Physiotherapists: Employment (Hansard, 6 June 1984)

§ Baroness Lane-Fox
My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

The Earl of Caithness
My Lords, the value of the service provided by the chartered physiotherapists is fully recognised by Her Majesty's Government. Members of this profession play an important part in the treatment and rehabilitation of patients both within the National Health Service and in private practice. Within the National Health Service the employment and use of physiotherapists is a matter for individual health authorities and depends largely on local needs and the resources. The work of physiotherapists in private practice is not a matter for which Her Majesty's Government have responsibility.

§ Baroness Lane-Fox
My Lords, I thank my noble friend for his reply. Is he aware that those of us who have benefited immeasurably through physiotherapy services are confident that pressure on NHS beds could be greatly reduced by increased domiciliary physiotherapy and by the teaching of preventive measures in schools and colleges? Can he say whether the Government will encourage these methods?

The Earl of Caithness
My Lords, with the encouragement of this Government the majority of health authorities throughout the country already provide, in various forms, a physiotherapy service in the community, which can include treatment of patients in their own homes. The form and extent of the services provided will depend on local needs and circumstances. The Government accept that the contribution of the profession to preventive education generally is an important one. How this contribution can best be developed is currently under discussion between the Health Education Council and the profession.

§ Lord Wells-Pestell
My Lords, as one who is walking today as a result of prolonged physiotherapy, may I ask the Minister whether he is aware how much we on this side of the Chamber appreciate the fact that he has said that the concern of the Government is the staffing of the National Health Service by physiotherapists? It is important that such a contribution is found in the National Health Service, and many of us hope that it will be increased.

The Earl of Caithness
My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord. I, too, have benefited from physiotherapy, and I think that the physiotherapists are doing a marvellous job.

§ Baroness Fisher of Rednal
My Lords, may I say to the noble Minister—

Noble Lords
No! Ask.

§ Baroness Fisher of Rednal
My Lords, I apologise. May I ask the noble Earl whether he is satisfied that many of the persons who are suffering from strokes are getting the full benefit of the physiotherapy services? I ask that because this is not the feeling that we have in the West Midlands, where (is the Minister aware?) many of the hospitals are not able to give to stroke patients the physiotherapy that is so essential for them to start life again.

The Earl of Caithness
My Lords, I do not know specifically about the West Midlands. As I have said, it is a matter that varies from area to area, and is kept under constant check. But I will draw to the attention of my right honourable friend the points raised by the noble Baroness.

Lord Winstanley
My Lords, in the light of what the noble Earl has told the House about the value of domiciliary physiotherapy services, may I ask him whether he is aware that the supply of those services in many areas in no way matches the demand, and that in urban areas it is becoming increasingly difficult to get home physiotherapy for the elderly?

The Earl of Caithness
My Lords, I do not think I can add to my last answer. I will of course make sure that note is taken of these points.

§ Baroness Masham of Ilton
My Lords, may I ask my noble kinsman number two whether he is aware that I have had seven most enjoyable years as president of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy? I should like to ask him when the review body's report on the professions allied to medicine is to be published; and, if any benefits to the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy are to come out of that. I hope they will not be from cuts in the existing National Health Service resources.

The Earl of Caithness
My Lords, I am not aware of a date for the publication of the report, and I do not think I can predict what it is going to say.

§ Lord Ennals
My Lords, this being June 6th, the anniversary of D-Day, is it not the most appropriate day for this Question to be asked? Is it not the case that very many of those who were wounded in Normandy—and I was felled by a machine-gun 40 years ago—are deeply indebted to physiotherapists for their ability to perform in any way however today? Will the noble Earl recognise, as the noble Lord, Lord Winstanley, has said, that there is a great shortage of physiotherapists? Though there may be 21,000 members of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, there are only 15,000 practising physiotherapists, and very few of them, relatively, are in the community. Is 621 he aware that the chartered society is very worried about the availability of funds for the training of more physiotherapists, which are very much needed in an ageing society and a society where people are discharged from hospital much earlier than used to be the case?

The Earl of Caithness
My Lords, I am aware of the concern that is felt on this point, and we are in discussions with the society.

§ Baroness Masham of Ilton
My Lords, may I ask one more question? Would it not speed up matters if GPs could refer patients directly to physiotherapists? Sometimes they have to go through consultants; there is such a long waiting list for patients to see consultants, and this holds up the whole issue.

The Earl of Caithness
My Lords, I would think that at the moment GPs can refer direct to a physiotherapist.

§ Baroness Lane-Fox
My Lords, will my noble friend the Minister say whether his answers can be taken to reassure the chartered society that its ability to provide better and more economic care in community health is well understood?

The Earl of Caithness
My Lords, indeed I can.

§ Lord Wells-Pestell
My Lords, is the Minister in a position to say how many physiotherapists are engaged in the National Health Service and how many in the private sector?

The Earl of Caithness
My Lords, yes. I think I am right in saying that there are about 9,000 whole time equivalents in the National Health Service.