Our Team
Margaret Gear
Margaret is owner and principal physiotherapist at Yasp. She worked as a chartered physiotherapist in the NHS for 35 years, mostly specialising in neurology, before setting up Yasp.
Margaret completed a masters degree in the Bobath Concept in 2005, and she subsequently played a leading role in two UK wide multi-centre research projects studying the effects of exercise in multiple sclerosis. She has presented her work on physiotherapy in MS at several national conferences.
In 2011, in collaboration with Shetland Recreational Trust, she led the development of exercise services for people with stroke, Parkinson’s Disease and multiple sclerosis.
What Margaret enjoys most is helping people who are struggling with complex health problems to achieve better physical health, and therefore to experience more enjoyment in everyday activities. In addition to exercise she uses a wide range of treatment techniques including: functional electrical stimulation, sensory dynamic orthoses, acupuncture, treatments for dizziness, pain management, and treatments for muscle and joint problems.
Margaret says:
Pain and loss of movement or mobility can affect every aspect of a person’s life. What I love is seeing someone getting better, and getting their mojo back again.
Paula Wishart
Paula qualified as a chartered physiotherapist from East London University in 1999.
She has lived and worked in Shetland since 2001, predominantly working in joint and muscular conditions, but she also has a special interest in pain, and persistent pain management.
In 2004, she completed a foundation course in Acupuncture and in 2006 completed advanced training. In her 19 years of using acupuncture, alongside her physiotherapy practice, Paula has found that acupuncture can be very beneficial in reducing pain in various conditions, allowing an increased ability to exercise, or the potential to reduce pain relief medication.
In order to help develop effective pain management strategies Paula has also trained in several different pain management approaches including ‘Know Pain’ and ‘Explain Pain’.
Paula says:
I feel passionate about trying to help people that live with persistent pain. I think the answer for pain management comes from within the person dealing with it, but sometimes additional support can help the person see more clearly what they need to do to manage their pain.
Ana Dean
Ana qualified as an Occupational Therapist from Salford University in 2006.
Ana has worked in a variety of OT roles within Physical and Mental Health, in both acute and community settings, based in Wales, England and Shetland.
She is enthusiastic about working with clients to enable them to achieve their individual and meaningful goals, from maintaining their own personal care through to accessing the local beach and in collaborating with them on remaining as independent as possible.
Ana has a passionate interest in Neurology and is delighted to be a part of Yasp.
Ana says:
I love working with people, finding out what’s important to them and helping them to improve their quality of life.
Christine Slater
Christine brings a wealth of admin experience to Yasp. You will have an opportunity to meet her when she helps with some of our online exercise classes.
Christine says:
I am looking forward to being able to use my experience to assist Yasp clients with their everyday health.
Our Values
At Yasp we aim to improve your physical health, fitness and quality of life; to empower you to be as yasp as you can be. We do that through high quality, cost effective physiotherapy. Our clinic ethos is one of care and respect. Our clinical team are all skilled, experienced specialist physiotherapists.
We believe in giving you the skills that you need to heal your own body, and in giving you confidence to manage your own condition effectively. That way you will achieve your health goals with the fewest possible treatments, which means you get better value for money.
All our physiotherapists are members of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and are registered with the Health Care Professions Council.
Partnerships & Collaborators
At Yasp we aim to partner with the community, and to collaborate with others to provide a wholistic service. Our current partnerships include:
Multiple Sclerosis Society
We are delighted to have a service level agreement with the MS Society, which funds up to six Yasp physiotherapy treatment sessions per episode of care for people with MS. The MS Society also subsidise our online exercise class for people with MS.
Parkinson’s UK
Parkinson’s UK fund a weekly online exercise class for people with Parkinson’s disease. They also fund the initial physiotherapy assessment and follow up, which is all completely free for the participant.
Shetland Stroke Supporters Group
SSSG fund weekly, free, online exercise classes for people with stroke.
NHS Shetland
We work collaboratively with NHS Shetland’s Physiotherapy Department so that if you wish you may have NHS treatment in addition to treatment at Yasp. To enable this we provide you with a short written report, free of charge, that you can share with your NHS physiotherapist. We also encourage you to share a copy of your Yasp Physiotherapy report with your GP.
Scalloway Youth Centre
Yasp is located within the Scalloway Youth Centre building. For those who attend Scalloway’s 60 Plus Club we offer a free weekly online exercise class.
Seafarers Hospital Society
We are delighted to announce that we have partnered with the Seafarers Hospital Society, joining their extensive UK wide physiotherapy network! Founded in 1821, the Seafarers Hospital Society is one of the oldest maritime charities in the world, which for over 200 years has been dedicated to the provision of healthcare and wellbeing services to merchant navy seafarers and fishermen of any nationality working in UK waters.
Seafarers and fishermen often face extremely challenging conditions, and the physical nature of their professions can result in a high number of work-related injuries. Repetitive strain injuries and musculoskeletal issues are particularly prevalent, often caused by heavy lifting on unsteady surfaces.
Unfortunately, they also face a unique set of challenges in seeking treatment for such injuries, with long periods of time spent at sea and unpredictable work patterns making it especially difficult for them to access treatment and keep up with regular appointments.
This is why the Seafarers Hospital Society established a UK wide network of chartered physiotherapists, who are trained to provide a holistic and preventative approach to treatment and provide a vital means to help seafarers avoid injuries at work, and keep them fit and healthy to work at sea.
The Physiotherapy Network offers seafarers FREE, fast track treatment, crucial to avoiding long waits for the urgent appointments they need. All treatment costs are covered by the Seafarers Hospital Society, thanks to significant funding from both the Merchant Navy Welfare Board and the Department for Transport.
To find out more about the range of treatment options available and how you could benefit from the Physiotherapy Network, contact us, or call 01595 747074.