University of Hull tackles national physiotherapy crisis

The University of Hull has launched a new physiotherapy degree to help reverse a crisis within the health sector as it faces a national shortfall of 4,000 of the medical specialists.

Recent figures from the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists show thousands of people are needed to maintain key rehabilitation services in hospitals, medical centres and private practices across the country. 

The new three-year BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy programme at the University of Hull will start recruiting students from September to begin in the 2020 academic year; subject to professional body approval.

The new course aims to create a cohort of highly skilled practitioners to meet a shortfall in Hull, the East Riding of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. The University of Hull has developed the course through close partnerships with local healthcare providers and service users as well as the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as the statutory regulator for Physiotherapy and the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists – the professional body. 

Julie Jomeen, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Hull, said: “Our BSc Physiotherapy course meets a critical shortage of physiotherapists by training students to be highly-skilled and innovative practitioners. 

“The University’s Faculty of Health Sciences has listened to the needs of local healthcare providers in the region and has taken action to improve the health of our local people and beyond – a mission which deeply motivates us here at Hull.”

Dr Clare Killingback, Senior Lecturer in Physiotherapy at the University of Hull, regards future proofing physiotherapy as extremely important: 

“It has been an inspiring journey, working closely with our public and private sector partners to deliver a programme which ensures our region is a hotbed of highly-skilled, forward-thinking physiotherapists who are motivated by the needs of their patients. 

“The University aims to arm students with skills to work not only in hospitals but also in private practices and innovative companies. This will support the pioneering work already happening here with the intention of, over time, increasing the overall health and wellbeing of Hull and the East Riding. I’m delighted to be leading the course and I’m looking forward to meeting prospective students at the upcoming Open Days.”

The University of Hull’s next Open Day takes place on Saturday, 5 October. Prospective students and their parents can learn more about the new BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy course and what it’s like to be a student in Hull. Learn more and register for the Open Day, here: www.hull.ac.uk/opendays.

During the degree programme, students will be taught traditional methods of best practice based on anatomy alongside modules exploring pioneering areas of technology, business and research. This approach intends to tap into and build on successes already seen within physiotherapy in the region and serve patients with forward-thinking best practice.

Across their time at the University of Hull, physiotherapy students will gain at least 1,000 hours of experience in clinical practice including local NHS organisations, community and private agencies. There is also opportunity to gain experience at local professional sports clubs such as, Hull City FC, Hull FC and Hull Kingston Rovers.

The HCPC have recommended the approval of the BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy course to the HCPC Education and Standards Committee for their ratification. If approved, the course will begin accepting offers from Autumn 2019 for the first intake of students being September 2020.