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As we look ahead to 2024-25 and beyond, the commitment to investing an additional £22.6 billion in resource spending for the Department of Health and Social Care in 2025-26 is not only encouraging but essential for the future of our NHS. This substantial investment is set to empower the NHS in England to deliver an impressive 40,000 additional elective appointments each week. This commitment reflects the government’s determination to ensure that patients can expect to wait no longer than 18 weeks from referral to consultant-led treatment. It’s a promise that will significantly enhance patient

I am just back from the UK Labour conference in Liverpool. With Labour newly elected to government the CSP successfully expanded the physio presence there this year. We met with the new health secretary Wes Streeting and health ministers Stephen Kinnock, Andrew Gwynn and Karin Smyth. Liz Kendall the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones also met with us to hear about how rehab can support people back to work and save the taxpayer money. We also shared the importance of rehab for patients, and actor David Harewood tried out our new augmented

Labour are in the same position as someone who has acquired a potentially wonderful but very run-down house. Like many people who buy a dream home doer upper, they didn’t have the option of renovating it before they moved in. They will have to project manage change whilst putting up with the state the home is in now. They fear that they only have the money to do some improvements at a time, unless their plan to bring in more income through a better job works out. They are excited but also anxious because of the scale of the project and how long it might take to create their dream home. It may

At the CSP it’s not our job to tell you who to vote for but we do urge members to look at what the parties are offering and to use your vote. Manifestos are never comprehensive, so it is not simple to judge what a party will do beyond their headline manifesto commitments. CSP policy asks of all politicians for the general election have been clear: Transform rehabilitation Expand and develop the workforce needed to deliver better care Deliver fair pay and conditions to retain staff. A range of other issues will be important to members in deciding how to vote in the election including the

Our three asks for the next government are: Transform rehabilitation to improve quality of life for patients, reduce pressure on the most costly parts of health and social care and help address the growing numbers of people unable to work. Address workforce shortages. We can’t transform rehab without an expanded profession from apprentices through to consultants. Fair pay. Without fair pay and more flexible working the NHS will struggle to attract and retain people. Although manifestos have not yet been issued, we have some idea of where the main parties stand. The Conservatives want

More than 2.8 million people are currently unable to work due to ill health or impairment. While 22 per cent of working-age people were economically inactive in February, according to official figures. This is a big problem for those who want to work and for an economy short of labour post Brexit. So it isn’t surprising politicians are worried. It should be no surprise that ill health and impairment are the main reasons for the growth in worklessness given: The long-term impacts of physical and mental health issues during Covid-19 and due to ongoing Long Covid The health impacts of the cost of

The Conservative government has been pushing for more use of independent providers to provide NHS services for some time: NHS to expand use of private sector to tackle waits But this week Labour’s shadow health secretary Wes Streeting MP has been in the news for discussing the role of the private sector in NHS services. Whilst saying he would never privatise the NHS, he hit out at people who can afford to use private healthcare themselves but want to prevent the NHS using independent sector capacity to treat those who can’t afford to go private but are on long NHS waiting lists. The CSP

These blogs will update members on the forthcoming UK general election. We start with a look at the May local elections in England and Wales and why they should be important to physios, physio support workers and physio students. Why should you pay attention to the local elections? The local elections in England and Wales will be seen by the media as a referendum on the UK Conservative government. Expect to see the state of the NHS as a key topic of debate. The Conservatives will defend their record by pointing to record numbers of staff and spending. Labour and other opposition parties will

Self-employed physios and small business owners have limited options when it comes to the fees insurers, or their intermediaries, are willing to pay. Most physios have to take what is on offer. There is no negotiation as the power in this market is entirely one sided. This is the real market abuse, not the prospect of physios seeking a fair deal from insurers. Seeking routes to change Many independent practitioner members want the CSP, as their union, to negotiate with insurers on their behalf, just as we do with employers. For many years we have advised this isn’t possible for legal reasons

Progress on rehab? On Wednesday Stephen Barclay set out his vision for the NHS in England. He highlighted an earlier announcement of £500million to address delayed discharge. Access to rehab helps people out of hospital, prevents readmission and improves quality of life. In his comments he specifically suggested that local bodies can use this funding to pay for physios to support people at home. The CSP has long argued for better community rehab services, and the inclusion of this is a sign that we are having traction within NHS England. It is a success for us and a good step in the right