SARAH PECKOVER

I wanted to be a physiotherapist from a young age. I contracted poliomyelitis at the age of 6 from the vaccine (it was a live vaccine in those days, unlike now) and as a result I was paralysed. I ended up in hospital on bed traction and the physiotherapist there taught me how to walk again. I then returned home to my family when I was 7.

From that moment on, I knew that I wanted to be a Physiotherapist.

I qualified from the The London Hospital School of Physiotherapy in 1978 on the first degree recognised Physiotherapy course in the UK. I completed my rotations in several specialist hospitals in London before starting work at University College Hospital London and worked there on Junior rotations with such diverse patients including working with amputees, at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases working with leprosy patients and in Holloway Women's Prison!.

Originally from Brentwood, after a few years I wanted to move back to Essex and started working as a senior physiotherapist at Basildon Hospital in Rheumatology and Orthopaedics which included working night shifts and emergency care on ITU, Respiratory and Post op care.

While working at Basildon, I was working with Mr Alan Gardner an Orthopeadics Consultant who asked me if I had considered private work. As a result I started working privately in a GP practice thanks to Dr David Smith a GP based in Horndon on the Hill GP surgery . This was what was to become Wickford Physiotherapy!

I combined this with my ongoing NHS work. Throughout my time in Essex Ive worked in Bullwood Women's Prison, The Elizabeth Ftzroy young Adult Mental Health Residence. I’ve lectured in Anatomy for the University of Essex and supervised physiotherapy students on placement both in the NHS and in my private clinic.

After many years of working in both NHS and private, I decided to leave the NHS to focus purely on running Wickford Physiotherapy. While I no longer own Wickford Physiotherapy it has freed me up to concentrate on what I enjoy doing best and that is treating patients.

I love working for Wickford Physiotherapy and helping patients who choose to go private have excellent clinical outcomes and get back to what they enjoy doing best.

Out of work, I enjoy local walks, having breaks in Norfolk and spending time with my grandchildren who keep me active