Emphasised the importance of rebuilding numbers of allied health professionals, noting their decline over recent years.

Paid tribute to allied health professionals and highlighted issues such as the growing number of people with long-term conditions, increasing community waiting times, and a shortage of physiotherapists compared to other countries. Emphasised the cost-effectiveness of physiotherapy and its role in workforce productivity. Discussed challenges like recruitment freezes and job security for physios. Noted that 23% of South West Devon constituents have long-term conditions and over 18,000 are disabled, highlighting the importance of allied health professionals. Supported the Rehab Legends campaign led by Kate Tantam to ensure better rehabilitation services for ICU patients. Raised concerns about shortages in speech and language therapists outside NHS settings and stressed the need for a holistic approach to workforce development. Called on the Minister to address issues with assessors leaving their roles due to time constraints, urging support for proper assessment processes. Requested the government to guarantee jobs for newly qualified physiotherapists, retain the chief allied health professions officer role, and include intensive care rehabilitation in the NHS workforce plan.

AHPs form the third largest clinical workforce in the NHS with over 300,000 professionals on the Health and Care Professions Council register. They play critical roles from early life to old age, improving health outcomes and reducing public spending. The speaker advocates for increased AHP leadership roles, expansion of advanced AHP roles, investment in AHP careers, improved digital access, and visibility of AHP outcomes.

Congratulates the hon. Member for Dudley on securing the debate and highlights the importance of Parkinson's nurses and neuro physiotherapy in improving physical health, balance, co-ordination and mental wellbeing. Emphasises the role of occupational therapy in educational settings to improve children's functional skills and reduce distractions. Urges the Government to match their recognition of allied health professionals with meaningful action on workforce planning and resourcing.

Operating Department Practitioners (ODPs) make up a crucial part of the NHS workforce but are often overlooked. There are currently 17,906 ODPs registered with the Health and Care Professions Council, many holding senior clinical leadership roles. However, there is a serious concern regarding their eligibility to supply and administer medicines under Patient Group Directions (PGDs), which limits their ability to provide necessary patient care promptly. The speaker calls for ODPs to be added to Schedule 16 of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 to address this issue. Additionally, there are concerns about the graduate guarantee scheme for newly qualified nurses displacing ODPs and a lack of parity in pay structures compared to nursing roles.

Allied health professionals undertake vital work in saving lives, providing care, and reducing strain on emergency services. They are requesting additional independent prescribing powers, similar to those of podiatrists but currently limited for dietitians and others. The speaker highlights a constituent's experience as a dietitian needing unnecessary oversight from doctors despite proper training and qualifications, suggesting this change would improve NHS efficiency by reducing GP waiting times.

Mr Akehurst thanked his colleagues and declared an interest as a member of the all-party parliamentary group on allied health professionals. He shared personal experiences from his severe illness in 2009, highlighting contributions made by various allied health professional roles such as radiographers, physiotherapists, dietitians, occupational therapists, podiatrists, orthotists and operating department practitioners. He emphasised the importance of these professions in helping him recover and regain independence after a life-threatening illness. He called for greater prioritisation of AHPs in NHS workforce planning and asked the Government to recognise their critical contribution to enabling people to live healthy lives.

Pays tribute to colleagues for their work with allied health professionals; highlights the Government's investment in NHS funding, waiting list reduction and GP recruitment. Mentions local improvements such as upgrades at George Eliot hospital and community care services in her constituency. Emphasises the need for more dietitians, occupational therapists, osteopaths, physiotherapists in neighbourhood healthcare centres to provide care closer to home.

Acknowledges the work of creative therapists such as music, art and drama therapists within mental health services; highlights their importance for patients who may struggle with verbal communication due to trauma or conditions. Emphasises the need for greater awareness of these roles in schools and careers advice, and suggests developing training pathways and apprenticeships to encourage more people into these professions.

Argued that allied health professionals are crucial to the NHS and must be supported properly. Described how these professionals save lives, provide comfort in moments of fear, aid rehabilitation, and enable people to get back to their normal lives. Emphasised the importance of creating a bank of safety net social care places and expanding step-down care for patients who can leave hospital but still need support. Cited data showing that last year saw the worst level of 12-hour trolley waits ever recorded and hospital trusts seeing thousands of patients waiting more than 24 hours in A&E each year. Highlighted issues such as inflexible rotas, burnout, workplace violence, high vacancy levels for NHS podiatry positions, and a declining pipeline of applications to study podiatry programmes. Proposed practical steps like establishing an independent pay review body, expanding access to affordable childcare for NHS staff, reducing car parking charges at hospitals, and addressing regional shortages in allied health professionals.

Welcomes the debate on allied health professionals, highlights their critical role in healthcare and social care. Criticises the lack of a clear NHS workforce plan and calls for more support to address shortages. Stresses the importance of enabling allied health professionals to take on responsibilities to reduce pressure on GPs and specialists, improving patient care. Mentions challenges in education and special educational needs services, urging local authorities to bridge gaps effectively with certainty and funding. Criticises the current government's approach, noting lack of published workforce plan and weakening structures needed to support AHPs. Calls for more serious planning regarding recruitment delays and impact on patient care.

Stressed the importance of AHPs in delivering community care, prevention, and digital health initiatives. Emphasised their role in mental health, children's well-being, and reducing hospital admissions through early intervention. Discussed ongoing work with education departments to improve access for those with special educational needs.

Thanked everyone who contributed to the debate, acknowledged the importance of allied health professionals in healthcare, thanked colleagues for sharing personal experiences and contributions, urged the Minister to ensure that allied health professionals are valued and given prominence in the forthcoming workforce plan.

Asked a point of order regarding the delay in publishing a written ministerial statement on the Ajax armoured fighting vehicle programme, raised concerns about delays in defence-related statements and the overall chaos within the Ministry of Defence (MOD), requested clarification on the situation.

Responded to Joy Morrissey's point of order by expressing that the House is entitled to expect prompt delivery of written statements, suggested that Government Front Bench may wish to verify details about the delayed statement, advised seeking further clarity from Table Office.