The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) responds to Lord Darzi’s final report of the NHS Next Stage Review

Chartered Society of Physiotherapy logo for press releases

Monday, 30, Jun 2008 12:00

Responding to Lord Darzi’s final report of the NHS next stage review today, Phil Gray, Chief Executive of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy comments:

‘Physiotherapists, like other Allied Health Professionals (AHPs), recognise the value of quality of life, not only to the individual but to society as a whole. The ’whole person’ approach of physiotherapy encourages high quality, needs focussed service provision that has at its centre the support of the individual and if appropriate their carers, throughout the entire pathway of care.

‘A quality service recognises the importance of:

· access to the right service/professionals at the right time - in this way physiotherapists can, for example, help reduce unplanned admission to hospital for people living with a long term condition or prevent the onset of long term incapacity as a result of musculoskeletal problems common in the working age population

· choice of service - what, how, where and when - the recent self-referral pilot projects in physiotherapy have demonstrated how greatly people, especially the older age group, value having the option and how much such a system encourages personal responsibility for health and well-being and faster return to function

· the dignity of the individual and seeing the patient as a person - listening to and valuing the knowledge and views of the person are fundamental tenets of the physiotherapy approach that focuses on capability and potential rather than disability

· the bio psychosocial approach of physiotherapy upon integration of care - AHPs are increasingly recognised as the integrators of care for their role in supporting the individual along their care pathway as well as at specific points. Working in a variety of settings and roles such as orthopaedic triage in hospitals or working with people living with cancer in their homes to enable them to manage their situation and condition more effectively, physiotherapists are well placed to act as clinical leaders across multi-disciplinary and multi-agency teams to deliver such high quality services.

‘The Review recognises the changing demands and expectations we all have of the NHS and physiotherapy looks forward to playing a key role in achieving the aspirations identified for delivering a quality NHS.’

For further information contact the CSP press office on 020 7306 6616

For further information, please reply to pressoffice@csp.org.uk