Jodi Yeats

Physiotherapists would like to be among the 800 additional professionals who will be funded to reduce waiting lists for elective surgery.

While there's no specific funding for physiotherapy in this year's, the New Zealand Society of Physiotherapists can see opportunities to further the Government's goals, particularly reducing waiting times in emergency departments and waiting lists for elective surgery.

Physios can keep people out of hospitals

The Budget has funding for 800 health professionals, at $70 million over four years, to improve access to elective surgery, and physiotherapists would like to be among those clinicians.

Physiotherapists can save DHBs' money and reduce waiting lists by screening orthopaedic patients at outpatient clinics and triaging referrals, society president Jonathan Warren says.

Often appropriate conservative treatment with physiotherapy prevents hospital admissions for surgery, he says.

Physios reduce waiting times in emergency departments

Not only has international evidence shown senior physiotherapists can reduce the time people stay in emergency departments, and cut costs, but New Zealand has its own example in a Christchurch Hospital programme that was a finalist in the 2007 Health Innovation Awards, president Jonathan Warren says.

The physiotherapy service saw a reduction in waiting times from several hours to 30 minutes for 95 per cent of patients and is ongoing in Christchurch, because of its success. The service could be of benefit to all emergency departments, but it hasn't been rolled out nationally, Mr Warren says.

Devolve some services to physios

The Government has allocated $46 million to devolution of some hospital services to primary care and the Physiotherapy Society would like to see PHOs funding physiotherapy services.

Physiotherapy has proven benefits in diabetes prevention and treatment and improving cardiovascular health, Mr Warren says.

They are also well placed to educate patients on the importance of quitting smoking.