Sir - The Irish Times of February 26th reported that an Australian hospital was seeking to recruit Irish nurses, due to staff shortages. In terms of physiotherapy, this is not news. Chartered physiotherapists are actively headhunted by agencies worldwide to such an extent that two thirds of the 1994 graduates are now working in the US and the UK. This is largely due to pay and promotional prospects being so poor in Ireland.
There is, at present, no unemployment for chartered physiotherapists in Ireland; indeed many in the health boards remain unfilled, due a shortage of quality staff. The solutions lies not only in increasing the number of places in the universities, but also in certain a salary and grading structure which reflects the responsibilities of this group of health professionals. - Yours, etc.,
Chairman,
Irish Society of Chartered
Physiotherapists,
Royal College of Surgeons,
St Stephen's Green,
Dublin 2.