Physiotherapists seek IMPACT members' support
ISCP seeking support of IMPACT members for campaign to protect titles of physiotherapist & physical therapist in one register.
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The Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists (ISCP) is currently seeking the support of IMPACT members for their campaign to protect the titles of physiotherapist and physical therapist in one register.
Ruaidhri O’Connor of the ISCP explained that in other jurisdictions the titles of “physical therapist” and “physiotherapist” are protected in law and can only be used only by members of the physiotherapy profession and mean the same. "In Ireland, in the absence of regulation, the titles of “physiotherapist” and “physical therapist” can be used by any person. The public are confused when deciding who to seek treatment from, and where there is confusion there is a real risk to public safety," he said.
The Physiotherapist Statutory Registration Board has recommended to the Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar TD, that both titles would be protected in the one register. Ruaidhri said "The Minister for Health is now considering this recommendation. If the title of physical therapist is not protected in one register with physiotherapy the confusion will remain and the public will not be protected."
Confusion
Ruaidhri added "The problem is that the public think the two professions are the same when clearly they are not. This is partially because they are the same in the rest of the world, including Northern Ireland. The only way to eliminate the confusion and maximise public protection is to protect both titles under one register for use by members of the physiotherapy profession."
He said physiotherapists are not trying to stop physical therapists in Ireland from working. "We're seeking provision that they work under a different title to eliminate the confusion and any possible risk to public safety", he said.
You can support the petion here - Protect public by protecting titles of physiotherapist and physical therapist in one register.
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