Award-winning Indian-origin physiotherapist wants to start 'unique' rehab in India
An Indian-origin healthcare professional in the UK, who was recently awarded for her work to improve the quality of patient care in the state-funded National Health Service (NHS), said her dream is to start a rehabilitation and re-employment center in India. Kashmira Sangle, a physiotherapist, wants to open the center for spinal injury patients and road accident victims who are permanently house-bound. Here's more.
Winner of the Windrush 70 Award for Clinical Excellence
Sangle, who trained as a physiotherapist in Maharashtra before moving to the UK in 2003, was awarded the Windrush 70 Award for Clinical Excellence last month as part of the 70th-anniversary celebrations of the NHS recognizing the significant contribution made by ethnic minorities to the health service. She was honored for her work to improve the provision of wheelchairs in Berkshire, south-east England.
Center will help integrate patients back in the society: Sangle
"The center will provide independence of mobility to these patients and help them gain employment. I would like to set up training and run a government-recognized training course in India on Posture Management and Assistive Technology for People with Complex Disabilities," Sangle added.
Kashmira dedicates NHS award to patients who motivate her
Sangle, in her mid-thirties, is the clinical lead for Berkshire Healthcare NHS Trust. Her role sees her working with severely disabled children and adults and engaging with families and carers in the community. She dedicated her award to her patients, who she says teach her a lot and keep her motivated. Sangle was the only physiotherapist shortlisted for the NHS Windrush 70 Awards.
Lack of specialty in wheelchairs, posture-management for disabled in India
"This (Windrush 70) award helps me further highlight the problems faced by disabled patients, their families and carers on day-to-day matters, which able-bodied people...take for granted," Sangle said. Sangle, who maintains strong ties with India through regular visits, is keen to also focus on the lack of specialty in wheelchairs, posture management, pressure care, custom-made seating, and assistive technologies for disabled people in India.
Trained healthcare-professionals can change landscape for disabled in India: Sangle
Sangle says there are some good government schemes and good work being done by individuals in India, but on a grassroots level what we have is mostly salespeople selling wheelchairs. "There is a need for marrying the two and training healthcare professionals like physiotherapists, occupational therapists and biomedical engineers in this field so they can provide specialized treatment to disabled patients," she said.
Tried to build team, train people to develop empathy: Sangle
As part of her many efforts recognized by the award, Sangle also carried out a quality improvement project which offered early intervention to prevent pressure ulcers among wheelchair-users. "Over the years, I have tried very hard to build and grow our team and train people to develop empathy, so they are aware of all the problems that disabled people and their families face," she said.
