Record Physiotherapy Waits While Professionals Go Jobless

11.10.57am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 1st Sep 2006

Vincent Cable MP has written to the Primary Care Trust to ask why local physiotherapy waiting lists are at a record 18 weeks when there are newly qualified physiotherapists who cannot find work.

Vincent Cable MP said: "A few weeks ago I met a delegation to parliament of local young people who have recently qualified at Brunel to practice physiotherapy and can't get jobs. In several cases they had invested thousands in their own training.

"Yet, at the same time, it appears to be impossible for local people to obtain physiotherapy services without waiting for four and a half months. There seems to be a complete lack of joined up thinking here. If patients cannot get prompt physio after an injury or a stroke, their condition deteriorates and they become even more dependent on the NHS and social services. When there was a shortage of trained staff, delays of trained staff may have been understandable; now they are inexcusable."