Physiotherapists accept pay offer

Members of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CPS) have voted to accept the government’s pay offer by 65% on a turnout of 60%.

The CPS commented that the offer would provide a bonus of £2,000 for the majority of physiotherapists, in addition to the £1,400 which was awarded to members in 2022/23 – plus a consolidated increase of 5% for 2023/24. 

A meeting between the NHS Staff Council, which brings together the NHS Employers and the Department of Health and Social Care formally agreed to the pay deal on 2 May following the outcome of the vote. 

The decision arrives after multiple rounds of strikes from CPS members which kicked off back in January. 

Claire Sullivan, director of employment relations at the CSP, said: “Our members have voted clearly to accept this offer and we will now cast our votes at the NHS Staff Council accordingly. 

“While falling short of what our members, and all NHS staff, deserve, the money on offer will go some way to helping to offset the rising costs of 22/23, while also providing the certainty of a 5% increase for the current pay year.

“The Government should be in no doubt that the offer was accepted with reluctance and that further work is urgently needed to ensure pay levels are restored to pre-2010 levels without delay. This is the only way to address the ongoing NHS recruitment and retention crisis effectively.

“This year, our members have shown great determination in voting for, and taking, strike action in large numbers and the support of the public has remained firmly behind them throughout. It is only this courage that brought the Government back into talks and resulted in an improved pay offer for both 2022/3 and 2023/4.

“We will now continue the fight for the fair pay that our members deserve and that is needed to solve the NHS workforce crisis.”