Vicki Piggott MSc BHSc (Hons)

Specialist Physiotherapist

Castle Dene Fatigue Clinic & Physiotherapy Service

Vicki qualified as a Physiotherapist in 1996 and has worked in a variety of settings including stroke rehabilitation, community physiotherapy services and acute rehabilitation on surgical units and intensive care facilities. She was part of the therapy team who set up the Durham & Darlington CFS/ME Adult NHS Service in 2005 where she continues to work part time. Her experience in treating patients with CFS/ME ranges from the mildly affected to the severely affected.

In 2009 Vicki chaired the working group that established a countywide Paediatric CFS/ME Service for Durham & Darlington and was instrumental in collating outcome measures during the initial 2 year paediatric pilot study. Unfortunately this paediatric CFS/ME service was recently de-commissioned and so this specialist NHS service has now ceased to exist. 

Vicki has also been involved with the Clinical Network Co-ordinating Centre (CNCC) for CFS/ME in the north of England and was Chair of the CNCC from 2008-2009.

In addition to her work in CFS/ME, Vicki completed her MSc in Advancing Physiotherapy from Sheffield Hallam University in 2014, with  modules focussing on management of chronic illness and long term conditions. Her dissertation researched the effectiveness of group programmes for newly diagnosed Fibromyalgia patients, and Vicki ran regular 6 week Fibromyalgia Management Group Programmes from 2011 until 2015 in the County Durham locality. 

From her experience treating people in both the hospital and the community setting, Vicki knows how important it is to give people the time they need to tell their story. Complex chronic health conditions need to be addressed in detail so that all symptoms are discussed and management plans put in place addressing the issues that are important to each individual and their family. The aim when working with patients is to make them the expert in their condition; setting realistic goals and working together to regain quality of life and improve their overall level of function.

Due to her experience working with children and young people Vicki has been able to develop links with local universities and colleges and is able to advise parents and young people on what they are able to request in order to gain support while accessing education. She is able to attend school meetings and liaise with school SENCO staff in order to manage students' health needs while they are in the school environment.