4 February 2026
The RCSLT has joined other professional bodies and MPs in signing an open letter to Wes Streeting, the Health and Social Care Secretary, calling for allied health professions (AHPs) to be recognised as a strategic priority in workforce planning
Coordinated by Sonia Kumar MP, the newly elected Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Allied Health Professionals, the letter has been signed by MPs and AHP professional bodies, including the RCSLT.
It sets out nine strategic actions that we recommend the UK Government undertakes to ensure that the experience and expertise of AHPs in England is fully maximised in the interests of the people we work with and support.
These include strengthening AHP leadership, increasing workforce capacity by expanding and upskilling AHP support workers, and embedding AHPs into system-wide prevention strategies addressing major health conditions.
The letter comes in advance of the anticipated launch of the NHS England Workforce Plan following the 10 Year Plan published last year.
“We urge you to ensure the AHP pipeline is a strategic priority in this refresh so that the attention given to doctors and nurses is matched by a commitment to expanding our allied health workforce and utilising its full scope of practice to improve patient care.” the letter concludes.
Alongside the publication of the letter, MPs and peers have also established a new cross‑party APPG on Allied Health Professionals. The group will champion AHPs’ expertise, amplify their voices in Parliament, and work cross‑party to ensure they have the support, recognition, and investment they deserve.
The RCSLT looks forward to working with Sonia, her parliamentary colleagues, and other AHP professional bodies in support of the APPG’s activities.
