The inclusion of rehabilitation as a core component in the UK government's 10-year health plan for the NHS in England is a landmark moment, the CSP says.
After months of anticipation, the government today released a plan that promises to overhaul how and where patients receive care.
The plan contains multiple references to physiotherapy and rehab is listed as an essential element of its central policy – the creation of neighbourhood health services.
These services will be built around the needs of people and provide access to multiple professions under one roof.
Included in the plan is the creation of more advanced practice allied health profession roles in community and public health and also expanded use of self-referral to musculoskeletal services.
The profession was also cited as an important part of the government's vision in a newspaper article written by health secretary Wes Streeting.
CSP chief executive John Cowman welcomed the growing recognition of physiotherapy:
We’re pleased the government recognises the pivotal role of community rehabilitation in its neighbourhood health services.
High-quality, personalised rehab delivered near people’s homes has long been our vision, so its inclusion marks a major step forward for healthcare in England.
‘To turn this vision into reality, the NHS and its local partners must adopt best-practice rehab standards, invest in suitable community spaces, and recruit many more physiotherapists and support workers.
‘We will now scrutinise the finer points of the plan, assessing what the reforms mean for physiotherapy practice and for patients who rely on timely, high-quality rehabilitation.’
The plan also includes the testimony of one physiotherapist who felt they had to leave the NHS after two decades because they were no longer able to focus on best patient care due to increasing bureaucracy and ‘box-ticking’ - a sentiment shared by many CSP members.
The plan signals three sweeping changes: a decisive push from analogue systems to digital solutions, a migration of services from hospitals into neighbourhood settings, and a re-orientation of the entire service from treating sickness to preventing it.
The CSP has previously welcomed the the strong emphasis on predicting and preventing illness as physiotherapy-led interventions will play a huge role in this, from fall-prevention programmes to musculoskeletal support and chronic-condition management.
CSP staff are analysing the plan and will provide updates on our website and social media.
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