Year published: 2022
The CSP has responded to the Department of Health and Social Care 10-year cancer plan call for evidence in England.
Physiotherapists in musculoskeletal (MSK) services undertake screening for red flags that could be indicators for cancer or masquerade as symptoms of MSK conditions. The non-registered workforce is critical to delivering prehabilitation and rehabilitation programmes for people living with and beyond cancer and supporting ongoing self-management.
The proposals include ensuring patient access to non-cancer specialists who are trained to spot red flags for suspected cancer diagnosis – including MSK physiotherapists in primary care. We also recommend ensuring quality standards for all cancer services include access to physiotherapy and rehabilitation services from diagnosis onwards, during and after treatment and in palliative care. This needs to include a national rollout of prehabilitation services. There is a need to increase capacity of the cancer rehabilitation workforce and community support.