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
The information requested is presented in the following tables.
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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.
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.