Catherine Cruse-Drew (MCSP, SRP, Bobath Trained)

Chartered Physiotherapist

I qualified as a Chartered Physiotherapist from Kings College Hospital in 1989.  After two years of general rotation, I decided to specialise in Adult Neurology and have been working within this field ever since.

I have been lucky enough to work in many sub-specialities of Neurology, including:

• Acute Medical Wards,
• Acute Stroke Units,
• Stroke Rehabilitation,
• Young Disabled Unit,
• Head injuries Unit,
• Neurological Day Hospital,
• Pain Clinic,
• Outpatient Rehabilitation,
• Outreach Services/Community Services,
• Neuro Hydrotherapy,
• Headway Community Brain Injury.

In all these areas, I worked as the team leader and/or clinical specialist.

In 1995, I was offered the job as Clinical Specialist in charge of Hydrotherapy and Neurology in a purpose-built Rehabilitation Centre in Michigan, U.S.A. Here, working with leaders in the field, I developed an interest in Neurological Pain Syndromes.  I also gained the prestigious American Aquatic Associations’ teaching qualification.

Returning back to the UK in 1997, I headed up teams in Outpatient, Domiciliary and Community Rehabilitation.  In 1999, I completed Bobath Training, the Gold Standard in my field.  Since then, I have enjoyed developing my skills with post-graduate training, teaching, mentoring other therapists and using my specialist hands-on skills. I worked in the NHS until 2005 in a Senior/Team Leader role.  In 2005 I was offered the Senior Cinician’s Role at Headway Dorset and worked very closely with the team there to provide clients with Brain Injury (mainly Head Injury and Stroke) with rehabilitation in their own homes, at work or in the community.  During this time I also saw private patients with a wide-range of Neurological conditions and very much enjoyed the positive aspects of helping clients regain lost function, particularly mobility. In 2008, I handed the Headway Role onto another Physiotherapy colleague and have since concentrated on private work.  I love being able to concentrate exclusively on one client and being able to give them my full attention to attain goals that are important to them.  With this in mind, in 2009, I decided to set up a Neurology Service at East Cliff Therapy Centre and I am enjoying the new challenges this brings.

I have now asked Ros Cox to join the Team at the East Cliff Physiotherapy Centre, to offer a comprehensive service to clients with Neurological Conditions and Elderly clients with Rehabilitation needs.  This is an area that currently has very poor provision privately, and we aim to supply a service of the Highest Quality.

Testimonial

” a miracle was performed by Catherine, from your clinic. Our Aunt was discharged from hospital having been informed that she would never walk again. She needed the help of a hoist and two carers four times a day, because of a very severe Right Sided Stroke.

From the first few minutes of Catherines arrival improvements were already happening, and three months on, my Aunt was walking with a stick and just the light touch of one – A Miracle!!. She also walked backwards down two flights of stairs to a new destination, all thanks to the devoted caring skills of this wonderful physio.

If she could be cloned the country would indeed benefit. If anyone in Bournemouth or their relatives be unfortunate enough to have a Stroke, they ought to move heaven and earth to engage this lovely physios skills.

She could not be thanked enough, we were so lucky to have found her on the Internet.

Best wishes and our sincere gratitude to Catherine Cruse-Drew”

State registration number:          PH 40337 Professional registration:           48716