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PTY-30126 - Module Specification
School of Allied Health Professions and Pharmacy
Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences

For academic year: 2026/27 Last Updated: 16 September 2026

PTY-30126 - Physiotherapy Management of the Complex Patient (MSci)
Coordinator: Richard Barnett Room: N/A Tel: +44 1782 7 34421
Lecture Time:
Level: Level 6
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office:

Programme/Approved Electives for 2026/27

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2026/27

The Physiotherapy Management of the Complex Patient module builds on content introduced in Years 1 and 2 of the MSci Physiotherapy programme and enables the student to assess and manage complex musculoskeletal, cardiovascular respiratory and neurological conditions and mulitfaceted presentations.
Students will have the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skills required to clinically reason and manage specialist populations and co-morbities via production of a problem list that is patient centred.
The module aims to prepare the student to work in diverse healthcare settings whilst also developing transferable skills (such as advanced communication, clinical reasoning, prioritisation) that can be applied in a variety of healthcare settings and specialities.

Aims
This module aims to:
1. Develop and advance the students underpinning theory, knowledge and skills.
2. Enable the student to clinically reason and effectively manage individuals with complex rehabilitation needs; advancing their clinical decision making skills.

Intended Learning Outcomes

synthesise and apply underpinning knowledge in the management of complex cases: 1
critically discuss and rationalise safe and effective adaptation of physiotherapeutic assessment, treatment and handling skills within the context of a complex patient scenario: 1
analyse and synthesise assessment findings, including differential diagnosis to formulate a clinically reasoned problem list: 1
propose and justify an effective management strategy in a complex patient scenario utilising evidenced based practice and current clinical guidelines: 1
promote patient function, activity and participation in complex cases: 1

Study hours

60 active learning hours to include typically
~23 hours practicals
- 4 hours asynchronous lectures
~ 30 hours of lectures
- 3 hours assessment preparation
~ 30 minute optional sign up tutorial
90 hours of independent study including 6 hours guided study

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Viva weighted 100%
45 minute Interactive Practical Assessment. With 15 minutes thinking time and 30 minutes oral viva
Fifteen (15) minutes thinking time, followed by thirty (30) minutes oral assessment on one case of a possible six seen cases. You will be required to demonstrate knowledge of differential diagnosis, and module pathologies, as well as evidence based treatment options

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 16 September 2026