SHORTAGE OF PHYSIOTHERAPISTS (Hansard, 17 November 1964)

§ LORD AUCKLAND
My Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

§ THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE, HOME OFFICE (LORD STONHAM)
My Lords, since 1961 increased numbers of students have started the three-year training course and, for this reason, I hope that from next year onwards more qualified physiotherapists will enter the National Health Service. Pay increases totalling 9½ per cent. were published on October 29. There is no general shortage of students for training, and the 34 schools, with an average annual intake of 900, are usually full. There has, however, been a persistent shortage of teachers, which has limited the opening of new schools. In recent years the average annual intake of student teachers has been only 20. Recent agreement with the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy has made it possible, however, to commence in January a new type of teacher training with the period reduced from two years to 17 months. The rates of pay for physiotherapy teachers have also been substantially increased. My hope that these measures will attract more physiotherapists to become teachers of their profession is reinforced by the fact that applications for the new training course, with an annual intake of 32 student teachers, are coming forward 492 satisfactorily. My right honourable friend intends to keep the position under close review.

§ LORD AUCKLAND
My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that very full Answer. May I ask him what guidance is being given to school-leavers and to careers masters and mistresses regarding careers in this profession?

§ LORD STONHAM
So far as school-leavers are concerned, a free leaflet on physiotherapists, in the series Careers in the Hospital Service, is issued by the Ministry of Health especially for school-leavers. With regard to guidance to careers mistresses and masters, it is an instruction to all youth employment officers in the Ministry of Labour that they should draw to the attention of those in charge of careers a booklet on physiotherapists which is included in the Choice of Careers series and an article on physiotherapists in the loose-leaf Careers Guide, both of which are purchased in large numbers by local education authorities.

§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILL
My Lords, could my noble friend tell me in writing whether what he has said about physiotherapists applies equally to all professions supplementary to medicine? Because, as he knows, there is a grave shortage in each one of these professions.

§ LORD STONHAM
Yes, my Lords, as my noble friend will be aware, I do know that there is a grave shortage in other professions supplementary to medicine, although it varies according to the particular specialty and, indeed, according to the area. But I would suggest to my noble friend that the best way of eliciting that information would be to put down a Question, which I should be glad to answer.

§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILL
I suggested that my noble friend should give me the information in writing. I did not ask for it now.

§ LORD STONHAM
I shall be very pleased to do so.

§ LORD NEWTON
My Lords, is the noble Lord aware how very welcome it is to know that those on his side of the House now take a much more optimistic view of this profession than they did when they sat on this side?

§ LORD STONHAM
My Lords, the noble Lord will also be aware that, even in the short space of lour weeks, new steps have been taken in the matter, and I have given details of some of them. My right honourable friend has discovered that there is, in fact, no uniform standard of staffing used by employing authorities for the employment of physiotherapists, and he is now considering whether it is feasible to devise better estimates of requirements so that we shall know the real need.

§ BARONESS HORSBRUGH
My Lords, could the noble Lord say what steps have been taken in the last four weeks?

§ LORD STONHAM
My Lords, I have just mentioned one of them; and perhaps the noble Lady will have noticed my mention of the new school which is coming along and which will in fact be sited within the constituency of my right honourable friend the Minister of Health.