CSP Student Rep Spotlight: Stuart Nethercote, Queen Margaret University, reflects on his work as a student rep promoting the CSP letter writing campaign on the sustainability of the workforce in Scotland, its impact on healthcare outcomes and why you should put yourself forward to be our next student rep.
‘My name is Stuart and I am a second year undergraduate student and CSP rep at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh. Reflecting on my previous year as a CSP rep, I want to share a success we achieved within Queen Margaret University in relation to CSP work, and demonstrate how much impact you can have by becoming a student rep.
Earlier this year, the CSP ran a letter writing campaign, with the goal of improving the sustainability of the physiotherapy workforce in Scotland and increasing the number of funded training places for undergraduate students.
Conversations with not only fellow students but working professionals revealed to me the impact this dearth of physiotherapists was having on health care outcomes across the country.
As such, I, along with many students and lecturers at Queen Margaret University, felt compelled to contribute, and we consequently produced a detailed letter addressed to our local MPs. This letter outlined the issues caused by the national physiotherapy shortage and was signed by dozens of students and staff members across the university. We circulated this letter to our local MPs, in turn triggering an ‘early day motion’ which was later discussed in parliament. The parliamentary discussion included experiences from physiotherapists working across different areas within NHS Scotland who are struggling with providing a high quality of care to patients amidst workforce shortages in their teams and difficulties recruiting staff to vacant posts.
The CSP have called for a planned expansion of physiotherapy training places in Scotland. Such expansion should seek to widen participation and diversity to reflect Scottish society, and ensure a workforce supply capable of meeting the demand in the NHS and the health needs of Scotland. Many MSPs joining the debate recognised how important physiotherapy is and the need to prioritise and invest in it to keep up with patient demand and ensure the future of the health service.
It was truly inspiring to see the impact this campaign had in raising awareness of a critical issue at the highest level. To play a small role in that was an honour.
I look forward to further working with the CSP throughout my career and continue to positively affect change.’
To learn more about the CSP student rep system and how to put yourself forward for this exciting leadership role, see our student rep guidance pages
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