Latest Blogs

Today’s Kings’ Speech was the annual chance for the UK government to set out its plans for the coming year. The centerpiece is always a list of new legislation being introduced to parliament. Looking at the lists, there are only limited ways in which the government’s plans directly impact physios, support workers and physio students. NHS in England The expected NHS Modernisation Bill was announced today. There has been a lot of speculation about the bill in light of talk that the health secretary, Wes Streeting MP, might resign and challenge the prime minister for his job. Even if that happens

MPs in Westminster will have the opportunity to discuss the contribution of AHPs on Thursday 23 April, led by Dr Peter Prinsley MP and supported by Sonia Kumar MP, chair of the all-party parliamentary group on AHPs. This is a key opportunity to raise the profile of the contribution of physiotherapy among decision makers. Use the template email below to invite your MP to attend the debate. Please edit it before you send it! You could include information about the impact your services has on local population health, or any issues or barriers you are experiencing locally. You can find out who

For me and my partner, being a lesbian couple in education and on placement isn’t just about being ‘out’, it’s about constantly weighing up whether it feels safe to be. There’s often a small pause before one of us says something as simple as ‘my partner’ or uses ‘she’ in conversation. It’s rarely a big, deliberate decision, more a quick internal evaluation: who’s around, what’s the environment like, and is it worth correcting assumptions. It’s something we’ve both become used to, almost without realising. Even at university, around other students, it doesn’t always feel as comfortable as

In these politically uncertain times, it can sometimes be tricky to navigate life as a trans person, particularly in healthcare. As a student, I have seen that physiotherapy is built on good communication, and understanding the journey that patients take before coming to us fosters our ability to engage them in their own wellbeing. But it doesn’t always happen that way. My experiences as a transgender patient have been frustrating at times. I have had blood tests denied, my sexual history unnecessarily probed, and I have been waiting for five years for an initial appointment at a Gender

Research by Teesside University physiotherapy graduates has been showcased in a special exhibition in the Houses of Parliament, hosted by the University of Warwick. Max Hardingham and Gracie McLoughlin presented the research they carried out whilst studying for a BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy degree in the University's School of Health and Sciences. Max and Gracie travelled to Westminster in February to present their research to parliamentarians and policy makers. Max, now studying an MSc in strength and conditioning at Loughborough University, presented research examining the links between blood

Both the CSP and Long Covid Physio network submitted evidence to the enquiry. Baroness Hallett found that ‘collapse was only narrowly avoided because of the extraordinary efforts of all those working in healthcare across the UK. Their commitment and dedication were remarkable’. The report recommendations include improving NHS staffing levels and investing in urgent and emergency care capacity. During the pandemic physios and physio support workers were in the frontline in ICUs. The report highlights the challenges staff faced in this setting. Respiratory physiotherapy was critical to save

'When people ask what I do, I tell them pulmonary rehabilitation is where education and exercise come together to change everyday life. 'In clinic we talk a lot about metres walked, oxygen saturation and symptom scores, but the real currency is confidence – helping people feel in control of their breath and their day. 'As a physiotherapist working in pulmonary rehab, I see people living with chronic lung conditions such as COPD who often describe their world getting smaller because of breathlessness. 'My role starts with assessment – understanding where they are physically, but also how they

It's 50 years since the CSP first became an independent trade union. Since 1976, that decision has shaped who we are, how we support our members, and the role we play in advocating for the physiotherapy workforce across the UK.  Becoming a trade union strengthened the CSP’s collective voice and over the past five decades, the CSP has consistently championed both our members and the patients they serve. The CSP’s role as a trade union has been central to improving pay, conditions and professional standing for physiotherapists, physiotherapy support workers and students. A crucial part of this

Women are central to the CSP community, making up over 70 per cent of our membership. They also play a leading role in shaping the CSP community. With seven out of 11 CSP council members being women and many women playing a key role in leading CSP networks. Looking beyond the statistics, as member engagement officer at the CSP, I talked to student members about the women who influenced their journeys into physiotherapy. Flany Palha Flany, who is a third-year BSc Physiotherapy student at Cardiff University, said: ‘I was inspired by a specialist neuro physiotherapist I met while volunteering

We are told throughout our physiotherapy journey to take note of factors affecting learning, but do these factors affect who we are as students? As two Muslims in our final year of university, we’ve grown to realise how much a single conversation can provoke an attitude to learn. This same attitude paved the way for a myriad of change that gave us the confidence to speak up. From placements to exam considerations, we have always had to plan things in advance. These conversations become more frequent around the time we observe Ramadan. Our non-negotiables, such as fasting, praying on time, and