Course Tutors
Tony Gill
Works as an ESP for North Somerset Primary Care Trust for the MSK Interface service. He works with a special interest in shoulders in the NHS assessing complex shoulder pathology as well as treating in the private sector. He is also an Injection therapist using this skill to enhance his physiotheraputic modalities and is a member of BESS (British Elbow and Shoulder Society). Tony is the Physiotherapy Advisor to the Jitsu Foundation within the UK. Alongside Rhian Witham, he has developed the complete shoulder course, assessment and treatment which has run with incredible success over the last 2 years. He passionately believes in practical teaching and this course reflects his personal and professional approach to assessment and treatment.
Rhian Witham
Rhian Witham is a Chartered Physiotherapist who qualified
from the University of Birmingham in 1996.
Since then she has gained a wide range of experience within the NHS and
Private Practice, specialising in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy. She completed her MACP in 2002 and
subsequently her MSc in Manipulative Physiotherapy in 2003. This qualification has allowed Rhian to be a
clinical student mentor for Post Graduate MSc Students. Over this time she has developed a special interest
in treating patients with shoulder dysfunction, and is now a member of BESS
(British Elbow and Shoulder Society)
Her current role allows her to lead the North Bristol NHS Trust Shoulder Physiotherapy Team; furthermore she works in an ESP role with Mr Iain Packham, Consultant Orthopaedic Shoulder Surgeon. She also works closely with the other Specialist Shoulder Surgeons within the trust. Her varied caseload includes the most complex shoulder presentations. This experience has enabled her to teach on this subject to a wide variety of Health Professionals – including Specialist Registrars and local GPs.
Her current role allows her to lead the North Bristol NHS Trust Shoulder Physiotherapy Team; furthermore she works in an ESP role with Mr Iain Packham, Consultant Orthopaedic Shoulder Surgeon. She also works closely with the other Specialist Shoulder Surgeons within the trust. Her varied caseload includes the most complex shoulder presentations. This experience has enabled her to teach on this subject to a wide variety of Health Professionals – including Specialist Registrars and local GPs.
Martin Bell, Snr. Orthotist, BSc. MBAPO HPC Reg.
Since graduation (13 years ago) from the
University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Martin has worked within the
Prosthetic/Orthotic department of North Bristol Trust. During this time he has
developed significant areas of expertise and has specialised in: Dynamic Gait
Analysis, Lower Limb Bio-mechanics, Lower Limb Paediatric Orthotics and Orthotic
management of the Chronic Diabetic Foot.
He also works for N-Somerset NHS as a specialist assessing and treating biomechanical lower limb dysfunctions.
This course was designed by him to specifically allow professionals already working with lower limb biomechanical problems to enhance their assessment skills and identify mechanical problems and treatment solutions.
He also works for N-Somerset NHS as a specialist assessing and treating biomechanical lower limb dysfunctions.
This course was designed by him to specifically allow professionals already working with lower limb biomechanical problems to enhance their assessment skills and identify mechanical problems and treatment solutions.
Alex Poole
Alex studied BSc sport sciences at Loughborough University and also has post graduate qualification in exercise physiology and biomechanics. . He is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and was a former professional rugby player. He has also recently completed his Masters in Sport Science.
Working as a Professional Fittness Instructor for both your average Jo and Elite Athletes has enabled him to understand the wider context of strengh and conditioning programmes, the evidence and how to apply this to a variety of very different clients.
Working as a Professional Fittness Instructor for both your average Jo and Elite Athletes has enabled him to understand the wider context of strengh and conditioning programmes, the evidence and how to apply this to a variety of very different clients.
Huw Griffiths
Huw Griffiths has been practising acupuncture for nearly 20 years. He trained at the College of Traditional Chinese Acupuncture in Leamington Spa, where he qualified in 1991. As the founding director of The Complete Health Care Clinic, in London’s City Road, EC1, he had the unique opportunity to witness, through his clients, the negative impact of stress on the body due to today’s demanding lifestyles. The prevalence of similar symptoms repeatedly presenting themselves, led him to focus specifically on identifying the causative stresses and alleviating the accompanying conditions. These Included: back pain, insomnia, headaches and migraines, skin conditions, anxiety, fatigue, tummy bloating and digestive disorders, infertility and conception.
Gill Hurst
Yoga: Gills teaching involves anatomy and adjustment modules for teacher intensives in Bristol and London. She also established the first course in the UK teaching clinicians in the NHS on the application of Yoga within patient management strategies.
