UK Jobs shortage for physiotherapists

Jobs shortage for physiotherapists
Daily Mail Health News - 00:24am 28th November 2005

Millions of pounds of taxpayers money is being wasted as newly trained physiotherapists are forced to find work in shops because they cannot find NHS jobs, it is claimed.

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) said that six months after completing their degrees, 53% of physiotherapy graduates in the UK were still seeking their first NHS junior job.

A survey of 1,523 graduates found that 805 have still not secured their first post in physiotherapy.

The CSP said this group's training cost the taxpayer more than £23 million - at around £28,580 per person.

As they hunt for an elusive post, many have been forced to take work in supermarkets, shops and banks to make ends meet.

CSP chief executive Phil Gray said: "After months of competing with hundreds of others for just a handful of junior posts, many graduates have had to put their physiotherapy aspirations on the backburner.

"We know of first-class graduates who are working in Tesco and Topshop just to make ends meet.

"One's joined the circus, while others are working in factories to raise money for Christmas." Mr Gray said that the bleak situation was not a by-product of having trained too many physios.

He went on: "The society first highlighted the plight of 2005 graduates this summer - when it became apparent that the agencies responsible for workforce planning hadn't made sufficient provision for the growing number of qualified physiotherapists.

"A planned expansion of the workforce was agreed by the Government to help meet increasing patient demand and achieve the 18-week target on waiting times, but too much emphasis on creating senior jobs has led to a huge shortage of junior posts being available."

This might well be because the likes of BUPA are not permitting the private sector to employ graduates unless they have 5 years experience. This means that a Private Practice is less likely to encourage someone away from the NHS within the first 5 years. Clearly this steady exit stream has been used to provide a good number of new graduate positions each year. Unfortunately we might have a 5 year issue here? Any other comments?

Send them to Australia - there are always job shortages here! :lol

As I understand it it is very difficult for UK trained physios to register in Australia. I believe that if they have NZ registration they can get registration in NSW but physios with less than one year experience are not allowed to register in NZ! So it is catch 22!

I didn't think it was.

We have receiprocal recognition.

Unless something has changed recently... Has the UK made it hard for Australian physios??? If they have, Australia would probably make it hard for UK physios...

Politics - I hate it!

actually i think this current system is disgusing. i have been qualified for almost 7 months now and have been non-stop in search for a job. with no restictions of location!! when i first went to physio school we were told that jobs wouldnt be a problem at all....and now what??

funny thing is im actually working as an assistant which is totally degrading and demoralising since i am qualified and should have the job i studied for.

ironically the team i work with have spent money on two AUSTRALIAN locums and two INDIAN senior physios (with student visas only) within the last month!!! i mean where is the logic in all that i really dont understand??

the logic is (and i don't necessarily agree with it) that you can get rid of locums when their time is up but it is harder to fire an employee.

Also, employees are accounted for in accounting terms as liabilities (superannuation, annual leave, sick leave, etc) but contractors (locums, etc) are all claimed as expenses.

It doesn't help you find a job though does it?!

unfortunately it doesnt. maybe you could offer some kind of advice...possibly looking in other directions?
i have no restrictions when applying for jobs and over the last few months- the few interviews i've had did not provide me with any feedback as to improving my interview technics ect.
it looks like a loose end....maybe any suggestions...please?

The world is getting full of Physios
Canada, failing the number of intl phsyios in licence exam is alarming
Europe, Italy, physios without jobs after graduating
ENgland, junior physios no work

The only place right now that one can find a job without any major problem is
STATES - long damn process for licence
AUSTRALIA - ACOPRA woohoo

So, should I enter medicine? lol
dont think so, physio is my love, more than my wife, but that Canadian alliance exam is a killer!! will try again though....

(my wife doesnt use the net woohoo)

What is the present situation now in the new year?better?

nope.....still jobless! lol

Hi Jaishingdia.

What sort of interview assistance would you like? Here are some thoughts as an employer...

