to assess whether or not he would benefit from an electrically operated chair. Paul took a recommended chair on a 'test-drive' and was delighted when Mike told him that he will be getting a similar version in the very near future.
It is clear to see why Mike has been working for RMPD for over ten years. He obviously enjoys his job and gets much satisfaction from it. He has an excellent working relationship with Sue and, with 70,000 wheelchair users regionwide and only nine rehabilitation engineers and two technicians, they are kept very busy with their share of the work involved.
The third assessment of the morning is on 72 year old Nora Dorrian who has been wheelchair bound for several years. Her manual chair is becoming too cumbersome for her husband to push and Mike felt that an outdoor electric powered chair would be the answer. After he explained the simple, but powerful controls to Bernard Dorrian, Nora was given a tour of the clinic flower garden in her new style chair and the couple said that they couldn't wait to get their own.
Mike and Sue saw several more patients that morning and managed to look at a new, lightweight chair that needed adapting. Mike said: "Most people who are involved in this type of work usually stay because it is so satisfying. It is important to be able to develop a rapport with the patients who come into the various clinics and build up a good working relationship with colleagues who operate them. Every day is different presenting new and interesting challenges to solve that have a huge impact on the quality of people's lives."
Regional Medical Physics Department, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE7 7DN, UK.
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Regional Medical Physics Department, a Clinical Directorate of the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
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