Martin Hutchinson

I qualified as a Chartered Physiotherapist in the early seventies and have 20 years working experience in the NHS as a clinician and manager. My speciality areas over this period were, medical elderly care, adult learning disability, the treatment and prevention of musculoskeletal disorders.

Early in my career I worked as an Occupational Physiotherapist in the Steel Industry gaining valuable insight into ergonomics and injury prevention. This experience coupled with my interest in back care management created a motivation to develop skills in the field of MSD injury prevention and training.

A move to the former Bassetlaw NHS Trust as a physiotherapy manager led to the development of a role as Manual Handling Adviser to the Trust. This eventually resulted in the formation of a handling and movement consultancy as a stand alone business within the Trust which successfully generated income through the marketing of manual handling training and back care advisory services. During this time a partnership was established with Rosemary Rodgers which eventually led to HMC Ltd (Handling and Movement Consultancy) being established outside the NHS.

My company Provides organisations with the resources, training and support to manage musculoskeletal problems and meet health and safety obligations. Rosemary Rodgers and I have developed a unique company which specialises in client /patient handling and load handling and has the expertise and resources to deal with anything from basic to highly specialised training, queries about equipment, ergonomic challenges, re-design of workplaces and management systems.

Our style of training in relation to assisting clients/patients to move has developed and strengthened over the years and has a real focus on the need for delivering this critical aspect of care with dignity and respect for the rights and wishes of the service user. The strength of HME has been in its personnel. I have been fortunate enough to work with and help establish a team of professional trainers and advisers who are constantly striving to improve their own and the company's performance.

I am an active Registered Member of National Back Exchange and a member of IOSH.

My work involves business development, marketing and Team CPD. I also take a very active hand in the delivery of services, which means delivering training at all levels from foundation to manager training and IOSH approved trainer development programmes for which HME are well known and respected.

My consultancy work is challenging and varied and includes the Delivery of Back Care Advisory Services to organisations such as NHS Trusts, Councils and the independent care sector. This involves auditing, advising on policy development, training needs analysis and management systems for manual handling.

A key motivating factor for me has always been to try and make work safer through effective training and improvement in the management of manual handling safety.

As a physiotherapist I have experienced the frustration and difficulty of treating severe musculoskeletal injury and made the connection very early on in my working life that ‘prevention is much better than cure’.

Whatever the project I would be very happy to discuss it further without obligation, please email me using the contact form and we can arrange a telephone call.

I look forward to hearing from you

Martin Hutchinson

I would like to commend HME for their excellent training course. The trainers were knowledgeable and professional but at the same time very supportive. The training materials are an excellent resource and have provided us with the sound foundation on which to build a quality training programme.Helen Dengel, Manual Handling Co-ordinator, Nottinghamshire County Council

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‘This has been a valuable partnership. Service users are benefiting from an improved service. There has been a complete change from poor management of manual handling to one where we are proactive. Managers closely monitor and support staff and manage risks. Staff clearly understand their responsibilities.’Pat Gallimore, Head of Direct Services, Derby City Council, Corporate and Adult Social Services

Martin Hutchinson is a network partner with Moss Health Skills