Her weekly classes at Yogasara are open to newcomers or well- established practitioners and reflect her background in ashtanga, vipassana and physiotherapy. She also teaches weekly one-to-one sessions at the Berkeley centre.
Gill also teaches "Yoga for Health" an 8-week course offered to those with health issues who are seeking to further understand their condition and develop ways to navigate its challenges through dialogue, movement and mindfulness practice. The concept of health as a 'western' or 'eastern' based perspective is deconstructed and the meaning of yoga within this contemporary context is explored through physical practice and the discussion of relevant scienctific and philosophical thought.
Physiotherapy:Since 1998 Gill has worked as a physiotherapist with specific experience in complex pain conditions. Over the years this has involved clinical work in NHS clinics, acute injury management on the ski fields of New Zealand and in remote community clinics of the Indian Himalaya. She is currently based at the Berkeley centre in Bristol with the Grange Physiotherapy team.
During the last four years in Bristol she has practised in conjunction with respected medical consultants, podiatrists and psychologists and formed links with the NHS to develop an integrated approach that is patient-led and highly specific to the individual. In her clinic she sees all musculoskeletal conditions and the treatments may be an integration of deep tissue and joint therapies, western acupuncture, movement rehabilitation and specific strategies for overcoming pain and stress.
Her weekly classes at Yogasara are open to newcomers or well- established practitioners and reflect her background in ashtanga, vipassana and physiotherapy. She also teaches weekly one-to-one sessions at the Berkeley centre.
Gill also teaches "Yoga for Health" an 8-week course offered to those with health issues who are seeking to further understand their condition and develop ways to navigate its challenges through dialogue, movement and mindfulness practice. The concept of health as a 'western' or 'eastern' based perspective is deconstructed and the meaning of yoga within this contemporary context is explored through physical practice and the discussion of relevant scienctific and philosophical thought.
Physiotherapy:Since 1998 Gill has worked as a physiotherapist with specific experience in complex pain conditions. Over the years this has involved clinical work in NHS clinics, acute injury management on the ski fields of New Zealand and in remote community clinics of the Indian Himalaya. She is currently based at the Berkeley centre in Bristol with the Grange Physiotherapy team.
During the last four years in Bristol she has practised in conjunction with respected medical consultants, podiatrists and psychologists and formed links with the NHS to develop an integrated approach that is patient-led and highly specific to the individual. In her clinic she sees all musculoskeletal conditions and the treatments may be an integration of deep tissue and joint therapies, western acupuncture, movement rehabilitation and specific strategies for overcoming pain and stress.
Jay Flitter
is a Chartered Physiotherapist who graduated from The University of Brighton in 1996. His early career was spent at Guys and St Thomas' Hospital in London. During this time, he built up a range of experience and he soon realised that his passion lay in neuromusculoskeletal medicine. He moved into the private sector treating elite and non-elite athletes in the UK and France.
Ultimately, his desire to challenge himself further, and refine both his clinical reasoning and manual skills, culminated in him successfully completing the MSc in Manipulative Physiotherapy at the University of Brighton in 2006. He was also awarded the Churchill Livingstone Prize for academic achievement.
Since that time he has worked in private practice and delivered teaching sessions to a range of post-graduate physiotherapists on clinical reasoning and Grade V spinal manipulation techniques.
His course has evolved from his MSc experience, his MSc clinical tutoring experiences and these teaching sessions. The aim of the course is to make learning simple and the techniques learnt, clinically effective. There is a strong focus on not simply giving people a range of techniques, but providing the time to practice and develop the reasoning skills to ensure that the participants are able to apply the techniques confidently and effectively.
He currently practices and teaches in London.
Ultimately, his desire to challenge himself further, and refine both his clinical reasoning and manual skills, culminated in him successfully completing the MSc in Manipulative Physiotherapy at the University of Brighton in 2006. He was also awarded the Churchill Livingstone Prize for academic achievement.
Since that time he has worked in private practice and delivered teaching sessions to a range of post-graduate physiotherapists on clinical reasoning and Grade V spinal manipulation techniques.
His course has evolved from his MSc experience, his MSc clinical tutoring experiences and these teaching sessions. The aim of the course is to make learning simple and the techniques learnt, clinically effective. There is a strong focus on not simply giving people a range of techniques, but providing the time to practice and develop the reasoning skills to ensure that the participants are able to apply the techniques confidently and effectively.
He currently practices and teaches in London.
Saskia Blair
currently works at the Spire Hospital, Cardiff at the Centre of Orthopaedic Excellence part time, & runs her own private practice part time. She have been the British Fencing Physiotherapist for 7 years and is the Chief Physiotherapist for the UK School Games. She has attended the last 4 Commonwealth Games as part as the Team Wales physiotherapy team.
