PhysioUpdate 18th January 2023

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) is ‘fit for purpose and fit for the future’, said chief executive Karen Middleton in a surprise announcement stating that she will quit her post in December.

In a tweet posted this afternoon (17 January), Ms Middleton said: ‘Some news from me today – I plan to retire from full-time work/the CSP at the end of this 2023.’

Ms Middleton's tweet triggered a spate of responses from CSP staff and members alike, many of whom voiced shock but praised her leadership skills and said she would be missed.

Though the timing of the announcement will no doubt surprise some – with CSP staff and members currently embroiled in controversial NHS strike action over a national pay claim, the Labour Party gaining credibiltity as a potential election winner and the organisation receiving recent media exposure on key policy topics such as opening up direct access to physios in GP practices – Ms Middleton put a positive spin on her plans.

Now, however, feels a really good time for the organisation and profession – the CSP is not only fit for purpose, but fit for the future in terms of how we work and what we do, and physiotherapy has the highest of profiles [Karen Middleton]

In a news item appearing on the CSP website, Ms Middleton – who is approaching her sixties and took up her post in 2014 – said a relatively early retirement suited her personally, but was also timely for the CSP and the profession at large.

‘Now, however, feels a really good time for the organisation and profession – the CSP is not only fit for purpose, but fit for the future in terms of how we work and what we do, and physiotherapy has the highest of profiles.

‘We have just embarked on an ambitious new five-year corporate strategy, and we have a fantastic new chair, vice chair and council to lead the way. A new chief executive will bring fresh ideas, innovation and energy to help us deliver what we have set out to achieve.’

'Very privileged position’

In what could be construed as a nod to those CSP members who feel they are demonstrably under-paid, Ms Middleton said she knew she was in a ‘very privileged position’ to be able to opt to stop working full-time.

Indeed, Ms Middleton revealed she had permanently shelved an ambition to tackle ‘another big job’ post-CSP after realising there was ‘still too much work to do to ensure the CSP and physiotherapy is in the place I want it to be’.

‘I will be continuing to work as hard as ever this year on behalf of members, leading the organisation, making decisions, and holding to account,’ she said.

‘My main priority is to ensure our equity, diversity and belonging work is really embedded this year so that staff and members see our activity and feel a difference – I said from the beginning of this work, that my aim is for sustainable and meaningful change and my desire for that has not changed.’

Ms Middleton’s appointment almost a decade ago was significant as she was the first physiotherapist and woman to hold the chief executive’s post.

A lifelong West Ham fan and proud of her Essex roots, Ms Middleton joined the CSP from NHS England and the then Department of Health, where she spent almost seven years as chief health professions officer. In that post, she led more than 80,000 physiotherapists and other allied health professionals in the NHS and other sectors – the government’s most senior adviser for this group of professionals. 

Next steps

Ishmael Beckford, CSP council chair, said: ‘There will be time later to reflect on Karen’s many achievements as chief executive so for now, I wanted to acknowledge her huge contribution to the CSP and the physiotherapy profession.'

He added: ‘I will look forward to working with Karen for the rest of the year.' 

The process to recruit the next CSP chief executive starts in June at which point Ms Middleton is due to resign formally. She brought a lot to the table when she was appointed: a woman with a bulging CV demonstrating experience as a clinician, an NHS manager, a trade union activist, a speaker and a leader – all that coming with having gained vital experience gained at the heart of government. Ms Middleton is also a visiting professor at Leeds Beckett University.

The CSP council and the organisation generally has become notably more diverse since Ms Middleton's appointment and it will be interesting to see if the organisation is ready to appoint a new chief executive who reflects this welcome trend.