Ella Cottle
Ella Cottle is Graduating with a BSc (Hons) in Physiotherapy
Ella Cottle earned a First Class Honours in Physiotherapy and is now using the trauma of her teenage years to inform her work as a physiotherapist.
“I am so excited to see my friends and lecturers and catch up with how everyone is finding being qualified,”. “It feels really satisfying and rewarding that we get to come together and have this day with our friends, families and lecturers.”
In 2011, Ella was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, a tumour on her pelvis and spine, aged just 14 and underwent a year of chemotherapy. She has been in remission since 2012, but her interest in her profession came directly from her own experiences. Due to the tumour’s position, many of Ella’s nerves were damaged, particularly affecting her right leg. Ella had intense physiotherapy for a year and during this time worked with a physiotherapist who inspired her career choice.
Ella was drawn to study at Worcester. “I chose Worcester because of how comfortable I felt during my interview and how I felt really at home,” she said. “One of my interviewers was so lovely and kind, I distinctly remember coming away knowing I wanted to come to Worcester. Worcester never felt like an intimidating, big city university, something that appealed to me.”
Her hard work paid off, with two academic scholarships, awarded by the University in recognition of high achievement, for her first and second year results. “I really enjoyed my time at Worcester and felt incredibly supported throughout my studies. I think the support I had from my tutor, lecturers and friends is the reason I am enjoying work, feeling confident and falling back on all the learning we did.”
Ella had planned to do her final placement at Bristol’s Children’s Hospital where she had been treated, but, with that cancelled in the lockdown, she got a placement at the Royal United Hospital instead. She said: “Having our final placement during the pandemic was really challenging as we were still learning and having to wrap our heads around everything, but I learnt so so much and also got my job because of it!”
She now works as a physiotherapist at the Royal United Hospital in Bath. “I just love being able to help people and use my experience,” she said. “It gives my being ill a purpose and a reason because I use all of that to be able to help and look after people.
“I am enjoying every second of being qualified and hope to continue to progress within the NHS until I feel confident enough to specialise. There’s a lot of areas I hope to experience before, but I hope to specialise in neuro physiotherapy.”