CSP put forward and supported vital motions on health and social care, international recruitment and expanding the AHP workforce at this year’s Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) in Dundee.
The 2023 congress was dominated by the major issues impacting workers in Scotland, including the rising cost of living, the challenges facing of public services including the NHS, threats to trade union rights, the economy and climate change.
CSP sent a full delegation to the event and raised a motion on health and social care, which directly addressed this year's winter crisis in the NHS.
The motion stated that ‘the focus of crisis has been on hospital care, but improved access to primary care, social care and rehabilitation are essential to ease pressure on the acute sector; and a whole systems approach must prioritise rehabilitation services, which prevent and reduce hospital admissions, speed up discharge from hospital, and reduce reliance on social care.’
In her speech proposing the motion, CSP delegation leader Claire Craig said: ‘AHPs, particularly physiotherapists, are rehab experts, and have the clinical expertise and autonomy to lead services...
Without the rehab input to these step-down care facilities to actively promote recovery, nothing changes. The time for implementing Rehab and Recovery: A person centred approach is right now!
Increase AHP recruitment
In another motion, CSP sought support for AHP international recruitment in the NHS to match resources and materials available to other professions and called on the STUC general council to ‘ensure during discussions with the Scottish government that support is appropriate and available for overseas recruitment for all professions.’
Support for international recruitment is a vital to valuing equality and diversity in the NHS and ensure that international recruits are supported in their role.
CSP also supported a motion on NHS recruitment proposed by the British Dietetic Association, calling on the Scottish Government to increase the number of AHP student places available in Scottish Universities; and extend the current bursary scheme for student nurses, midwives and paramedics to all AHP professions.
All three motions were overwhelmingly carried.
CSP delegates also took time out to meet STUC deputy general secretary Dave Moxham on the final day of congress.
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