It defines the specialty,

its work, the competencies of its practitioners and its relationships to other medical disciplines and professions allied to health. It also aims to ensure that PRM is seen as a European specialty, where high quality practitioners working to good standards of care can practise in accordance with the evidence-base and within the context of their differing national practices. In doing so, the book describes training and skills of PRM specialists in detail. It also gives the underlying principles of specialised rehabilitation, which will allow policy makers, health planners, medical and paramedical colleagues to identify how PRM works and how it can assist the process of allowing people with disabilities to participate fully in Society.

The Book has been produced by the UEMS Section of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine under the authorship of its President and Chairman of the Professional Practice Committee and the President of the Académie Européenne de Médecine de Réadaptation. It has been adopted by the three bodies representing the specialty in Europe as a whole, the Section for Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine of the Union Européenne des Médecins Spécialistes, the Académie Européenne de Médecine de Réadaptation and the European Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, whose participation give it its authority.

We, the editors have been assisted by the contributions from across Europe, but have developed the text in the interests of ensuring a uniform presentation and consistent approach. Considerable thought has gone into producing a document, which fits into the systems across Europe in the light of some of the national differences. In particular, we would like to thank those who have contributed for their considerable effort to produce a truly pan-European work: The names have been listed in alphabetical order above.

The White Book is available via Section’s website on www.euro-prm.org or through the General Secretariat of the UEMS Section.