This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Support for Allied Health Professionals
14/11/2005
Physiotherapists, radiographers, speech therapists as well as other Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) are to benefit from a new support and development scheme as part of a wider strategy by the Executive to tackle recruitment and retention issues in the AHP workforce.
The new scheme for AHPs includes:
- £3000 for AHPs who take up posts that have been vacant for six months or more. In addition, £3000 will also be given to the team who have supported the vacancy - money can be used for education, training and development
- £5000 travel scholarship opportunity for experienced practitioners to explore development in other healthcare environments
- A new AHP support and development programme including Flying Start NHS. All new AHP graduates will be eligible for up to £4500 over the course of the programme
The Executive is also providing £500,000 over two years to establish an additional 10 AHP consultant posts.
Speaking before an awards ceremony to celebrate innovations by AHPs, Health Minister Andy Kerr said:
"The way we deliver healthcare in the future is going to change. The focus will be on preventative care, and recovery, and care will be delivered much more in the community, in workplaces, homes and leisure facilities. This is to ensure services are targeted where they are needed most.
"AHPs play a key role in our future vision for the NHS. We want to reduce the inequalities gap between affluent and deprived communities, by increasing support for those with long-term conditions and communicating healthier lifestyles information.
"AHPs make a vital contribution to the diagnosis, treatment and recovery of patients throughout Scotland.
"We are offering this substantial funding to AHPs - those in the profession already, those who take up long-term vacant posts and new graduates. This new scheme will help to make the profession more attractive by offering support to enable participation in further education.
"We are also investing £500,000 over the next two years towards the establishment of an extra 10 AHP consultants in the NHS to ensure we make Delivering for Health a reality.
"AHPs should be praised for the energy, innovation and clinical expertise that they bring to the NHS. I will be presenting awards to them today which recognise their success in implementing ideas for new ways of working. We want to encourage innovation and multi-disciplinary working in NHS to improve health services for patients."
Kathleen Henderson, Chair of the AHP Forum Scotland, said:
"I am delighted to hear about this initiative which recognises the challenges of recruiting and retaining a skilled AHP workforce. In particular, it provides real opportunities for AHPs, especially the new AHP consultants, to add value and support the implementation of Delivering for Health."
There are nine professions within the group of Allied Health Professions: art therapists, dieticians, occupational therapists, Orthopists, orthotists and prosthotists (creation of artificial limbs and appliances), physiotherapists, podiatrists, radiographers, speech and language therapists.
The funding of £3,000 for the take up of long-term vacant AHP posts, mainly in remote and rural areas, will provide AHPs with the opportunity to fund postgraduate education, accommodation or living allowance. The individual will be required to stay in post for a period of two years.
The £5,000 travel scholarship for AHP specialists/expert practitioners would cover travel, accommodation, visas, insurance and research materials.
New graduates who enter the NHS (between 2005/06 and 2007/08) and join the Flying Start NHS development programme will be given £1,500 to assist with living support and accommodation. A further £1,500 will be provided when they complete year one of the programme and an additional £1,500 on completion of the programme in year two.
The Executive is providing £500,000 over two years (£200,000 in 2005/06 and £300,000 in 2006/07) for the recruitment of an additional 10 AHP consultant posts in the NHS, in early 2006. This will take the total number of AHP consultant appointments to 15, ahead of our target of 12. NHS Boards will bid for funding from the total allocation of £500,000 to support the establishment of additional AHP consultants.