Saskia was also the physiotherapist for Team GB at the 2004 Barcelona Holding Camp prior to the Athens Olympics. She has extensive experience using a variety of taping throuthout her sporting career including traditional methods and kineseo taping. She delivers teaching to postgraduates on a regular basis and has developed a 1 day and 2 day taping course to enhance therapists skills in this area.
Saskia was also the physiotherapist for Team GB at the 2004 Barcelona Holding Camp prior to the Athens Olympics. She has extensive experience using a variety of taping throuthout her sporting career including traditional methods and kineseo taping. She delivers teaching to postgraduates on a regular basis and has developed a 1 day and 2 day taping course to enhance therapists skills in this area.
Jason Seaton
qualified in 1995 with a degree in Physiotherapy and went on to do a diploma in Sports medicine.
Since then Jason has worked in the NHS and with various sports teams including Weston Rugby Club, South West Women’s Hockey League and British Gymnastics as the Physiotherapist for the Great Britain Sports Acrobatic Team. He provided medical cover for them at various World Championships including the World games in Japan, where he also the physiotherapist for the Great Britain Tumbling and Trampoline Teams.
Jason has completed his Society of Orthopaedic Medicine qualification and has a masters level qualification in Injection Therapy. He works full time in the NHS as a knee specialist physiotherapist and as an extended scope practitioner for the North Somerset MSK Interface service. Jason also works part time in a private physiotherapy clinic. He developed an interest in Knees after injuring his own knee back in 1999 which required surgery. After returning back to international competition, Jason started to develop his assessment and treatment skills around the knee. This consequently led to Jason working along Mr Michael Radford, Orthopaedic Consultant knee specialist. Jason has since developed the knee service at Weston General Hospital alongside Mr Radford especially around ligament reconstruction.Professionally Jason’s main interest is the knee, especially ACL and ligament injuries, alongside anterior knee pain. Further interest also includes sports injuries and sports specific conditioning.
Since then Jason has worked in the NHS and with various sports teams including Weston Rugby Club, South West Women’s Hockey League and British Gymnastics as the Physiotherapist for the Great Britain Sports Acrobatic Team. He provided medical cover for them at various World Championships including the World games in Japan, where he also the physiotherapist for the Great Britain Tumbling and Trampoline Teams.
Jason has completed his Society of Orthopaedic Medicine qualification and has a masters level qualification in Injection Therapy. He works full time in the NHS as a knee specialist physiotherapist and as an extended scope practitioner for the North Somerset MSK Interface service. Jason also works part time in a private physiotherapy clinic. He developed an interest in Knees after injuring his own knee back in 1999 which required surgery. After returning back to international competition, Jason started to develop his assessment and treatment skills around the knee. This consequently led to Jason working along Mr Michael Radford, Orthopaedic Consultant knee specialist. Jason has since developed the knee service at Weston General Hospital alongside Mr Radford especially around ligament reconstruction.Professionally Jason’s main interest is the knee, especially ACL and ligament injuries, alongside anterior knee pain. Further interest also includes sports injuries and sports specific conditioning.
John Flannigan
John has been a 1st aid Instructor since 1983 and has taught widely over the South West including Government Departements and the NHS. Within Bristol he has taught in the North Bristol NHS in Southmead and Frenchay.
John takes a particular interest in Sport 1st aid and is also the Junior Secetary of North Bristol RFC.
He bispokes his sport 1st aid to the problems encountered on pitch-side and with general sporting acitivities to ensure the attendees gain the maximum from the courses offered within this sub-speciality of 1st aid.
John takes a particular interest in Sport 1st aid and is also the Junior Secetary of North Bristol RFC.
He bispokes his sport 1st aid to the problems encountered on pitch-side and with general sporting acitivities to ensure the attendees gain the maximum from the courses offered within this sub-speciality of 1st aid.
Melissa Calcraft
Melissa is head physio for hand services at Southmead Hospital. She is an extremely experienced hand therapist and has dedicated over 20 years to this sub-speciality. She has taught wrist and hand assessment for over 10 years and continues to lead an active roll in developing this service locally and ensuring the continued professional development of the muculoskeletal team.
She has developed this course with an understanding that not all therapists have the chance to work in a dedicated hand centre but will still assess and treat hand on a regular basis. She has tailor made this
course with this in mind.
She has developed this course with an understanding that not all therapists have the chance to work in a dedicated hand centre but will still assess and treat hand on a regular basis. She has tailor made this
course with this in mind.
