Manual Handling in Health and Social Care
1
Physiotherapy December 2002/vol 88/no 12 773 Book reviews Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London 2002 (ISBN 1 84310 041 X). 272 pages by Michael Mandelstam MSc DipLib £15 This book focuses on manual handling legislation and its implications within health and social care sectors. The author sets out successfully to help health and social care workers, their managers, and disabled people and their representatives in manual handling decision-making at a local level. The information is presented in well-designed sections which include lists of information at a glance and an overview of the 16 main points of the book. The main body of the book is an unexpectedly fascinating A-Z list containing summaries and extracts of case law, relevant legislation and phrases representing commonly asked questions. The book is well written and designed and surprisingly enjoyable, considering the dry subject matter. All users would be well advised to read the five-page introduction in order to understand the layout and optimise the wealth of knowledge contained in the book. It is very up to date, containing references applying to England, Wales and Scotland, including the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy Guidance in Manual Handling for Chartered Physiotherapists, 2002. Clinicians and managers will find this book complements CSP guidance and other related literature. It gives those working in high risk areas and their managers a broader outlook and by summarising actual court cases, both successful and unsuccessful, allows a better understanding of the practical and legal implications of manual handling legislation. The case histories span several decades, and demonstrate the continuum of change in legislation, guidance and changing attitudes towards acceptable risk. This book is easy to handle and read; we would recom- mend every department and library to have a copy for reference; manual handling trainers would be advised to buy their own copies. Tracey Clark MCSP Anne Whittet MCSP Demos, New York 2001, 2nd edn (ISBN 1 888799 60 9). 128 pages by Nancy J Holland, T Jock Murray and Stephen C Reingold $21.95 This book is written for multiple sclerosis patients and their family and friends. Its aim is to increase their understanding of the disease, and to make them aware of the services and support available. It has been written primarily for American and Canadian citizens, with regard to support and services, and the authors have achieved their aim within this population group. Pictures and diagrams would have been helpful and the only table in the book, on new diagnostic criteria, could be misleading. In the descriptions of management of symptoms, the authors focus on leg weakness and some symptoms are not included eg speech and memory problems. It would seem appropriate that all possible symptoms be included – for, as the authors rightly observe, everyone presents and follows a different pattern of the disease. Exercise is presented in a somewhat limited and disjointed manor. The book does rightly focus on the need for exercise to be enjoyable. Interestingly, the authors suggest that only patients with severe weakness should be referred to a ‘physical therapist’, while others need only general exercise to strengthen their muscles. Alternative therapies are explained well, as is the need for evidence of their effect. Some alternative therapies are not included, such as hyperbaric oxygen. The chapter on ‘Practical guidelines’ is well written, and covers most aspects of life. The chapter relating to the emotional side of the disease also appears very helpful. There is a useful section on the selection of patients for clinical trials. However, the subsequent discussion relating to the design of trials is far too specialised for the average reader. An information glossary, reading section, and a resource section are provided for North American patients, families and carers. Also cited are useful books, booklets and electronic information sources. The use of gender and grammar is misplaced in places and can be rather distracting. In conclusion the information in this book is helpful for North American families dealing with a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, and may be useful for some professionals. There is a lack of appropriate published supporting evidence for some of the opinions expressed in the book. This is not an essential book for the shelf in all physiotherapy departments within the United Kingdom. Claire Hewitt MCSP Manual Handling in Health and Social Care An A-Z of law and practice Multiple Sclerosis A guide for the newly diagnosed
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Transcript of Manual Handling in Health and Social Care
Physiotherapy December 2002/vol 88/no 12
773
Book reviews
Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London2002 (ISBN 1 84310 041 X). 272 pages
by Michael Mandelstam MSc DipLib £15This book focuses on manual handling legislation and its implications within health and social care sectors. Theauthor sets out successfully to help health and social careworkers, their managers, and disabled people and theirrepresentatives in manual handling decision-making at alocal level. The information is presented in well-designedsections which include lists of information at a glance and an overview of the 16 main points of the book. The mainbody of the book is an unexpectedly fascinating A-Z listcontaining summaries and extracts of case law, relevantlegislation and phrases representing commonly askedquestions.
The book is well written and designed and surprisingly
enjoyable, considering the dry subject matter. All userswould be well advised to read the five-page introduction inorder to understand the layout and optimise the wealth ofknowledge contained in the book. It is very up to date,containing references applying to England, Wales andScotland, including the Chartered Society of PhysiotherapyGuidance in Manual Handling for Chartered Physiotherapists,2002.
Clinicians and managers will find this book complementsCSP guidance and other related literature. It gives thoseworking in high risk areas and their managers a broaderoutlook and by summarising actual court cases, bothsuccessful and unsuccessful, allows a better understanding of the practical and legal implications of manual handlinglegislation. The case histories span several decades, anddemonstrate the continuum of change in legislation,guidance and changing attitudes towards acceptable risk.
This book is easy to handle and read; we would recom-mend every department and library to have a copy forreference; manual handling trainers would be advised to buytheir own copies.
Tracey Clark MCSPAnne Whittet MCSP
Demos, New York2001, 2nd edn (ISBN 1 888799 60 9). 128 pages
by Nancy J Holland, T Jock Murray and Stephen C Reingold $21.95
This book is written for multiple sclerosis patients and theirfamily and friends. Its aim is to increase their understandingof the disease, and to make them aware of the services andsupport available.
It has been written primarily for American and Canadiancitizens, with regard to support and services, and the authorshave achieved their aim within this population group.
Pictures and diagrams would have been helpful and theonly table in the book, on new diagnostic criteria, could bemisleading.
In the descriptions of management of symptoms, theauthors focus on leg weakness and some symptoms are notincluded eg speech and memory problems. It would seemappropriate that all possible symptoms be included – for, asthe authors rightly observe, everyone presents and follows a different pattern of the disease.
Exercise is presented in a somewhat limited and disjointedmanor. The book does rightly focus on the need for exercise
to be enjoyable. Interestingly, the authors suggest that only patients with severe weakness should be referred to a‘physical therapist’, while others need only general exerciseto strengthen their muscles.
Alternative therapies are explained well, as is the need forevidence of their effect. Some alternative therapies are notincluded, such as hyperbaric oxygen.
The chapter on ‘Practical guidelines’ is well written, andcovers most aspects of life. The chapter relating to theemotional side of the disease also appears very helpful.
There is a useful section on the selection of patients forclinical trials. However, the subsequent discussion relating tothe design of trials is far too specialised for the averagereader.
An information glossary, reading section, and a resourcesection are provided for North American patients, familiesand carers. Also cited are useful books, booklets andelectronic information sources.
The use of gender and grammar is misplaced in placesand can be rather distracting.
In conclusion the information in this book is helpful forNorth American families dealing with a diagnosis of multiplesclerosis, and may be useful for some professionals. There isa lack of appropriate published supporting evidence forsome of the opinions expressed in the book.
This is not an essential book for the shelf in allphysiotherapy departments within the United Kingdom.
Claire Hewitt MCSP
Manual Handling in Health andSocial CareAn A-Z of law and practice
Multiple SclerosisA guide for the newly diagnosed
