ORTHOPAEDIC TECHNICIANS

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30762, 28 May 1965, Page 16

ORTHOPAEDIC TECHNICIANS

Formal Training Urged

A definite training scheme is needed for orthopaedic technicians—workers in hospital splint and surgical boot departments, the acting medical superintendent-ili-chief to the North Canterbury Hospital Board (Dr W. I. Paterson) said in opening the ; annual conference of the Orthopaedic Technicians’ Association yesterday. “Experience, common sense, and a good working knowledge of what is required enable you to do a sound job; but the learning process could be hastened by formal training,” said Dr. Paterson. The association’s patron, Mr J. L. Will, said a splint department should be directed by a surgeon, preferably an orthopaedic surgeon, not by an engineering department as some were. A surgeon's advice was often essential, especially where instructions given by a patient’s doctor were incomplete, he said. He thought the association should choose a patron saint. St. Crispin was the patron saint of bootmakers. St. Anthony, as the saint who helped find things, might be useful to the man who misplaced his tools. The most appropriate of all was probably St. Jude, who looked after hopeless causes. The conference lasts two days. Yesterday was taken up by lectures and films, and today members will visit the cerebal palsy school and a leather tannery. The annual general meeting of the association will be held this afternoon.