Scottish government outlines community physio rehab plan

The draft plan, which includes targets aimed specifically at AHPs, is also the first of its kind in the UK.

Among its key proposals is to redirect AHP resources in the NHS so that 70 per cent of activity is based in the community by 2015, alongside a 50 per cent increase in community rehabilitation.

AHPs will work in integrated teams under new health and social care partnerships.

Introducing the consultation, public health minister Michael Matheson said: ‘AHPs are the only professions expert in rehabilitation at the point of registration and bring a different perspective to the planning and delivery of services.

They are uniquely placed to exploit their expertise in rehabilitation/enablement and leadership across health and social care and to drive integration at the point of care.’

Other significant proposals include:

• AHP directors to work towards ensuring that emergency admission services have dedicated access to physiotherapy

• AHP directors to continue to ensure redesigned musculoskeletal pathways are implemented within NHS boards

• By 2014 , self-referral should be the primary access route into services.

Chief health professions officer for Scotland Jacqui Lunday said: ‘The development of an AHP Delivery Plan will be a first for Scotland and for the UK.

This consultation is an important step to ensuring that we develop a plan which is ambitious as well as achievable and will provide a strategic platform for future AHP activity.’

Welcoming the proposals, CSP policy officer for Scotland Kenryck Lloyd-Jones said: ‘The draft plan sets out ambitious proposals which seek to better integrate and utilise the skills of all AHPs, not least physiotherapists.

‘Although budget restraints remain a backdrop into the future, physiotherapy has the potential to save costs elsewhere.

CSP Scotland will be consulting with members and making a full response to the consultation.’

Written responses to the consultation are invited by 31 March. A final delivery plan will be published in the spring.

See: www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2012/02/8445