Transcript Document

IRISH SOCIETY OF CHARTERED
PHYSIOTHERAPISTS
Meeting with Joint Oireachtas Committee on
Health & Children
28th January 2009
ISCP Delegation:
Ms Annette Shanahan, President.
Ms Fiona McGrath, Chairperson.
Ms Mary Gorman, Vice Chairperson.
Mr Ruaidhri O’Connor, Chief Executive Officer.
INTRODUCTION
• Physiotherapists play a pivotal role in the
delivery of primary care services
• Physiotherapists need to be readily
accessible at local level, working as an
autonomous profession in partnership with
GPs and other health professionals
• Physiotherapists strive to provide an
equitable, appropriate and timely service
Early Intervention Reduces Disability
% Probability
Probability of return to work
100
75
50
25
0
Source: CSAG 1994
1
Time off Work (Years)
2
19
5
19 7
5
19 9
6
19 1
6
19 3
65
19
6
19 7
6
19 9
7
19 1
7
19 3
7
19 5
7
19 7
79
19
81
19
8
19 3
8
19 5
8
19 7
8
19 9
9
19 1
93
19
95
Millions of Days p.a.
Early Intervention Reduces
Disability
90
80
70
Days lost due to back pain
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Primary Care
• A number of initiatives in PCCC in recent years inclusive of
physiotherapy services
• Recent Health Statistics on PCCC physiotherapy services
indicate significant waiting times
• Long waiting lists for service in acute hospital outpatient
physiotherapy services reflect continuing unmet demands and
patient needs
• Average waiting times in acute hospitals outpatient
physiotherapy services currently = 16 weeks
• Best time = 6 weeks; Worst time = 1 year
Current Concerns
• 59% of 2008 physiotherapy graduates are
unemployed, working outside of physiotherapy, or
have emigrated
• 42% of 2007 graduates are similarly affected, with
only 16% in permanent employment
• Most now planning immediate emigration
• Confusion around titles of physiotherapist and
physical therapist, plus public safety concerns
Requested Actions
That this Committee urges the Minister
to:
• Recruit more physiotherapists for front
line services to maximise clinical
effectiveness and more efficient use of
public money
• Ensure public safety by achieving the
legal protection of the ‘physiotherapist’
and ‘physical therapist’ titles