About us
Paul John Tompkins BSC (Hons) Pg Dip (Sport and Exercise Medicine)
Chartered Physiotherapist – Member of Health Professions Council
Paul graduated from the University Brighton with a BSc Hons. in Physiotherapy in 2000. He completed his basic grade rotations in Outpatients, Neurology, Orthopaedics and respiratory at Southmead Hospital in Bristol before beginning to specialise in musculoskeletal conditions. Whilst working at the hospital he also worked as physiotherapist for AXA FC they established themselves in the Gloucestershire County league. He also worked part-time for the University of Bath working in many sports including rugby union, netball and trampolining. He later went on to be the head physiotherapist for the Bristol Rovers Centre of Excellence looking after players from aged 16 to 18.
In 2004 Paul left the NHS to take up a role as Head physiotherapist at Bristol rugby club. In his first season Bristol were promoted the Guiness Premiership. Bristol then upset the odds by avoiding relegation the following season before going onto finish 3rd and qualify for the Heineken cup for the first time in their history. During this time Paul managed the medical team responsible for looking after a squad which included several current and former international stars. During this time Paul also managed to complete a Post graduate diploma with merit in Sport and Exercise Medicine.
In 2008 Paul moved onto the next stage in his career working in private practice in Wiltshire before returning to Bristol to establish Hanham Physiotherapy and taking up a role as an Extended scope Practitioner for South Gloucestershire PCT. This role involved Specialist Orthopaedic triage for patients who had been referred for possible surgical intervention. In this time he developed specialist skills in requesting radiological investigations as well as becoming an injection therapist. He also spent one year successfully managing the service at a time when the NHS was going through significant change.
In the last four years Paul has been teaching on the undergraduate Physiotherapy and Sports Therapy degrees at the University of the West of England. The continued success of Hanham Physiotherapy led Paul to leave the NHS in January 2012 to combine private practice with a formal part-time teaching role.
Paul has a wealth of experience in Orthopaedics, Musculoskeletal medicine and Sports Injury management and this widespread knowledge allows him to treat patients in a holistic manner as well as being able to decide if and how Physiotherapy may be helpful. He has very close links with specialists both locally and nationally and regularly receives referrals for specialist rehabilitation.
Away from physiotherapy Paul enjoys spending time with his wife Clair and daughter Lottie. He plays golf (badly!) and swims. He also enjoys reading and has a particular interest in military history.
Professional bodies
Hanham Physiotherapy is a full member of each of the following professional bodies:
- Chartered Society of Physiotherapy - http://www.csp.org.uk/
- Health Professions Council - http://www.hpc-uk.org/
- Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists - http://www.aacp.org.uk/
- OCPPP - Organisation of Chartered Physiotherapists in Private Practice - http://www.physiofirst.org.uk/
- Association Of Chartered Physiotherapists in Sports and Exercise Medicine - http://www.acpsm.org/
- Extended Scope Practitioners Occupational Interest Group - http://www.esp-physio.co.uk/
