What do Wes Streeting and David Harewood have in common? They were among many influential figures who heard about the value of rehab and the importance of physiotherapy from the CSP at recent party conferences
We have a new UK government in power. Important decisions are being made about the future of the NHS. At this pivotal moment, the CSP took the voice of the physiotherapy profession to the top table of political decision makers at a number of party conferences.
Party conferences are an annual get together of political parties. Party members and leaders come together to talk about policies, set priorities, and connect with key voices. In 2024, the CSP has had presence at the conferences of many political parties across the UK. There was a significant presence at Labour conference as they are now the party in government within Westminster.
Who did we meet?
At Labour party conference, CSP leaders had one-to-one discussions with every health minister in the current government – including health and social care secretary Wes Streeting. Streeting warmly praised the dedication and commitment of NHS workers and welcomed CSP’s offer of working with him as he developed implementation plans for the NHS.
CSP staff also met with Liz Kendall, the secretary of state for work and pensions, and chief secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones – presenting the positive economic benefit properly funded physiotherapy can offer.
Presenting the case for rehab
Streeting and health ministers speak of three big shifts they want to make in healthcare: from analogue to digital, from hospital to community and from sickness to prevention. The CSP made the case that adequate investment in rehabilitation and physiotherapy is essential if we are to achieve the last two.
The CSP was not alone in championing rehabilitation. Many members of the CSP-convened Community Rehabilitation Alliance (CRA), which unites 65 charities, patient organisations and professional bodies, were active at the Labour Party conference. Together, we emphasised the message that rehab must be considered to be as important as medicine and surgery within new healthcare reforms.
A new digital immersive experience, co-funded by CRA partner the Taskforce for Lung Health, allowed conference goers to experience what it’s like to go through rehab from patient ‘Alice’s’ point of view.
Even actor David Harewood walked in Alice’s shoes when he visited the CSP stand.
‘The CSP is here at the heart of government’
Ruth Jones, MP for Newport West and Islwy, chair of the Welsh affairs select committee, and former physiotherapist spoke of the importance of the CSP’s presence at Labour conference when she visited the stand: ‘It’s fantastic to see the CSP here at the heart of the new government being able to influence.
It’s really important that all aspects of physiotherapy are described so the politicians really get how fundamentally important physiotherapy is within the NHS and beyond.
The CSP is the only organisation taking the voice of the physiotherapy profession to the top decision-making tables, and it is only possible because of the fees paid by members.
The NHS – a neighbourhood health service?
The CSP hosted a fringe event during the conference – with CSP assistant director Sara Hazzard, and co-chair of the CRA, sitting on a panel alongside Anna Dixon MP, the chief executive of the King’s Fund Sarah Woolnough and the chief executive of the Richmond Group of charities Duleep Allirajah. The discussion highlighted what it will take to create the ‘neighbourhood health service’ this government has promised.
Sara said: ‘In our fringe event, we argued for delivery on the seemingly positive intentions of government on behalf of the physio and wider workforce. We have heard the big promises before. Now is the moment when they must be delivered.
‘Our message is loud and clear – we need the funding, the workforce and change in what’s counted to truly deliver the right to rehab that people, and the system, so desperately need.
‘We know that innovative and inspirational services exist, but without changes to the funding, the system will never be able to scale in a way that addresses population need.
‘We reminded every politician we spoke to that there is a healthy pipeline of physiotherapists and support workers. We need the posts we were promised in the NHS workforce plan, and ideally even more.
‘Lastly, for the system to re-align we need to change what we count with incentives that drive person centred, multi-condition, close-to-home solutions everywhere.
‘Building on all of this, the CSP will be influencing the new NHS 10 year plan and workforce plan.’
Wales
Calum Higgins, policy and public affairs manager for Wales attended both Welsh receptions at Labour and Conservative conference, using the opportunity to meet with MPs and members of the Senedd for both parties. He met with the front benches of both parties including parliamentary under-secretary (Wales Office) Nia Griffith MP, and shadow secretary of state for Wales Lord Byron Davies. In both meetings he raised the importance of rehab services for UK policy issues such as work and benefits, and the challenges of dealing with waiting times in Wales.
Northern Ireland
The CSP was represented at four party conferences in Northern Ireland over the course of just three weeks. CSP staff and members participated in the conferences of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), Sinn Féin, and the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP). The CSP hosted a stand and a fringe meeting in collaboration with the Community Rehabilitation Alliance for Northern Ireland at the UUP conference.
Tom Sullivan, CSP public affairs and policy manager for Northern Ireland, said: ‘This was a collective effort by CSP NI staff and members. Through sustained engagement with political leaders, the CSP is ensuring that physiotherapy remains a vital part of the healthcare conversation across Northern Ireland.’
Scotland
‘Physiotherapy is essential to a sustainable NHS’ is the message at the SNP annual conference.
Kenryck Lloyd-Jones, CSP public affairs and policy manager for Scotland, joined a panel with Scottish health secretary Neil Gray at the conference of the Scottish National Party to stress the need for expanding the physiotherapy workforce. He urged the government to control training places, address staffing shortages, and invest in rehab and preventative care. Gray highlighted physiotherapy’s role in reducing hospital admissions and aiding early discharge.
Reflecting on the panel discussion, Kenryck said: ‘Our engagement was a valuable opportunity to emphasise the need for a planned expansion of the physiotherapy workforce. We also had constructive discussions on staff morale, career development, and retention, all critical to future workforce decisions.’
What can you do?
‘Alice’s Road to Recovery’ – the digital immersive experience the CSP showcased at Labour conference, is available for CSP members to share with others and experience for themselves.
Please share it with your MP to encourage them to become a rehab champion or use it at your own events to let others experience rehab first hand.
You can access the immersive experience about Alice's road to recovery.
Find Out More
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