CSP to discuss role of AHPs with minister and health committee in Northern Ireland

^{The meetings will discuss the benefits of physiotherapy in primary care}

The meetings will be with the Northern Ireland health minister and the Northern Ireland Assembly health committee. They follow the release of a briefing paper on the role of AHPs in healthcare reform and developing primary and community care, published by the committee in December.

The document included details of the benefits for patients, GPs and local health economies of using physios as a first point of contact in primary care.

The meetings, due to take place on 11 and 12 January, will see the AHP Federation NI press for a formal inquiry by the health committee into the role of AHPs in primary care.

CSP Northern Ireland public affairs and policy manager, Tom Sullivan, will represent the CSP at the meetings, and said they would: ‘Provide an opportunity to promote the contribution of physiotherapy in delivering on the health minister’s vision for the transformation of health and social services, particularly in relation to the current challenges in primary care.

‘Similarly, the roundtable event with the NI Assembly Health Committee will provide a platform to outline in more detail the role of physiotherapists as first point of contact practitioners in primary care and the benefits of extending direct access to physiotherapy across Northern Ireland.’