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In the UK, approximately 15 per cent of the physiotherapy workforce consists of non-registered support staff. In my early career as a physiotherapist, a support worker welcomed me to the unit and shared their expertise. This meant so much to me, and meant I was able to offer the best to my patients. And it’s just one example of the countless ways support workers create a profound impact through their work. Continuing professional development (CPD) is essential for all healthcare staff, including support workers. CPD ensures that staff stay up to date with skills and knowledge to practice

The commitment from NHS England (NHSE) to commission a review which will lay the groundwork for AHP safe and effective staffing levels is a significant step for the physiotherapy profession. In 2023, CSP members bravely took industrial action. One of the outcomes of this action was securing a seat for AHP unions at the NHSE Safe Staffing Working Group. This provided us an unprecedented opportunity to represent the voice of the physiotherapy professions and underscore the need for clear, evidence-based guidance around staffing for AHPs. The lack of such guidance to date has meant that, unlike

The CSP is pressing the ICB for clarity after members told us that contracts with the 13 MSK Any Qualified Provider (AQP) services were under review with plans to remove these sometime in early 2025. Though it's not clear what will replace these services, a service user consultation indicates several options are being considered including a package of group exercise, online education and other services. The CSP is seeking answers, pointing out that the demand for physio services should not be redistributed to other parts of the healthcare system without an increase in workforce, as this could

As we look ahead to 2024-25 and beyond, the commitment to investing an additional £22.6 billion in resource spending for the Department of Health and Social Care in 2025-26 is not only encouraging but essential for the future of our NHS. This substantial investment is set to empower the NHS in England to deliver an impressive 40,000 additional elective appointments each week. This commitment reflects the government’s determination to ensure that patients can expect to wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to consultant-led treatment. It’s a promise that will significantly enhance patient

On Tuesday I met with the Department of Health and Social Care ministers to champion the critical role physiotherapy staff have to play in re-shaping the NHS into a neighbourhood health service. But we know the government will not only be swayed by the voices of senior leaders – but the volume of voices from the frontline. You have so much insight and experience to contribute as the profession at the forefront of person-centred, closer-to-home care. I urge you to share those insights with the government as it launches the biggest consultation on the NHS in history. If you have anything to say

After an incredible weekend of insightful discussions at the CSP Annual Conference, it's clear that the conversations we started on data, digital and informatics have only just begun. Let's keep the momentum going by staying connected and sharing ideas! On Saturday, the second day of the conference, the CSP Physiotherapy Health Informatics Strategy (PHIS) team led a discussion with members about their challenges with using data, digital and informatics in their practice. We also discussed some solutions that they had implemented and what they might want from a group of like-minded members who

Starting in the spring with a larger five-person team, we will have got to over 100 workplaces by the end of the year in meetings attended by approximately 1,000 physiotherapists and support staff - in addition to holding dozens of virtual meetings with you. It has been an inspiring and energising experience. Lack of space to work, parking, equipment and staffing shortages, workload pressures and burnout, and on call policies were among the top issues cited by physios and support workers. We also heard about barriers to career progression; for example, members in Scotland raised accessing

What’s happening? Following their commitment to deliver new rights at work within their first 100 days, Labour’s new government have introduced the Employment Rights Bill, which will cover England, Scotland and Wales. Taken together, the Bill represents a clear break from recent governments’ stripping of employment protections, and has been broadly welcomed by the trade union movement. Among the Bill’s provisions are: The revocation of the previous government’s minimum services legislation, which would have seriously impinged healthcare workers’ right to strike. The verdict: The repeal of this

I am just back from the UK Labour conference in Liverpool. With Labour newly elected to government the CSP successfully expanded the physio presence there this year. We met with the new health secretary Wes Streeting and health ministers Stephen Kinnock, Andrew Gwynn and Karin Smyth. Liz Kendall the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones also met with us to hear about how rehab can support people back to work and save the taxpayer money. We also shared the importance of rehab for patients, and actor David Harewood tried out our new augmented

I started my physiotherapy training 40 years ago. Since then, I’ve been proud to call myself a chartered physiotherapist: I remember when physiotherapy was not a protected title, and being chartered was the way to distinguish ourselves as having had appropriate training to be working in the NHS and be registered with the predecessor of the HCPC. I have used the CSP for advice and guidance in the past, most notably when threatened with litigation, and witnessed the work it has done to progress our profession and enable it to evolve. Prior to moving to the far north of Scotland in 2020, I was a