Guest blog by Heather Angilley, Physiotherapist and Volunteer at PhysioNet. 
I have been a children’s physio since 1977 and have seen lots of different equipment used in schools, at home and even on holidays in those years! After retiring from the NHS in 2015 I became a volunteer for Physionet, a UK charity that is dedicated to sending used equipment to low and middle income countries (LMIC’s. Physionet has many donors from NHS, equipment loan companies, private institutions and individuals. The equipment is checked by children’s therapists like me, and repaired before being shipped in 40 foot containers or HGVs.
I’m currently writing this from Ghana where I have followed a container from the UK and supported the delivery of the donated equipment by providing training on the assessment, adjustment, maintenance, and repair of the items. I am encouraged by the healthy partnership here between the hospital, university and charity sector, working together for the benefit of children with disabilities who are usually hidden away and denied an education.
At home we partner particularly closely with Jenx, who not only help with equipment donations and providing much needed spare parts, but they also allows staff to join us in repairing equipment ready to ship to LMIC’s all year round. Jenx’s support of Physionet’s work is invaluable.
In recent years, Jenx products have been distributed to countries far and wide including Romania, India, Fiji and Sri Lanka.
A lovely success story was provided by the team at PhysioNet regarding a young boy from Bulgaria and our Jenx Junior seating system:
‘A is a young boy with Cerebral Palsy, and is very anxious and scared of new situations or places. Arriving for his assessment upset and anxious, he was exhibiting extreme extensor tone resulting in his mother struggling to hold him. 
After selecting the correct chair for his age and size, therapists began to adjust the Jenx Junior chair to suit his needs which included the use of the waistcoat harness and thoracic supports, giving him an immediate feel of security. Within minutes of being in the chair, he settled quickly, stopped crying and even began to smile!’
Our Clinical Partnerships Manager Kieran Murphy is extremely proud of the close relationship Jenx has with Physionet and outlines the significant impact their outreach can have:
“The support Physionet provide to LMIC’s across the world is life changing for so many children with disabilities in these countries. It is a pleasure to work alongside Heather and her team and draw upon their experience and resourcefulness in refurbishing so many postural equipment devices that would normally be condemned to scrap. I have been lucky to have worked with the team personally in their equipment barn, but I have also seen first hand the impact of their outreach programmes. Whilst studying for my Physiotherapy degree, I was again lucky to be selected for an international placement at the incredible Kyaninga Child Development Centre (KCDC) in Fort Portal, Uganda. It was here I had my first experiences in the world of paediatric therapy and also where I first laid eyes on postural care equipment. This equipment was supplied by the Physionet team and enabled children with disability in Fort Portal to have access to appropriate postural care and a better opportunity to play, interact and socialise with their peers and family. And of course, there was plenty of Jenx equipment! Under the guidance of the wonderful lead physiotherapist Fiona Beckerlegge at the KCDC, the same Jenx equipment continue to be utilised for maximum therapeutic impact to this day”
This guest blog is part of our 40 stories for 40 years’ series, celebrating our partnerships over the years. Click here to read more blogs in this series.
Stay tuned! – In the next 40 Stories blog, Fiona and the KCDC team will be sharing a more in depth look at their work and the support they provide in Western Uganda.
