Laran Chetty receives awardA senior physiotherapist at the health and work centre has been honoured for his work promoting healthy lifestyles at the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy’s annual awards.

Laran Chetty, a specialist occupational health physiotherapist, picked up the accolade after leading a focused effort to reduce staff sickness absence due to musculoskeletal disorders at the Royal Free London.

By promoting healthy and active lifestyles as part of each patient session, Laran’s approach resulted in a decrease in re-referral rates from 15 per cent to less than three per cent. Waiting times also decreased while the centre’s capacity for new patients increased.

Speaking after the awards ceremony, Sue Rees, chair of Council at the CSP, said: “The CSP awards highlight the outstanding achievements and innovation of physiotherapists across the UK. Our members work tirelessly to provide better services for patients to help improve their quality of life.

“An estimated 28.2 million working days were lost nationally due to work-related illness and workplace injury in 2013/14. Laran’s programme has ensured staff at his trust are not only receiving fast access to quality care, but leave equipped with the knowledge and skills to reduce their risk of future sickness absence.”