Rehabilitation seminar hailed as a great success

February 26, 2016

Exchange Chambers, Pace Rehabilitation and Potter Rees Dolan Solicitors yesterday hosted a day long rehabilitation seminar at the Lowry Hotel in Manchester.

The event – Back to the Future – was the brainchild of Gerard Martin QC.  It is the first time at an amputee seminar representatives of four leading prosthetics manufacturers have formed a panel to answer questions about the future cost of prosthetics.

The day included an address by GB Paratriathlon athlete Andy Lewis, who spoke about opportunities post-amputation.  Andy lost his leg as a result of an accident with a 38 tonne lorry when he was just sixteen.  Instead of giving up he has worked hard to challenge himself and stay fit.  Andy completed his first triathlon in 2014 and by the end of the year achieved a gold medal at the Madrid ITU World Paratriathlon Event.  In 2015 he won a gold medal at the Rio Triathlon Test Event in the P2 classification, which will be included in the Rio Paralympic Games in September 2016.

Chaired by Gerard Martin QC from Exchange Chambers, other speakers included Mike Sleap (Specialist Occupational Health Physiotherapist & Associate at Designed2Move Ltd), Professor Saeed Zahedi OBE (Blatchfords), Carolyn Hirons (Chartered Physiotherapist, Pace Rehabilitation), Kay McArthur (HCPC Registered Occupational Therapist, Pace Rehabilitation), Professor Mike Saleh (Orthopaedic Surgeon, Osseo Integration) and Rachel Rees (Potter Rees Dolan Solicitors).

Commenting on the day, Gerard Martin QC said:

“I am hoping this seminar marks the start of a discussion between personal injury lawyers and the prosthetic manufacturers for the benefit of amputees.

“It was also inspirational to hear from GB Paratriathlon athlete Andy Lewis who has overcome adversity and achieved so much with his life post-amputation.”