No need for additional regulation of advanced practice physiotherapists, says CSP

Following in-depth consultation and stakeholder engagement, the CSP Council has decided to support the decision by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).  

The HCPC has confirmed that it has no plans to introduce further regulations for physiotherapists, reaffirming the findings from its 2021 review, which found no significant evidence to suggest that additional regulation was necessary for physiotherapists working at advanced practice levels.  

As a result, physiotherapists in the UK will continue to operate under existing regulatory frameworks without the need for extra oversight.  

The CSP Council considered its position on this issue following a decision by the Nursing and Midwifery Council, announced earlier this year, to introduce regulation of its members working at an advanced level of practice.  

Why additional regulation is unnecessary

The CSP believes that, at this time, the current level of professional regulation is sufficient for physiotherapists at all levels of practice, included advanced practice.

One of the key reasons for this is that the current regulatory framework, under the oversight of the HCPC, already ensures that physiotherapists working at advanced practice levels manage risk effectively.  

However, it is critical that local governance arrangements are robust to ensure members are operating in an environment that supports safe practice.  

Ash James, CSP director of practice and development, said:  

We believe the current level of professional regulation from the HCPC is appropriate and proportionate for physiotherapists working at an advanced level of practice and additional regulation would not add anything of value to the public

‘We uphold the principal role of a healthcare regulator which is to protect the public, not to confer esteem on any profession or provide career progression.  

‘Therefore, we do not believe that, at this point, the threshold has been met for further regulation/annotation as set out by HCPC in their annotation policy.’  

Additionally, without clear funding commitments to support advanced practice education and training, the CSP is concerned that additional regulation could also disproportionately burden our members, particularly those working at an advanced level of practice in non-NHS settings and in the devolved nations.  

However, we remind members of the importance of maintaining strong local governance arrangements, as regulation is just one of several factors that contribute to protecting the public.  

Confidence in the existing framework

The debate around advanced practice regulation is part of the ongoing evolution of the healthcare landscape, where roles and responsibilities are shifting in response to increasingly complex patient needs.  

Advanced practice physiotherapists play a vital role in managing these demands, contributing significantly to both patient care and population health, across a wide range of settings.  

And as advanced practice roles continue to grow and diversify, the CSP maintains that it is essential to keep discussions about regulation proportionate to the risks and benefits involved.