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Strong Local Voice, Strong Local ChampionAnnette Brooke, Lib Dem MP for Mid Dorset & North Poole |
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Annette Brooke MP Hears Concerns that Physiotherapy Services are ‘Stretched to the Limit’
January 25, 2012 12:15 PM
Mid Dorset and North Poole MP Annette Brooke met with physiotherapists at the House of Commons last week to hear their concerns about the impact of budget constraints on physiotherapy services.
Annette was told that patients are waiting longer for treatment as NHS physiotherapy services struggle to cope with budget cuts and staff shortages.
She was attending the parliamentary launch of 'Stretched to the Limit', a hard-hitting report from the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) which draws on an analysis of statistics gained through an audit of all primary care trusts (PCTs) in England using freedom of information laws; plus two separate surveys of physiotherapy managers.
The audit found that in the worst case, patients are waiting up to 27 weeks to access physiotherapy, potentially causing their condition to worsen.
Nearly two thirds of managers surveyed by the CSP said they do not expect to have sufficient resources to meet demand for physiotherapy services this financial year.
Commenting on the report, Annette said: "Physiotherapy services play a vital role in the treatment and support of thousands of my constituents with a wide range of health conditions. It is crucial that these services are protected to ensure people have prompt access to the high quality care and outcomes that physiotherapy provides."
The 'Stretched to the Limit' report also found:
- More than half (57 per cent) of physiotherapy managers reported cuts to patient services.
- Nearly 60 per cent said these cuts had, or would, reduce the number of treatment sessions a patient could receive.
- One in four managers said patient safety was compromised by cuts they were experiencing.
- 70 per cent of managers who reported safety concerns had also seen cuts in specialist physio posts and 'down-banding' in their workplace - the cost-saving practice of reducing the responsibilities of a post so that it can be filled by a less-experienced physiotherapist.
Phil Gray, Chief Executive of the CSP said: "This report paints a disturbing picture of what is happening right now to NHS physiotherapy services across the country. Patients are waiting longer to get the physiotherapy treatment they need, which increases the risk that their condition will worsen."
The full report is available to read on the CSP website: http://www.csp.org.uk/sites/files/csp/secure/stretched-to-the-limit-2012.pdf.
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