New year, new start

The beginning of a new year is often a time when we think about change – both all that has changed in the year gone, and changes to come in the one coming. 

This month, we welcome John Cowman as the new chief executive of the CSP. 

John has said taking on the role is the ‘greatest privilege’, and describes stepping into the role – having started his career as a physio in Ireland – as ‘beyond a dream’. 

The other members of CSP Council and I involved in the recruitment process were deeply impressed by John’s leadership experience and his passion for physiotherapy and championing the profession. 

In this month’s In Profile interview, Frontline talks to John to understand more about his career, his experience of research and leadership and his commitment to equity, diversity and belonging. 

With a regularity which seems to come round faster each time, for registered physios it’s now that time to be thinking about HCPC reregistration. This month’s guide explains all you need to know about the process this time, including things to think about should you be selected for audit. 

Another change announced last year by NHS England, but which will have increasing implications throughout 2024, is the intermediate care framework (ICF). The product of years of lobbying by the Community Rehabilitation Alliance (CRA), convened and co-chaired by the CSP, we explain what this – alongside the publication of a new model for community rehab – means for physios working in England.   

More broadly, advances in digital technologies continue apace and will have more and more impact on our profession in 2024. 

Euan McComiskie, the CSP’s health informatics lead, gives an overview of what you need to know and two innovators in this space are the highlight of our feature looking at this in more detail.  

Finally, in our Last Word this month we look at a successful trial of combining paediatric physio sessions with a pet as therapy (PAT) dog.

From Council and I, all our best wishes for the coming year.