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Physiotherapy

Volume 458: debated on Tuesday 13 March 2007

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who the members of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety physiotherapy taskforce are; and for what reason they were appointed in each case. (127123)

I established the physiotherapy taskforce to address and provide workable, realistic solutions to the current situation of reported high levels of graduate unemployment among newly trained physiotherapists. It was considered important to involve representatives of the profession, the commissioners, employers and work force planners. Membership of the taskforce therefore comprises representatives of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, the trade union, HSS Trust physiotherapy management and Human Resources; a member of the physiotherapy work force and a physiotherapy student. A full list of members will be placed in the Library.

Physiotherapy taskforce membership:

Joyce Cairns, Workforce Planning Unit, Human Resources Directorate, DHSSPS

Diane Taylor, Education and Training Unit, Human Resources Directorate, DHSSPS

Catherine Elliman, Clinical Tutor (staff-side rep), Royal Hospital Group HSS Trust

Karen McMaster, Physiotherapy Manager, Causeway HSS Trust

Tom Sullivan, Policy Officer, Chartered Society of Physiotherapy

Linda Austin, Senior Negotiating Officer, Chartered Society of Physiotherapy

Nuala Doherty, Physiotherapy Undergraduate

Wendy Harpur, Lecturer in Health Sciences, University of Ulster

Fiona Crossey, Senior Consultant, Beeches Management Centre

Gloria Mills, Physiotherapy Manager, Mater Hospital HSS Trust

Deirdre Corrigan, Information and Analysis Directorate, DHSSPS

Nuala McArdie, Officer for the Allied Health Professionals, DHSSPS

Brian Beattie, Physiotherapy Manager, Craigavon Area Hospital

Michelle Tennyson, Allied Health Professional Commissioning Advisor, EHSSB

Jean Johns, Physiotherapy Manager, Belfast City Hospital

John Martin, Physiotherapy Manager, Association of Physios in Private Practice

Liz Cavan, PAMS Director, Newry and Mourne Trust

Pauline McAleese, Physiotherapy Manager, UCHT

Sue Prenter, PAMS Manager, Sperrin Lakeland Trust

Fiona Wilson, Physiotherapist, North and West Belfast HSS Trust

Dr. Jackie Gracey, Lecturer in Health Sciences, University of Ulster

Mervyn Barkley, Director of Human Resources, Belfast City Hospital

Muriel McRobbie, Secretariat, Workforce Planning Unit, DHSSPS

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many physiotherapists were employed by each health trust area in Northern Ireland in each of the last six years, broken down by grade; and if he will make a statement. (127124)

The information requested is presented in the following tables.

Physiotherapists employed within the NI HPSS by grade and by trust as at 30 September 2001

Headcount

Area physiotherapist/supt physiotherapist

Senior physiotherapist 1

Senior physiotherapist 2

Basic grade physiotherapist

Altnagelvin Group HSS Trust/Foyle Community HSS Trust

7

17

4

12

Armagh and Dungannon HSS Trust

4

18

6

3

Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust

5

19

7

15

Causeway HSS Trust

5

13

8

4

Craigavon Area Hospital Group HSS Trust

7

28

13

8

Down Lisburn HSS Trust

5

26

14

5

Green Park Healthcare HSS Trust

11

24

17

9

Mater Infirmorum Hospital HSS Trust

1

5

3

4

Newry and Mourne HSS Trust

4

13

4

4

North and West Belfast HSS Trust

4

25

4

Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust

9

33

10

22

South and East Belfast HSS Trust

1

28

7

Sperrin/Lakeland HSS Trust

3

13

3

5

Ulster Community and Hospitals Group HSS Trust

10

25

20

20

United Hospitals Group HSS Trust

6

40

22

11

Total

82

327

142

122

Physiotherapists employed within the NI HPSS by grade and by trust as at 30 September 2002

