2 March 2022

As the Heath and Care Bill starts its Report Stage in the House of Lords, the RCSLT has signed an Allied Health Professions Federation (AHPF) letter to the Government.

The letter calls on the Government to maximise the contribution of allied health professionals (AHPs) to patient care and the wider health and care system by ensuring their experience and expertise is harnessed by Integrated Care Boards (ICBs).

The letter is signed by the AHPF, which is made up of twelve professional bodies representing AHPs.

As the third largest workforce in the NHS (after doctors and nurses), the AHPF is calling for more AHP involvement in clinical leadership.

The letter’s key points are:

  • The AHPF believes an AHP should be represented on every workforce board.
  • The AHP focus is about prevention, maximising potential, reducing dependency, return to work and recovery from elective surgery.
  • It proposes an alternative to the existing doctor and nurse led model of clinical leadership.
  • The AHPF supports Baroness Finlay of Llandaff’s amendment requiring ICBs to produce an annual rehabilitation plan.

This letter is a companion letter to the one the RCSLT signed as part of the Community Rehabilitation Alliance last week.

Read the full letter (PDF)