Whilst we are all aware of the devastating effects of the coronavirus on public health, what is less well recognised is the impact of the lockdown on an essential part of our healthcare network – physiotherapists.
It is unusual to have a face to face business and not to have been directly affected by the impact of the lockdown due to corona virus.
As out patients know, physiotherapists are an integral part of their return to full musculoskeletal function. But it isn’t just orthopaedic and sports injuries that these healthcare professional treat; pregnant and post delivery women, cancer patients, chronic pain sufferers, those with respiratory conditions plus many more are helped to restore their bodies to optimal healthcare by physiotherapists.
There are 1000’s of Physiotherapists, Osteopaths & Chiropractors working as SME’s in Private Practice up and down the country, all currently paying and liable for business rates. Their business properties have to be in the D1 class classification. Unfortunately, the government has not given full business rates relief to all Class D1/Medical Services properties.This is not in line with the new, current COVID 19 guidelines that have been offered to other business rates users in similar circumstances, all of whom have seen a dramatic downturn in trading conditions.
More on how this is affecting our physiotherapy colleagues can be seen in this clip from ITV news – featuring our friend and colleague from Sprint Physio – Valentina Roffi.
We hope that our friends, colleagues and patients will feel able to support this petition to the UK parliament, organised by the Musculoskeletal Partners Network.
The more help we can have today will ensure that they can help others – when the time is right – to get back to work and stay at work whilst promoting musculoskeletal health and physical activity.