Health and Social Care Committee
Inquiry into the contribution of community pharmacy to health services in Wales
CP 9 – Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
CSP Wales Office
1 Cathedral Road
Cardiff CF11 9SD
029 2038 24289
Committee Clerk
Health and Social Care Committee
National Assembly for Wales
Cardiff Bay
CF99 1NA
September 2011
Dear Chair and Committee Members
Enquiry into the Contribution of Community Pharmacy to Health Services in Wales
General introduction
The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) in Wales is pleased to provide a written contribution to this review.
Key points from the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
Whilst the profession is not best placed to comment on the questions posed in the inquiry, it does however wish to highlight a suggestion with the committee. The suggestion is that community pharmacies would be useful locations for physiotherapists to provide services and assist in the contribution to the public health agenda.
Traditionally, physiotherapy services have (in the main) been provided out of community and secondary care facilities. Apart from when GPs were fundholders, primary care services such as general practice and pharmacies have not employed physiotherapists directly. Traditionally, they refer into the hospital based services. Now the Health Boards are integrated providers of primary, community, secondary and tertiary services it should be much easier for the contractor professions of general practice and pharmacy to utilise the skills of physiotherapists.
Pharmacies could be useful venues for ‘walk-in’ clinics where physiotherapists could assess patients and signpost to appropriate colleagues. Pharmacies could also be useful venues for exercise and other health promotion advice including injury prevention provided by physiotherapists.
Physiotherapists and pharmacists often work closely in the hospital setting in areas such as inhaler use and technique. Pharmacies could be useful venues for partnership working in this area to bring COPD and other respiratory condition management closer to home.
Concluding comment
The CSP hopes the committee finds this contribution useful and looks forward to following the progress of the review. If further information is required please do not hesitate to contact us.
In association with:
CSP Respiratory Network
CSP Welsh Board
All Wales Physiotherapy Managers Committee
About the CSP and Physiotherapy:
The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy is the professional, educational and trade union body for the UK’s 50,000 chartered physiotherapists, physiotherapy students and support workers. The CSP represents over 2,000 members in Wales.
Physiotherapists use manual therapy, therapeutic exercise and rehabilitative approaches to restore, maintain and improve movement and activity. Physiotherapists and their teams work with a wide range of population groups (including children, those of working age and older people); across sectors; and in hospital, community and workplace settings. Physiotherapists facilitate early intervention, support self management and promote independence, helping to prevent episodes of ill health and disability developing into chronic conditions.
Physiotherapy delivers high quality, innovative services in accessible, responsive and timely ways. It is founded on an increasingly strong evidence base, an evolving scope of practice, clinical leadership and person centred professionalism. As an adaptable, engaged workforce, physiotherapy teams have the skills to address healthcare priorities, meet individual needs and to develop and deliver services in clinically and cost-effective ways. With a focus on quality and productivity, physiotherapy puts meeting patient and population needs, optimising clinical outcomes and the patient experience at the centre of all it does.
Philippa Ford MCSP
CSP Policy Officer for Wales
07990 542436
September 2011