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Career developmentMar 3, 2021

Physiotherapists can help to ensure five-year AHP strategy for England is based on citizens' input

Physiotherapists and other allied health professionals (AHPs) have been urged to encourage members of the public to take part in ‘big conversation’ about the future of the professions.

Suzanne Rastrick, the chief AHP officer at NHS England who is one of the key figures behind the initiative, gave an update on the initiative’s progress in a social media message on Tuesday evening (2 March).

Photo Credit: NHS England
Citizens in England are being invited to express their views on the way ahead

Physique
Physique

She noted that people from 137 English postcodes had already engaged with the initiative – known as since AHPs Listen – just one week after its launch on 22 February.

If we all passed details to two people who have experienced our services it would make such a difference [Suzanne Rastrick]

Calling for help from physios and members of the 13 other professions that fall under the AHP umbrella, Ms Rastrick said: ‘If we all passed details to 2 people who have experienced our services it would make such a difference.’

Health and social care facing 'unprecedented times'

Visitors to the AHPs Listen website, which contains videos and other explanatory materials, are given the following information: ‘Health and social care is facing unprecedented times and we have needed to provide care in new and different ways.

‘People across the health and care system have proven that we can work in new ways to make sure people get the support they need. This is an opportunity to reshape how AHPs … deliver care as we recover and rebuild for our future.

‘We want you to tell us what’s important to you about how you receive help with your health, how AHPs working in health and social care can make the best possible experience, how we can help you stay well and how technology might help all of us in the future.’

‘Together we can understand what’s most important and make sure we are using the full range of AHPs to provide the best care when you need it most.’

Five-year AHP strategy promised

People who sign up to express their views are reassured that their contributions will be anonymised and told they will help create a plan for AHPs with a five-year shelf life.

Contributors are encouraged to give feedback that is:

  • open
  • honest
  • frank

Open for business, 24/7

Visitors to the site – which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week – can read, rate and comment on the ideas put forward by others. It invites comments on the following areas: what’s important to you about how you receive help with your health; how AHPs working in health and social care can make the best possible experience; how we can help you stay well; and how technology might help all of us in the future.

Key stages

The first stage of the process lasts four weeks and will be followed by another ‘online conversation’ in May, when AHPs  can respond to the themes identified by the public. At a third conversation, to be held later this year, citizens and AHPs will be jointly invited to check how their contributions have been interpreted. The new strategy will be published in the spring of 2022.

The project is being delivered by Clever Together on behalf of the chief AHP officer, NHS England and NHS Improvement.

To find out more, visit: https://ahpslisten.org/welcome

Author: Ian A McMillan
Physique
Physique
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