The experience of running a Silver Ring Splint workshop with the team at NRAS in 2008

04/09/08 : By Christina Macleod, Occupational Therapist, Winchester

How did the idea come into being? First be careful who you talk to at NRAS, I mentioned to Ailsa that I was considering organising a workshop on silver ring splints, but didn’t have all the skills or resources easily available. No sooner than the words were out of my mouth than Ailsa picked up on the idea and offered the support of the NRAS team. There was no going back even if I wanted to, Ailsa had got the wheels in motion and I couldn’t put on the brakes!!!

What happened next?

NRAS provided all the admin support, and came up with the idea of holding it at the British Health Professionals in Rheumatology annual conference in Liverpool in April, 2008 when lots of allied health professionals would all be in the same place at the same time. NRAS arranged the room hire, date, time etc. I got the programme together and contacted colleagues to ask for help. This came about as a team eff ort and I needed the team around me.

NRAS organised volunteer candidates for the workshop in order that therapists could practice measuring for the splints.

The workshop

The workshop was a success, despite the room being very hot and very crowded. We were fortunate to have representatives from the two companies that supply the splints by mail order present so that everyone could see the products available.

The first half focused on the splints, with various speakers looking at different aspects. Alice Peterson talked about the patient experience of wearing the splints, Jo Adams ( Professional Lead for Occupational Therapy School of Health Professions and Rehabilitation Sciences University of Southampton) about the latest research regarding the silver ring splints and Sandi Derham (Occupational Therapist from Bath and Chair of the College of Occupational Therapists Specialist Section in Rheumatology) and I discussed the considerations for assessment of the silver ring splints.

During the second half we divided in to small groups each with an Occupational Therapist experienced in this type of splinting, together with a patient for ‘hands on’ experience in measuring the splints.

Summary

The feedback from the therapists and patients was good. The majority of therapists said that they would now consider issuing these splints. Some of the comments were that it was “very well organised and presented, a really useful and informative presentation followed by good opportunity to asses and fit on “real Patients” hands.

What happens next?

Well any ideas need to be kept quiet until I have the time to cope with Ailsa’s energy for getting things done!!

But in reality we would like to have the opportunity to do more research and to run another workshop in a similar way. I was amazed that it all went so smoothly and it was good to see so many people so enthusiastic about these splints.

Thank you everyone for all there help, especially Emma in the NRAS office and all the others behind the scenes at NRAS and in Southampton and Winchester. I must also say a big thank you to Janet Harkess from Dumfries who helped with the small groups. Without all your help the workshop wouldn`t have been such a success.

Christina Macleod

Christina was the winner of the NRAS patients in Focus Awards 2005 for her work on Silver Ring Splints, read her winning entry

A Patient's Perspective of wearing Silver Ring Splints can be found here