PhysioUpdate 4th July 2023

Watford FC has issued a statement apologising to a number of people who alleged they were sexually abused by physiotherapist Phil Edwards when they were teenagers. A statement released yesterday (27 June) by the Hertfordshire-based club refers to Mr Edwards, who died at home in 2019, having previously held a 'position of influence and access within the club’, which is currently preparing for next season's matches in the Championship.

After conducting a lengthy inquiry into Mr Edwards’ behaviour, Watford submitted the findings to Clive Sheldon QC, who published an Independent Review into Child Sexual Abuse in Football 1970-2005 on behalf of the FA in 2021. Mr Sheldon has now released a response to the club’s ‘detailed investigation’ in a six-page addendum to the main report.

Sheffield Hallam’s Advanced Wellbeing Research Centre has joined up with Sheffield-based Westfield Health to create an accessible app that will help to meet the exercise needs of women in midlife. One woman in two does not do any strength exercises once they reach the age of 45 and above – despite the fact that strength declines with age but can be maintained through exercise.

Strength training is a low-cost exercise intervention that has a ‘powerful impact on women’s health’. It maintains function and independence as women age, and improves mood and sleep, maintains muscle and bone strength and helps maintain a healthy weight.

The project received £125,000 from UK Research and Innovation. The new app will integrate behaviour change and exercise science to help women approaching the ‘start line’ of their later years to stay healthy and develop more physical reserves, an article appearing on Sheffield Hallam's website reported earlier this month.

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapists (CSP) has given a cautious welcome to the release this morning (30 June) of NHS England’s NHS Long Term Workforce Plan.

For the first time, the plan sets out long-term workforce projections in the NHS – one being that, with retention improvements, there will be 71,000 more physiotherapists and other allied health professionals in place by 2036-2037. An extra 60,000 doctors and 170,000 more nurses are also promised.

Along with many of other healthcare organisations, the CSP has been voicing increasing concerns about the current staffing gaps that are blighting the NHS, with vacancy numbers now standing at 112,000. Repeated delays over the release of the workforce plan have created increasing levels of frustration.

In a statement, chief executive Karen Middleton said: ‘The CSP has called for a funded workforce plan for at least the last 10 years, so this is a step forward by NHSE. The bottom line is we need more physios and physio support workers working in the NHS.

‘Of course, we will offer constructive challenge where needed, but having this plan allows us to have meaningful discussions with NHS England, and local NHS bodies, about how to expand and develop NHS physiotherapy.'