Analysis conducted by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy through freedom of information requests to NHS trusts across England revealed that 49% of trusts have neither dedicated budgets nor policies allowing overspending to finance maternity cover for staff. The findings highlight what the organization describes as disparities in how different healthcare professions receive maternity leave coverage.
Where maternity cover arrangements do exist, physiotherapy services receive markedly less favorable treatment than other clinical areas. The analysis found that 22% of trusts exclude physiotherapy staff from maternity cover provisions, compared to only 9% for nursing roles. This distinction is particularly significant given that women constitute approximately 79% of the physiotherapy workforce within the NHS.
The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy characterized the situation as concerning, arguing that inadequate maternity cover planning leaves already stretched teams attempting to maintain service levels with reduced staffing. This results in extended patient wait times for rehabilitation and treatment. The organization’s director of practice and development emphasized that physiotherapy workload does not diminish when staff members take maternity leave, placing pressure on remaining colleagues to absorb expanded caseloads.
The maternity cover gaps exist within a broader context of physiotherapy service pressures. Earlier research identified that four out of 10 physiotherapy staff have lost or anticipate losing dedicated rehabilitation space, with six out of 10 survey respondents reporting that clinical rooms have been repurposed for other teams. The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy is calling for equal access to maternity cover funding across all NHS professions alongside action on recruitment freezes and staffing shortages. Patient advocacy organizations have also expressed concern, noting that inadequate coverage directly impacts treatment access and waiting times.
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