Year published: 2017
Summary of points
- Workforce expansion is required to make savings in health and care spending – this includes a growing need for physiotherapists with advanced practice skills (achieved through Master’s level education).
- The Departments of Health and Education urgently need to agree and clarify how Master’s level pre-registration students for physiotherapy, other AHPs and midwifery will be funded from 2018/19 – the lack of clarity is putting these courses at risk
- The Departments should consider extending the financial support being provided for Master’s level student nurses to physiotherapists and other allied health professions
- In taking accountability for the changes to health education funding, the Government must evaluate what the progress has been towards the intended expansion of 10,000 additional healthcare students by 2020 by profession.
- The Departments of Health and Education need to work together to support a reformed approach to workforce planning for the NHS and wider health economy.
- This needs to inform deployment of government subsidy for health education and training, including through the new Office of Students