BIOGRAPHY: ABBIGAIL LANGSTONE-WRING
BSc FETC MAR MFHT MCThA ICR
Abbigail’s professional career as a Complementary Practitioner spans over 30 years.
Holding membership of several professional organisations and governing bodies that operate strict codes of conduct, her private practice operates on evidence-based best practice principles. She continues to study and develop her practice with associated learning experiences from around the world.
Her reflexology journey began with the Crane School of Reflexology (1994). Inspired by Beryl, her work and that of other formidable reflexologists, Abbigail continues to explore the potential of reflexology.
Graduating with a BSc degree intensified her passion for research; in 2016 co-presenting Reflexology/Chronic Heart Failure Patients pilot study protocol at RCCM conference UK and the RAA conference in Australia; in 2020 co-producing a feasibility study protocol Reflexology/Lower Limb Lymphoedema in Cancer Patients. Abbigail regularly produces and submits Health and Wellbeing articles for publication.
2014-22 as founder and lead of charity-funded Clinical Reflexology service within an NHS hospital cancer service, she gathered and processed over 10,000 patient data which informed two published clinical audits, service development and PCR training.
With recognised teaching qualifications Abbigail has delivered VTCT level 3 reflexology, and offer her evidence-based, CPD-accredited PCR training to qualified reflexologists.
Her voluntary history consists of fundraising for local cancer charities and a women’s refuge; 7 years delivering reflexology to local hospice patients on-site and in the community; public elected NHS hospital governor, elected Director ICR and, at present, Healthwatch UK Volunteer and Vice Chair of GP practice PPG.
Described by colleagues as a creative problem-solving strategist, she has a desire to complete a master’s degree and welcomes opportunities for national and international project collaboration, in order to raise the profile of reflexology and supply data that informs and shapes the progression of reflexologists training to meet the challenging criteria for mainstream referral and employment.
PROVIDING EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT REFLEXOLOGY PROVISION IN MAINSTREAM HEALTHCARE
Introduction: In 2014 a considerable number of patients attending a rural UK NHS hospital Cancer Service for treatment identified stress and anxiety as a major concern. Acknowledging this, a local cancer charity approached me to present a proposal to trial a funded reflexology project to enhance the cancer patient experience at the hospital.
The reflexology service project operated under clinical supervision at three locations within the hospital (In-patient ward, Out-patient chemotherapy and radiotherapy departments). To ensure patient safety and guide service delivery in accordance with NHS and hospital standards, Clinical Reflexology Governance and Procedure Policy and Operating Standard documents were produced. A Consent and Evaluation form was designed to collect patient feedback. 10,113 patient feedback data informed NHS Clinical Audits and Annual Reports, together with staff and patient Annual Questionnaire feedback data provided evidence of best practice and patient outcomes. The data shaped service development to include training, supported funding applications, informed publications* and evidenced the 20-minute Model of reflexology treatment as therapeutic with significant beneficial effect.
Outline of content: My presentation will illustrate the strategic route and data evidence that enabled an externally funded reflexology project move from trial phase to sustainable daily service status within a UK NHS hospital Cancer Service that remains operational to date.
- Describing how identification of a need/gap in mainstream healthcare provision produced a project trial proposal.
- Outlining the necessary documentation that ensured service compliance with mainstream healthcare standards/guidelines and informed funding applications.
- Detailing how overcoming the complexities of delivery of a hands-on therapy to cancer patients, and collecting patient feedback at three clinical settings, shaped the 20-minute Model of Clinical Reflexology.
- Illustrating data findings in a series of graphs depicting a pattern of annual service growth based on demand, with patient information and reflexology treatment outcomes.
- Concluding with a personal perspective based on experience of the barriers preventing the integration of reflexology into mainstream health provision in the UK today, and how we as professionals might overcome them.
*The Clinical Reflexology NHS Clinical Audits 2613 (2015) and 4923 (2020) informed A Langstone-Wring. D Machin. Measuring patient response to clinical foot reflexology (CFR) within a UK NHS cancer service. International Therapist Spring 2018. fht.org.uk/IT-124-RR-CFR
A Langstone-Wring. J Whatley. Patients’ experiences of clinical foot reflexology in a hospital cancer service. Royal College of Nursing RCNi Cancer Nursing practice doi:10.7748/cnp.2023. e1841.
Re-published RCNi Cancer Nursing Practice Jan 2024 Vol 23 No 1. Evidence and practice Pg22-28
Workshop: A 2-hr minimum workshop introducing delegates to Professional Clinical Reflexology PCR-The Langstone-Wring Method® accredited CPD evidence-based training. Supporting cancer patients from diagnosis through treatment and beyond. The workshop will include a led group discussion including Q&A explaining the fundamentals of the Method, followed by a demonstration of the 20minute protocol designed as a stand-alone treatment for clinical settings or inclusion into existing reflexology routines.