Improve physio service (From Witney Gazette)

Improve physio service

in Letters

Sir – Being quite badly disabled, I have just received my first physiotherapy for several years (delayed due to correction surgeries).

My physio session was at Witney Hospital, and it came as no surprise to learn the waiting list was 12-14 weeks.

My physiotherapist has to cover the whole of West Oxfordshire and is only allowed to work 17 hours per week. Her expertise is such that, after only a one-hour session, my mobility has improved.

Failure to expand services of this nature in the present economic climate only worsens the financial burden on the country because so many disabled folk rely on benefits.

Our elderly population is rapidly increasing due to advances made in the treatment of illness. It seems counter-productive to help the aged recover from illness then not to follow up with physiotherapy soon after hospital discharge such that they very soon become ill again.

This further puts pressure on our over-burdened NHS hospitals and staff.

Surely it is cheaper to keep people healthy rather than having to continually re-treat them.

This apparent shortage in the physiotherapist service in the PM’s own constituency only highlights Mr Cameron’s weakness as well as the Coalition’s inability to recognise where the real problems are.

Adrian Taylor, Thames Street, Eynsham