The CSP has supported a decision by the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists (ISCP) to advise chartered physiotherapists practising in Ireland not to register with the Irish Physiotherapists Registration Board.
The CSP is backing the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists' decision
The new official register of physiotherapists in Ireland was opened at the end of last month and is run by the country’s Health and Social Care Professionals Council (CORU).
The ISCP’s decision follows what it says is backtracking by Irish health ministers on protecting the titles of physiotherapist and physical therapist in Ireland.
Chair of the CSP UK council, Catherine Pope, said: ‘The public need to know that when they are treated by a physiotherapist the person is properly qualified.
‘Ensuring that only properly qualified clinicians can call themselves physiotherapists or physical therapists helps ensure quality of care and public safety.’
The fundamental purpose of the Physiotherapists Registration Board should be to enhance patient protection and improve public confidence, Ms Pope said.
‘However, having spoken to colleagues in the ISCP it is clear that the registration board as currently proposed significantly diminishes the extent of public protection originally intended. Allowing people who are not qualified physiotherapists to register means that there will continue to be less protection for patients in the Republic, when compared with the north.’
President of the Irish Society of Physiotherapy, Jill Long, added: ‘We look forward to engaging with the minister and with CORU to ensure that only properly qualified clinicians can call themselves physiotherapists or physical therapists, so that the public are protected.’
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