In perspective: Physiotherapy Works for social care

Physios were once described as the ‘integrators of care’ because of the work they do at the interface between health and social care.

This work delivers significant savings by reducing the need for ongoing care and support packages.

The cost of a care package at home is £415 a week, rising to £1,331 depending on need. The average cost of a residential home placement in the UK is £27,200 a year rising to £37,500 for nursing care.

Physios can reduce these costs through prevention, early intervention and rehabilitation and, at £34 a session, provide excellent value for money.

But despite these obvious benefits, physios are not currently being utilised to their full potential in social care. The CSP hopes to change with a new social care policy briefing that makes the case for greater use of physiotherapy in integrated settings and in social care.

The briefing, Physiotherapy works for social care, has received strong feedback from social care and third sector organisations. It was launched at events in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.

The five R's of physiotherapy and social care

• Resilience: physiotherapists build resilience for the long term by supporting self management and training families, carers and care professionals to deliver care safely and effectively and facilitate reintegration back into the community

• Results: physiotherapy is cost effective and gets results. By creating resilience in people through empowering them to take control of their own lives, and through training carers and families, care packages will be reduced again – saving resources in both the health and social care sectors

• Rehab and reablement: physios are experts in rehabilitation and reablement and can reverse a deterioration in ability. By enabling people to live more independent lives, through reversing the worsening in their function or ability, less is spent on providing care and resources are saved

• Responsiveness: physiotherapy is an autonomous profession, with no need for a medical referral, allowing practitioners to react quickly to changing needs. This responsiveness means less impact on the person’s life and that of their families – and less cost for social care providers too.

Physiotherapy is at its best when it pulls people back out of hospitals into their own homes and communities, supporting them not just to live longer but to live really well and enjoy those extra years.

The briefing Physiotherapy Works for social care shows how physiotherapy is, and can be, at the heart of integrated health and social care. We hope it supports you to deliver the services we know are so badly needed.

Please use the briefing to help you make the case and share your success with me. 

Physiotherapy works for social care