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Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy: Children

Asked by James McMurdockIndependentDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled Answered 23 March 2026UIN 118480

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of paediatric a) physiotherapy and b) occupational therapy workforce capacity.

Answered by Karin Smyth

Decisions on recruitment and employment are a matter for individual National Health Service trusts which manage their recruitment at a local level, ensuring they have the right number of staff in place, with the right skill mix, to deliver safe and effective care.

As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, we are working closely with NHS England, employers, and educators to improve the transition into the workforce.

The Government is committed to publishing a 10 Year Workforce Plan to set out action to create a workforce ready to deliver the transformed service set out in the 10-Year Health Plan.

The 10 Year Workforce Plan will ensure the NHS has the right people in the right places, with the right skills to care for patients, when they need it. We are working through how the Plan will articulate the changes for different professional groups.

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