Headcount

Area physiotherapist/supt physiotherapist

Senior physiotherapist 1

Senior physiotherapist 2

Basic grade physiotherapist

Altnagelvin Group HSS Trust/Foyle Community HSS Trust

8

16

5

11

Armagh and Dungannon HSS Trust

4

20

7

Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust

6

21

8

19

Causeway HSS Trust

6

13

9

5

Craigavon Area Hospital Group HSS Trust

9

27

15

9

Down Lisburn HSS Trust

6

30

15

7

Green Park Healthcare HSS Trust

12

28

15

11

Mater Infirmorum Hospital HSS Trust

1

5

5

8

Newry and Mourne HSS Trust

4

12

4

8

North and West Belfast HSS Trust

4

25

5

Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust

9

38

10

22

South and East Belfast HSS Trust

2

28

7

Sperrin/Lakeland HSS Trust

3

13

5

4

Ulster Community and Hospitals Group HSS Trust

7

28

19

20

United Hospitals Group HSS Trust

5

45

22

12

Total

86

349

151

136

Physiotherapists employed within the NI HPSS by grade and by trust as at 30 September 2003

Headcount

Area physiotherapist/supt physiotherapist

Senior physiotherapist 1

Senior physiotherapist 2

Basic grade physiotherapist

Altnagelvin Group HSS Trust/Foyle Community HSS Trust

8

19

4

12

Armagh and Dungannon HSS Trust

4

21

6

1

Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust

5

25

11

15

Causeway HSS Trust

6

14

10

6

Craigavon Area Hospital Group HSS Trust

10

29

15

9

Down Lisburn HSS Trust

7

33

15

5

Green Park Healthcare HSS Trust

19

23

15

11

Mater Infirmorum Hospital HSS Trust

2

4

6

6

Newry and Mourne HSS Trust

5

16

3

10

North and West Belfast HSS Trust

4

25

5

Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust

9

36

11

20

South and East Belfast HSS Trust

4

25

9

Sperrin/Lakeland HSS Trust

3

14

6

7

Ulster Community and Hospitals Group HSS Trust

12

31

18

18

United Hospitals Group HSS Trust

5

46

25

10

Total

103

361

159

130

Physiotherapists employed within the NI HPSS by grade and by trust as at 30 September 2004

Headcount

Area physiotherapist/supt physiotherapist

Senior physiotherapist 1

Senior physiotherapist 2

Basic grade physiotherapist

Altnagelvin Group HSS Trust/Foyle Community HSS Trust

8

16

8

10

Armagh and Dungannon HSS Trust

4

22

8

Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust

8

24

9

20

Causeway HSS Trust

7

18

9

5

Craigavon Area Hospital Group HSS Trust

15

29

16

6

Down Lisburn HSS Trust

8

36

11

8

Green Park Healthcare HSS Trust

22

23

17

15

Mater Infirmorum Hospital HSS Trust

5

4

4

6

Newry and Mourne HSS Trust

6

16

8

8

North and West Belfast HSS Trust

7

25

8

Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust

9

41

11

21

South and East Belfast HSS Trust

10

20

11

Sperrin/Lakeland HSS Trust

5

19

3

3

Ulster Community and Hospitals Group HSS Trust

13

33

15

20

United Hospitals Group HSS Trust

4

56

26

11

Total

131

382

164

133

Physiotherapists employed within the NI HPSS by grade and by trust as at 30 September 2005

Headcount

Area physiotherapist/supt physiotherapist

Senior physiotherapist 1

Senior physiotherapist 2

Basic grade physiotherapist

Altnagelvin Group HSS Trust/Foyle Community HSS Trust

7

18

10

10

Armagh and Dungannon HSS Trust

4

21

8

3

Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust

9

26

6

17

Causeway HSS Trust

6

19

9

7

Craigavon Area Hospital Group HSS Trust

15

29

20

8

Down Lisburn HSS Trust

10

40

14

8

Green Park Healthcare HSS Trust

20

23

18

13

Mater Infirmorum Hospital HSS Trust

6

4

4

7

Newry and Mourne HSS Trust

6

18

7

8

North and West Belfast HSS Trust

8

27

8

Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust

9

41

11

26

South and East Belfast HSS Trust

14

20

8

Sperrin/Lakeland HSS Trust

7

19

3

8

Ulster Community and Hospitals Group HSS Trust

14

37

17

15

United Hospitals Group HSS Trust

10

51

28

12

Total

145

393

171

142

Physiotherapists employed within the NI HPSS by grade and by trust as at 30 September 2006

