Rehab ‘as essential as medicines and surgery’ says health minister

Mr Quince’s acknowledgement of the vital importance that rehabilitation plays in people’s health was spelled out in a recent letter to the Community Rehabilitation Alliance (CRA), which the CSP convenes and co-chairs.   

The minister was responding to the CRA after it wrote to the department for health stressing the need for there to be the workforce in place to ensure timely access to rehabilitation.   

He said: ‘As the lead minister on NHS workforce, I am taking this forward.   

I agree that rehabilitation is as essential to good health outcomes as medicines and surgery and I recognise that rehabilitation services play a fundamental role in reducing the impact of various health conditions, improving patient outcomes, enabling people to remain well and increasing system capacity and resilience.   

‘Community rehabilitation is also critical for recovery after surgery and discharge.’   

Rehab workforce 

The response from the minister comes as much of the health service is waiting in anticipation of the government’s workforce plan. The CSP has sought to influence the content of this plan, ensuring that the AHP workforce is properly considered. 

Responding to Mr Quince’s letter, Sara Hazzard, co-chair of the CRA and assistant director at the CSP said: 'The response from the minister to the Community Rehabilitation Alliance, which the CSP is proud to convene and co-chair, is welcome.  

'His acknowledgment that "rehabilitation is as essential to good health outcomes as medicines and surgery" is a message the CSP has long been championing, so we sincerely hope the UK government commits to further real-world action to make sure that the rehabilitation workforce is maintained, enhanced and nurtured in the years to come. 

'The CSP, alongside alliance members looks forward to meeting with the minister to discuss how rehabilitation must be a fundamental part of any successful NHS future.'

Alongside the CSP’s work with the CRA, it is also currently surveying members on the loss of rehabilitation space. It is asking any member whose service has been affected by lost rehab space to complete a short survey to help build a picture of the situation and help inform its work in this area.