Scottish primary care workforce plan advances first contact physiotherapists

It is the latest part of plans for the whole health and care workforce. The government has committed to significantly expand and strengthen the primary care workforce, and the new plan outlines the ambitions for expanding a multi-professional primary care service across Scotland.

Full roll out

In a specific section devoted to physiotherapy, the plan calls on integrated joint boards to consider including new advanced practice first contact roles for physiotherapists in general practice and community settings as part of their primary care improvement plans.

The report recognises that to support full roll out there needs to be an expansion of the physiotherapy workforce, and commits to working with the physiotherapy profession to address difficulties in recruitment.

Physio roles expanded

The primary care transformation fund is already delivering an expansion of roles for physiotherapy and this is further supported by the direction of travel in the GP contract.

CSP public affairs and policy manager for Scotland Kenryck Lloyd-Jones said: 'The intention to call on all integrated joint boards to develop first contact practitioner roles, aligned to GP clusters, is precisely what the CSP has been promoting.

'We welcome the recognition that there is a need to expand the physiotherapy workforce, and now need more detail on funding and mechanisms to deliver on the ambitions the government has set out.'