Headcount

Area physiotherapist/supt physiotherapist

Senior physiotherapist 1

Senior physiotherapist 2

Basic grade physiotherapist

Altnagelvin Group HSS Trust/Foyle Community HSS Trust

6

21

16

8

Armagh and Dungannon HSS Trust

4

24

6

4

Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust

12

25

6

18

Causeway HSS Trust

6

19

9

7

Craigavon Area Hospital Group HSS Trust

18

26

22

11

Down Lisburn HSS Trust

10

41

15

10

Green Park Healthcare HSS Trust

21

27

17

13

Mater Infirmorum Hospital HSS Trust

6

4

3

6

Newry and Mourne HSS Trust

6

19

6

8

North and West Belfast HSS Trust

8

28

10

Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust

9

40

10

24

South and East Belfast HSS Trust

14

24

7

Sperrin/Lakeland HSS Trust

6

19

3

9

Ulster Community and Hospitals Group HSS Trust

14

38

20

17

United Hospitals Group HSS Trust

13

53

30

12

Total

153

408

180

147

Notes:

Area physiotherapist/supt physiotherapist contains staff at all levels within the area physiotherapist and supt physiotherapist grades.

Basic grade physiotherapist includes staff at the following grades: physiotherapist, graduate entry physiotherapist and diploma entry physiotherapist.

Source:

Human Resource Management System.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety physiotherapy taskforce has met since its formation; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the minutes of each meeting. (127125)

The Physiotherapy taskforce met twice. The first meeting was held 9 November 2006 and the second on 21 November 2006, Further correspondence occurred via email. The taskforce have reported to me and I have endorsed their proposals for immediate action to fund 10 time-bound three-month placements for newly qualified physiotherapists. Copies of the minutes of both meetings will be placed in the Library.

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many physiotherapy graduates were working as volunteers in each health trust area in Northern Ireland in each of the last six years; and how many such volunteers went on to gain employment within each trust. (127126)

The information requested is presented in the following table.

Trust

Year

Number of physiotherapy graduates employed as volunteers

Number of volunteers who went on to gain employment in the trust

Ulster Community and Hospitals Group HSS Trust

2003-04

One overseas graduate who was applying for HPC registration

None

2005-06

One graduate hoping to return to employment after a long break in service

1

Altnagelvin Group HSS Trust

2005-06

One (for three months)

This volunteer was offered a temporary post but declined due to being in a longer term contract in Kilkenny

Causeway HSS Trust

2005-06

1

1

Green Park Healthcare HSS Trust1

2005-06

5

None however all five are now employed in NI by other Trusts

2006-07

3

One employed by another Trust in NI, two still pursuing employment

Foyle Community HSS Trust

2006-07

0

Craigavon and—Banbridge HSS Trust

2006-07

0

Mater Infirmorum Hospital HSS Trust

2006-07

0

Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust

2006-07

0

Craigavon Area Hospital Group HSS Trust

2006-07

0

United Hospitals Group HSS Trust

2006-07

0

North and West Belfast HSS Trust

2006-07

0

Sperrin Lakeland HSS Trust

2006-07

0

South and East Belfast HSS Trust

2006-07

0

Homefirst Community HSS Trust

2006-07

0

Northern Ireland Ambulance Service

2006-07

0

Belfast City Hospital HSS Trust

2006-07

0

Down Lisburn HSS Trust

2006-07

0

Newry and Mourne HSS Trust

2006-07

0

Armagh and Dungannon HSS Trust

2006-07

0

1 Green Park were unable to provide figures for years prior to 2005-06 within the timescale.

Source:

The information is not held centrally and has been obtained directly from Trusts.