Scottish Institute of Reflexology

8TH CLINCIAL REFLEXOLOGY CONFERENCE

Theme:  Safety, Efficacy & Value.

This is the third Clinical Reflexology Conference I have attended and each year I return home more enthused, informed and excited about my life as a  reflexologist.   The Conference is organized by the Christie Hospital N.H.S. Trust Complementary Therapy Services, presided over by Dr. Peter A. Mackereth, Clinical Lead  and Lecturer  Complementary Therapies, Christie Hospital.   

The Conference is very well organized, Linda Orrett is the Events Organiser, and comprehensive details of the event together with maps and information on  accommodation in the area (Manchester) were all provided when I booked .  I chose to stay in a Travel Lodge in Didsbury just ten minutes away from the Christie and was delighted with the accommodation, a large ensuite room, with bells and whistles.  

Quite a contrast from the last time I visited the Christie conference and chose accommodation from a site on the Web – I ended up changing hotels three times,  the first hotel having that sort of carpet in the reception which squishes when you cross it – beer-swilled is the expression I am looking for.   The bedroom smelt musty and overlooked the back end of the hotel where I witnessed people in hoodies handing over money for packets of something in the rear car park.  I made a swift exit, reported the incident and went looking for a bed for the night.  I ended up in another hotel which looked lovely from outside but once inside the room I found I couldn’t close the window against the howling gales and lashing rain and the window looked out onto a brick wall.   The weather was so fierce it blew the window in and yet again I went looking for a room for the night.   Talk about an orphan in the storm!  I ended up in a hotel which at breakfast the next morning, I realized had been taken over by the entire cast of the Adams Family complete with sound effects.   So in future Travel Lodges are it.

The conference  registration was at 9.00 a.m. with a diverse and interesting list of speakers to follow.   The first speakers, gave a riveting talk on “Putting Reflexology on the Cancer Care Agenda”.   The presentation outlined the work in progress and the achievements to date of the South East London Cancer Network Complementary Therapy Working Group and the challenges of integration within the cancer network.   The speakers spoke about the Cancer Care Network.   This is not just an investment in equipment and drugs but a look at how to improve prevention and also improve care, outcomes and experiences of cancer patients.     The speakers also spoke about the Recovery & Support Centre which monitors the Primary Care Team,  if they are not using the Cancer Care Network.   Karen Loxton gave a history of Complementary Therapy Groups used in the NHS Trust Hospitals. A Therapist Register is planned for the future and a system of Clinical Supervision for reflexologists is in place but because of lack of funding for Complementary Therapies at the moment, progress is slow.   Currently there are 34 Cancer Care Networks in the U.K. Information on Cancer Care can be found on the Dept. of Health Website.

Patient Evaluation – the effectiveness of complementary therapy on patients quality of life – was covered by John Hunt and Lynne Marland followed by a talk on Adapted Reflexology for spinal pain and whiplash by Gunnel Berry.   This last talk interested me so much that I attended a workshop by Gunnel later in the day which then prompted me to apply for a place on her course later in the year.   

A series of breakaways or workshops were available to the delegates and covered a number of issues including

Reflexologist preparation for working in maternal care – covering safety issues – Mary Doyle

Insurance issues for reflexologists – Clive O’Hara

Precision Reflexology, using intuition and tradition to  involve clients in their own health care – Jan Williamson.

Lunch, followed by Helen Tyrer speaking about Foot Care and Podiatry and associated pathologies complete with colour slides,  which was extremely informative and all reflexologists would benefit from this, then Peter Mackereth talking about his Multiple Sclerosis Study .   Peter outlined the need for research into reflexology and M.S., the four types of M.S. and  research evidence, investigation, research questions, outcome measures, analysis and results. His results particularly on salivary cortisol  levels, showed response to reflexology which can be measured. 

More breakaways followed :  Practical Foot Care – Helen Tyrer, Practical treatment of SP & W by Gunnel  Berry, working with children – Amanda Roberts, Risks and Benefits of reflexology in pregnancy and childbirth – Denise Tiran. 

This is a conference for reflexologists, run by reflexologists and should be on everyone’s diary.   I live in the Highlands and so by geography am isolated from other reflexologists so it was very exciting for me to be among so many other therapists in one place and also to be able to access so many diverse subjects relating directly to reflexology.  But geography aside, the information available at such a conference has wide ranging effects for us all, from how to get involved in Cancer Care Networks, the issues facing reflexology working  at the coal face – as Peter Mackereth said,  up to date information on research issues,  and listening to speakers such as Jan Williamson who remind us of our holistic approach. Gunnel  inspired her audience  with her exciting approach to spinal pain .  In previous years I have been the only Scottish delegate there, this year there were two.   I would like to see more Scottish delegates there in the future.

Samantha Bacon M.S.I.R.

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