Physiotherapist defends strike is to protect service and help patients

Paul Whelan, who has been in his current role at Rotherham Hospital for five years and in the NHS for 13, said there “appeared to be no real negotiation” from the government on the issue and unions had taken the “very difficult” decision to protect services in England in the long-term.

Stressing that he was speaking from his personal perspective, and not on behalf of the hospital or trust, Mr Whelan said: “Increased waiting lists mean people are waiting longer to access physiotherapy treatment.

“That means longer time out of work and/or risk of losing jobs and also longer times in pain and ill health.”

People were also having to stay in hospital longer as they could not get the rehabilitation needed to be safely discharged, said Mr Whelan, adding: “Staff feel under pressure and undervalued for the work they do.

“This isn’t new and is part of a gradual decrease in real-terms pay over the past 12 years.

“Staff are looking at bills for mortgages and daily living going up, as is everyone, and people are leaving the profession to seek employment elsewhere to seek out better pay rewards.

“People have also started to think about work-life balance and the pressure that NHS work places on this.

“They are re-evaluating their positions in NHS roles meaning it’s harder to recruit and retain staff.”

Mr Whelan said waiting lists were on the rise pre-Covid and were struggling to catch up due to services not running fully during the pandemic, while the the cost of living crisis has further “complicated the picture”.

He added: “They’re (patients) struggling to get time out of work to come to appointments as this has a financial impact and also the pressure of not being fully fit and the risk of losing employment for everyone is having significant mental health effects on the population.

“It appears there is no real negotiation from the government on this issue and the unions have had to take a very difficult decision in taking strike action.

“It is hoped that more support in wages will allow us to fill vacancies and also prevent further staff leaving the profession as, without these staff, there won’t be the ongoing physiotherapy services we’ve had within Rotherham for many years.”

Mr Whelans said he and his fellow picketing workers had received “overwhelming support” from the public, as well as hot drinks and snacks provided by staff on the day of action.

Polling by Opinium showed more than 70 per cent said the government must come up with a better deal for physiotherapy staff and other NHS workers to end the ongoing dispute.

Claire Sullivan, director of employment relations at the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists, said:

“Our members are sick and tired of hearing the UK Government claim they are open to talks with the health unions when they have not lifted a finger to avert strikes in England.  

“They have made no attempt to address this year’s pay dispute, with the only meeting in early January focusing on next year instead — there was no meaningful discussion of the central issue causing this dispute.

“This is outrageous at a time when the NHS is facing the direst of workforce crises with damaging consequences for both staff and their patients.”

A strike due to take place in Wales earlier this month was paused after the Welsh Government engaged with health unions, which followed CSP members accepting an improved offer secured through negotiations with the Scottish government.

The CSP “will not hesitate” to call further strikes in England, Ma Sullivan said, “to defend the ability of our members to pay their bills and for the NHS to recruit and retain the staff it desperately needs”.

The union has a rolling programme of industrial action planned, and, while there are no immediate plans for further action in Rotherham, Mr Phelan said this was “reliant on meaningful negotiations being had between unions and the government”.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “It is regrettable some union members are taking further industrial action at a time when the NHS is already under pressure.

“The health and social care secretary has had constructive meetings with unions, including the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, and has been clear he wants to continue to discuss what is fair and affordable as part of the 2023/24 pay process.”

A spokesperson for Rotherham Hospital’s managing trust said that, as pay was a matter for the Government and the trade unions, it would not be appropriate to comment.