Next steps for the Long Term Plan in primary and community services

NHS England has consulted on five service specifications, setting out how primary and community services need to transform, to meet the aims of the long-term plan. In our response, the CSP advocated for the crucial role of physiotherapy staff in patient-centred care.

Key points from consultation responses

We believe the following with be essential to enabling physiotherapy staff to transform primary and community services.

Roll out of first contact physiotherapists (FCP), as an important way to free up GPs’ time.
Recognize the critical role physiotherapists and support workers play in improving care and rehabilitation in the community, for people with multiple long-term conditions and those living in care homes.
Support FCPs to take the lead on shared decision-making in MSK services.
Enable physiotherapists to support medicines optimisation, including as independent prescribers.
Expand the physiotherapy workforce and develop more physiotherapists with advanced practice skills.
Develop the support worker workforce in community rehabilitation.
Help to improve data collection by better aligning systems, giving more physiotherapists access to these systems and making effective mobile hardware available.