Shortage of NHS physio roles leaves patients in pain as waiting lists soar

Vic Paterson changed careers and retrained as a soft tissue therapist after developing severe back pain as a police officer. Photograph: Gary Calton/The Observer

The rising number of people ­waiting for physiotherapy treatment is causing problems in other parts of the NHS and harming the UK’s economy, leading clinicians have warned.

Waiting lists for treatment for ­musculoskeletal (MSK) problems such as back, neck and knee pain have grown by 27% since January last year. The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) said the number of physiotherapy posts in the NHS was not keeping pace with demand from Britain’s ageing and increasingly obese population.