CSP responds to the spending review

Catherine Pope: 'Overall, the review offers a mixed prognosis.'

Catherine Pope, Chair of Council at the CSP, said:

‘The Government’s commitment to additional NHS funding is welcome, but overall the comprehensive spending review offers a mixed prognosis.

‘We need to see extra funding targeted at expanding preventative services such as physiotherapy in GP surgeries and falls prevention.

‘Allowing direct access to physiotherapy in GP practices could save the NHS over £525m by freeing up GP time, reducing follow-up appointments and minimising hospital referrals.

‘Decisions to reduce one area of health spending inevitably increases demand and costs elsewhere in the system. That’s why cutting the public health budget is deeply flawed.

'Likewise, pressure on councils will place a further squeeze on social care leading to increased hospitals admissions, more delayed discharges and growing demand for care home places.

‘We know we need 500 extra physiotherapists trained each year to meet service demands. The CSP needs to be assured that the proposed change to student funding will guarantee the sustainability of high quality training courses, promote fair access and ensure there are enough physiotherapists.

‘Putting off today’s challenges only risks storing up bigger costs for tomorrow.’

Note to editors

For further information please call the CSP press office on 020 7306 1111, email pressoffice@csp.org.uk. Out of hours please call Jon Ryan, head of press and PR, on 07917 091200, Ben Wealthy, senior media advisor, on 07771765172 or John Millington, PR and social media officer, on 07766 994141.

1. The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy is the UK’s professional, educational and trade union body. We have more than 52,000 members, including chartered physiotherapists, physiotherapy students and support workers.