Physiotherapy to be at heart of Primary Care

Richard_Scope

There has been a pledge to create more first contact physiotherapist roles and greater access to physiotherapies for Cerebral Palsy and across a range of conditions.

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."

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forgoodnesssake

This is all very (potentially) good news...but i wonder about this: "Crucially, it also sets out targets on rehabilitation across a number of conditions, which will serve to focus minds when designing and commissioning services." 

The word "rehabilitation" still sounds like defined periods of acute therapy to restore function rather than the ongoing and long term "maintenance" therapeutic input that so many adults with CP actually need.

Richard_Scope

I am hopeful that the targets on rehabilitation will be in 'addition to' any long term therapy required. I don't think it means one or the other? 

forgoodnesssake

Let's hope so!