Workforce strategy a further boost for patients in Northern Ireland, says CSP

Responding to the Department of Health’s publication of the workforce strategy, Delivering for our People, Tom Sullivan, Public Affairs & Policy Manager for CSP Northern Ireland said,

‘We very much welcome this strategy and in particular the acknowledgement that capitalising on the knowledge, expertise and professional experience of the AHP workforce will be critical.

‘It follows last week’s announcement on the rollout of multi-disciplinary teams in GP practices including the establishment of first contact physiotherapist roles and taken as a whole, is good news for patients and for all staff working in health and social care in Northern Ireland.’

Claire Ronald, CSP Senior negotiating Officer and a member of the workforce steering group, added:

‘While there are many positive objectives in this strategy, including a commitment to produce a health and wellbeing framework, it bears repeating that health and social care staff in Northern Ireland are still the lowest paid in the UK.

‘This is something that must be addressed as a matter of urgency if Northern Ireland is to compete on a level playing field in attracting, recruiting and retaining the workforce needed to deliver the health and social care that patients deserve.’

The publication Health and Social Care Workforce Strategy 2026: Delivering for Our People can be found here. 

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