Why are things so bad for physiotherapists just now?

A

ajapale

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Anecdotal evidence points to physiotherapists having rough time finding employment in the Republic (and the UK) over the last year or so.

Does anyone know why this might be the case? For school leavers contemplating a career would people reccomend physiotherapy as a profession?

aj
 
Two friends of mine graduated as Physio's . One in ireland in 2005, took her 6 months to find a temp job. Still not permananent as far as Im aware. The other graduated from the UK in 2006 and has only just got a part time job this January.

Full time permanent positions seem to be like gold dust & extremely hard to get.
 
Ucd have had a 30% decrease in applications for course in physiotherapy due to perceived poor job prospects

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They need to call themselves something more glamorous like Osteopath or Chiropractor. They seem to be in vogue at the moment. I think the perception of a physiotherapist is that of someone who deals with sport injuries.
 
Surprised at this. My wife has occasion to use a physiotherapist and the woman is jammers all day every day. She seems to have a very profitable business. Perhaps there is a surfeit of physios in the Dublin area??
 
The NHS in the UK is in the red so there are hiring bans on new staff. Student nurses there are in dire straits. The UK was good at mopping up the excess from Ireland. A lot of irish physios are private, works damn hard to make some money. Only people willing to pay are young people with money and a sports injury, granny with a bad knee just has to rot on some waiting list it seems unfortunately.
 
liteweight said:
They need to call themselves something more glamorous like Osteopath or Chiropractor. They seem to be in vogue at the moment. I think the perception of a physiotherapist is that of someone who deals with sport injuries.
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And the perception of osteopaths and chiropracters is what? Physios do far more than deal with sports injuries and given the training and study they have to do to call themselves physiotherapists, they would be very insulted by this comparison.
 
gearoidmm said:
And the perception of osteopaths and chiropracters is what? Physios do far more than deal with sports injuries and given the training and study they have to do to call themselves physiotherapists, they would be very insulted by this comparison.
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What comparison? I don't doubt that physios deal with far more than sports injuries. What I said was the perception, IMO, is that this is what they are most used for. Or, indeed, for someone who has broken a limb etc.


I don't want to start a debate re osteopath versus physio. Both study for a long time and do admirable work. Amongst my friends however, three attend an osteopath for back pain. They didn't even consider a physio. As I said, osteopaths, chiropractors, are in VOGUE, not better.
 
Must say I have first hand experience of this.

I had terrible back pain to the point I was waking at 5 in the morning and being unable to go back asleep with the pain. I had to go down and sit upright on the sofa to try sleep that way.

I went to the physio about 5 /6 times and had various things done all of which failed. I stopped attending the physio and at the same time joined a gym. After 3 or 4 sessions in the gym the pain went and I no longer suffer with it.
 
There were articles a few months back going over the lack of jobs for the last year or two of physio grads. Can't remember which paper it was in but it was some negative vibe....
 
Can remember hearing Occupational therapist experiencing the same problem
 
Perhaps if the HSE employed more physios, they would be able to free up more beds in the hospitals by getting patients onto their feet quicker?
 
Its the same here in the U.K in Coventry University only 12% of physio graduates found full time employment last year many are working as physio assistants doing the work of a physio at a fraction of the cost. They are also reducing the intake for physio courses next year. While there is real a need for more physio's the NHS has a jobs freeze so when someone leaves they do not fill the position and with fewer senior physios they cannot supervise the juniors so this also makes it harder to recruit.

Also on my girlfriends course (qualifies this year) about 10% are from Ireland and all are moving home as there is no work here so this will put added pressure on jobs in Ireland. we'll have the best qualified burger flippers in the world... there's a flip side to everything...

Also as an aside I had a really bad back last year and after a few weeks of physio tried a chiropractor who sorted it out in one go...(the missus wasn't to impressed...sleeping with the enemy and all that...)
 

aj the reason is 'cuts' justified by selective use of 'evidence-based research' through which health services managers in Ireland and UK axe specialisms. My advice to any young person with an interest in physiotherapy or any of the other PAM's (Professions Associated with Medicine as they used to be known as) is to train, enjoy it, and practice privately.

During decades of working as a sculptor fabricating and welding sheet steel every day in my studio I had frequent need of an osteopath and have a wonderful practitioner in London. Recently I went to a local osteopathic practice (Colchester) for treatment for long-standing ankle pain. It was no help whatever due to his youth and inexperience. I went to my GP who referred me to a local physiotherapist. He diagnosed repetitite strain injury and 8 x 20 minute sessions later I can now walk without pain or a limp.
 
I know of a back surgeon who goes to a chiropractor, swears by them!
 
liteweight said:
, osteopaths, chiropractors, are in VOGUE, not better.
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I agree that similar therapists are earing into traditional physio ground.
If physio's are prepared to set up private practice and work evenings and weekends then sports clubs would be interested in them - I know of one massage therapist who went on to do the ITEC diploma in sports rehab and is now working a few days a week private practice and then evenings in the local GAA club seeing their folks at a discount - and is in business for the last few years now. She has a steady stream of clients from this, but yes often unsociable hours. I went to her for RSI wrist and shoulder pain and got relief and never thought of a physio TBH and I did not have to take time off of work. I just never thought of a physio.
 
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