News | Tuesday, 8th June 2004
School of Physiotherapy launched
Last NHS School moves to University
The Manchester School of Physiotherapy officially became part of the University in a launch event this week.
Professor Norma Brook President of the Health Professions Council was joined by Vice-Chancellor Dame Alexandra Burslem to cut the ribbon on the new School at MMU’s Elizabeth Gaskell campus.
Both emphasised the University’s enthusiasm for the move and the excellent contribution that the School would make to MMU’s existing strengths in the caring and enabling professions.
The new School is the largest provider of undergradaute education on physiotherapy in the uK and offers several Masters courses and an expanding range of courses.
The Manchester School of Physiotherapy has a long history dating back to 1911 and was the first School in the UK to have its programme validated as a three-year honours degree. It has now become the last NHS School of Physiotherapy to move into a Higher Education establishment.
The School will maintain its very close links with NHS Trusts and private hospitals, and partner organisations at Manchester United FC, Sale Rugby Club and Blackburn Rovers. Its programmes complement the provision of other health care and its new position in MMU will enable physiotherapists both in practice and research to work with complimentary fields such as sport and exercise science, speech and language therapy, nursing and the biosciences.
Some 500 students and 42 members of staff moved into recently-refurbished accommodation in Elizabeth Gaskell campus at the beginning of January.
The department is headed by Dr Pennie Roberts a former chair of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy Dr Roberts has been elected to the executive committee of the Council of Deans of Nursing and Allied Health Professions.
Dr Roberts said: “I am very pleased that our move to MMU has gone so smoothly, and am very excited about continuing to build on our quality provision and forging strong working relationships with staff in other departments and I look forward to enhancing our reputation and standing in higher education as part of Manchester Metropolitan University.”
For more information about physiotherapy courses at MMU call 0161 247 2459 e-mail physio.cse@mmu.ac.uk
