Northern Ireland funding welcome but big issues such as pay remain, says CSP

Commenting on the news, Claire Ronald Senior Negotiating Officer for CSP Northern Ireland said,

“While this announcement is very welcome and will go some way towards tackling issues around waiting times and the transformation of services we are disappointed that the statement does not include a commitment to meet the Pay Review Body recommendations for 2015/16 for a 1% increase for staff pay.

“The CSP fully supports the Minister’s commitment to ensure that this increase in funding will be used to provide an ‘appropriately funded Health and Social Care system’ in Northern Ireland. 

“However, physiotherapists, nurses and other healthcare workers, who day in day out provide frontline services to those in need, are a central and essential component of that system. 

“Physiotherapists, and other healthcare workers have a key role in rehabilitation, helping people overcome the effects of illness and injury, and in helping the Department meet its pledge to reduce waiting lists.

“The CSP is concerned that failure to adequately address this issue will continue to widen the disparity in pay which now exists between the health service in Northern Ireland and other parts of the UK and ultimately have a negative effective on the availability and morale of the health and social care workforce in Northern Ireland.”

Ends

For further information please contact:

Tom Sullivan

Public Affairs & Policy Manager

Chartered Society of Physiotherapy

Arthur House

41 Arthur Street

Belfast BT1 4GB

Tel:   028 90446249

Mob: 07779651939

email sullivant@csp.org.uk

Note to editors

1. The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy is the UK’s professional, educational and trade union body. We have more than 54,000 members, including chartered physiotherapists, physiotherapy students and support workers.