Strong endorsement for physiotherapy in NHS plan for England

A pledge to create more first contact physiotherapist roles and greater access to rehabilitation across a range of conditions are among a number of eye-catching references to the profession in the 134-page document.

The proposals echo those put forward by the CSP to NHS England during a consultation period ahead of the plan being drafted.

The plan was ordered by the government as part of the new funding settlement announced last year and sets out the priorities for the service in the coming years.

It calls for greater action on inequalities and prevention and delivering more care ‘at the right time in the optimal setting’.

Prof Karen Middleton, chief executive of the CSP, said:

This is a very encouraging plan for the NHS, the physiotherapy profession and for our patients.

‘It marks the clear shift towards providing services in the community that we have long called-for, and places an emphasis on prevention.

‘It explicitly sets out the integral role physiotherapy staff, including first contact physiotherapists, will make in delivering this transformation.

‘Crucially, it also sets out targets on rehabilitation across a number of conditions, which will serve to focus minds when designing and commissioning services.

‘We will go through the detail in the coming days and it is already obvious that there remain unanswered questions about workforce and social care funding, among other issues. These must be addressed if we are to achieve the success the plan aspires to.

‘But as a blueprint for how the NHS should proceed with physiotherapy playing a crucial role, there is a lot to like in this plan.

The CSP will be providing updates on the detail of the plan in the coming days.