I’m really pleased to share that I’ve recently taken on the role of Chair of the Association of Paediatric Chartered Physiotherapists (APCP) Neonatal Committee, alongside my lovely co-chair, Gail. Having been part of the committee for seven years—including two as Vice Chair—it feels incredibly special to step into this role with such a fantastic team.
What is the APCP Neonatal Committee?
The Neonatal Committee is a specialist group of 12 neonatal physiotherapists working across the UK. Each person brings a huge amount of experience, and we’re all passionate about improving care for neonates and their families, while also supporting neonatal physiotherapists across the UK (and beyond) to develop their knowledge and skills.
Committee membership usually rotates every four years, unless someone takes on a leadership role. This helps bring fresh perspectives and ideas while maintaining continuity in the work we do.
Importantly, all of this work is done voluntarily, in our own time, alongside busy clinical roles and other commitments.
What we do
We meet regularly—virtually and face-to-face—to keep our workplan moving forward. Collaboration is a huge part of what we do, and we work closely with organisations such as British Association of Perinatal Medicine (BAPM), NHS England, and charities like Bliss, as well as other allied health professional groups. Our shared aim is simple: equitable, high-quality care for all neonates.
Our work includes:
- Developing education and training for physiotherapists. We’ve worked with Health Education England to develop online neonatal training packages, alongside practical face-to-face courses. We also run a yearly neonatal AHP conference.
- Producing clinical guidance and resources, including the Good Practice Guide for Physiotherapists Working in Neonatal Care, and various other neonatal physiotherapy guidelines.
- Creating resources for parents, such as leaflets and guidance on developmental activities for babies born preterm, or for babies with conditions that may benefit from physiotherapy support.
We work hard, but we play hard!
One of the things that makes the committee so special is the people. It’s always a friendly, sociable group. When we meet, we work incredibly hard—but we also make time to relax together. There’s usually a good meal, plenty of laughter… and usually some gin involved too!
Over the years I’ve made friends for life through this committee, which I’m so grateful for.
Our Annual Working Weekend
Last weekend we had our annual “working weekend” in Manchester, where we spent two days together reflecting on the successes of the past year and planning for the year ahead.
We also had to say goodbye to four committee members whose terms have come to an end. At the same time, we elected our new Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary and set our workplan and priorities for the year ahead. There are lots of exciting projects in the pipeline.
Why I Love Being Part of the Committee
My favourite part of being on the committee has been running courses. I’ve been involved in several courses ranging from foundation to enhanced level, and there’s nothing more rewarding than seeing physiotherapists leave inspired and passionate about neonatal care.
Watching them go back to their units, develop their services, and go on to do amazing things for babies and families on their NICUs makes all the effort worthwhile.
Looking Ahead
One of the biggest upcoming milestones for the committee is the publication of Version 2 of our Good Practice Guide for Physiotherapists Working in Neonatal Care. This has been a truly collaborative effort involving many experienced neonatal physiotherapists, and it’s a great example of the kind of projects we prioritised during our working weekend.
We’re hoping to publish it this summer—so watch this space!
Taking on the Chair role will definitely mean extra work alongside my NHS role and building my own business, but I’m deeply passionate about raising the profile of neonatal physiotherapy and supporting neonatal physios to develop their skills.
Being part of this committee is something I feel incredibly proud of, and I’m really excited about what the next chapter will bring. 👶
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