1. I personally hate cliched answers to questions.

Everyone's "best qualities" are their honesty, hard-working, strong work-ethic, etc etc. If you want to stand out, make you answers different to the standard cliches.

2. I always ask about their favourite case and why. What did they do etc. Don't like cliched answers like helping someone regain their mobility after a stroke etc but i like hearing about really difficult cases where they nutted out an answer using their clinical skills, etc. If they don't ask you, pepper your answers with clinical examples so they know you are clinically minded.

3. The most important thing is to show the employer how you can be an asset to them. Most employers aren't interested in what they can do for you. If you show them why hiring you is going to improve their profit or keep them under budget, then they will listen. It could be that you have a great success rate in treating chronic pain and can reduce their waiting lists. Or you have special skills that not many physios possess and you would be happy for them to watch you treat a patient or two so they can see how you really work...Of course, you have to come up with the goods if you are going to market them!

Some things to think about!

i read the publication by CSP on UK job shortage for junior physios.I think its the result of mismanagement of the healthcare authority.UK govt. should give eye sharply to improve the nasty situation.In the CSP website I found UK is short in physios..So why junior physios are still jobless.Its not the problem of fresh physios the way they face job interview..problem lies somewhere else...

hi....thanks for that. much appreciated/ yes i agree the problem lies somewhere else. i've had a few interviews, which i thought went really well...almost felt like informal conversations (which i'm told is a good sign). also when i've asked for feedback, i'm told such rubbish that it's rather annoying and not even valid. sometimes i've been told that 'some ppl simply got a couple more tick boxes than you'. personally the way i've been interviewsed is also not fair anymore. i think employers here realise that they can choose from a huge variety of physios now....and so their interview methods had become pathetic.....to a point where they look out for specific words and tick-box accordingly. i've had this happen several times now and find it rather offensive bc it feels like they dont even bother asking you about yourself, your attributes....let alone your personality!........jess

Hi there!

Im not too aware of the uk job situation but i do have to say that its pretty much the same situation even in the gulf.I have been trying in so many places myself for a job,have attended interviews as well.You know what?the ministry here will not issue you with a license till you have 1-2 yrs experience but how will you get that without a job??I dont think every individual can leave the country,find a job elsewhere work there for a few years and then come back here to work from start?I mean in the meantime its not like ppl dont get employed either.Sometimes I dont get the system at all!!
cheers

Hello
The condition in India is appalling especially in the south.
Its actually that we are all having a global problem...The best possible remedy i see is subdivide our specialities and do some more research to show how physiotherapy can improve the condition of our patients in those specialities....we should have more generic physios
well in terms of the junior posts....one thing that can be done is include a year in the uni curriculum where the uni is responsible to put the student in a 3 month rota in core areas
...just like an internship..with supervision...with a stipend( just to cover the general expenses) after that the junior physio is eligible to apply for senior 2 or junior posts...based on the level of knowledge and skill...so more vacancies

will also after completing mpt from india with two years of hospital experience ill have to face job shortage in uk. will i be able to get a senior physio job.

Definately not :( I would say that perhaps the greatest issue will be the language issue. You would do better perhaps to look for a job in a region where there could be a lot of use for a physio with non-english language skills. I know in London at times we would love it if a few of our physios were well trained and also spoke arabic. I think places like Birmingham have large indian populations? Just a thought :o

what is the present situation for fresh physios?any sign of improvement or gettin worse?

Slowly some hospitals are making a ferw positions available but really the information in the CSP magazine is pretty bleak. The number that have been created will do nothing to the chaos that will arise as this years graduates are added to last years.

I have written to the CSP Frontline editor stating how this is more an issue of the private health company BUPA as no one under 5 years can exit the NHS into private practice now as BUPA won't cover treatment. Let's see if they print the letter and make comment. This issue and it's reversal is the only hope in the near future that I can see :(

Please sign my petition

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk:80/Physiotherapists