Physiotherapists, like anyone else, can become ill and suffer injury. A physical or mental health problem may impair your ability to practice physiotherapy safely and may endanger your patients and the public.
What is a health condition?
The HPCA Act defines a ‘mental or physical condition’ as: any mental or physical condition or impairment, and includes a condition or impairment caused by alcohol or drug abuse.
Health conditions that may affect your ability to practise physiotherapy safely include alcohol or drug dependence, psychiatric disorders, a temporary stress condition, an infection with a transmissible disease, and certain illnesses or injuries or physical disabilities.
How can a health condition affect a physiotherapist’s practice?
It is important to remember that not all health conditions will affect a physiotherapist’s ability to practice safely.
However, depending on the nature of your health condition, you may:
be unable to make safe clinical judgements
be unable to demonstrate the level of skill and knowledge required for safe practice
behave inappropriately
risk infecting patients with whom you come into contact
act (or fail to act) in ways that impact adversely on patient safety.
Who must notify the Board te Poari of a health concern?
If you have reason to believe a physiotherapist is unable to practise safely because of a mental or physical health condition, you are required by law (section 45 of HPCA Act, 2003) to let us know as soon as possible if you are:
a physiotherapist – this includes self notification or notification of another physiotherapist
the physiotherapist’s employer (this includes a person or organisation that contracted a physiotherapist’s services)
any registered health practitioner
anyone in charge of an organisation that provides health services
a person in charge of an educational programme or course who believes a student may be unable to practise physiotherapy safely.
Who else can notify the Board te Poari of a health concern?
any member of the public
How do I decide whether I need to make a health notification?
You can use the flowchart below to help you decide whether you need to make a health notification. If you are unsure, make a notification.
How do I make a health notification?
You can make a notification by emailing us at [email protected] with the subject line “Health Notification”.
Any delay in seeking treatment and assistance may impact you professionally and personally and adversely affect patient care. In our experience, early notification usually enables a practitioner with a treatable illness or condition to continue practising while receiving treatment.
If you have doubts about your fitness to practise, contact the Registrar as soon as possible by phoning 04 471 2610 or by email. We will ensure that you receive a prompt response.
What happens after a health notification is made?
We are here to assist you.
Our primary objective is to always ensure your patients are kept safe. However, we will always try to work with you. Remember that notifying us of a health concern does not automatically mean you can no longer work.
Our response to a health issue may involve regular reporting from your treating practitioners, working under supervision, or if you have suffered an injury, a return to work plan developed in consultation with your treating practitioner and employer.
Can I discuss my concerns with the Board te Poari before making a notification?
A conversation is always helpful, even if it needs to be hypothetical initially. Options for managing an issue can be discussed. All conversations about health notifications are confidential, although there may be situations where we must disclose your health condition to someone else. This usually occurs where there is a concern about patient safety.
Where can I find out more about health notifications?
Our education section contains a page with example scenarios for you to consider as well as a video webinar (or audio) featuring Board te Paori Registrar James Dunn and Professional Advisor Kathryn Hutchinson. A podcast version of that webinar is also available for those that prefer audio.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at the Board te Poari.
