LETTERS: Changes in nursing care

Sir: As an NHS physiotherapist I was angered to learn that "generic carers" could replace most of my profession within the next decade.

Physiotherapy training involves an intensive four year degree course which provides physiotherapists with the knowledge to assess and treat patients effectively. The replacement of qualified therapists with generic carers will inevitably lead to a reduction in the quality of patient care as they will only have the most basic understanding of a patient's condition. Without the analytical skills developed in the degree course they will be unable to provide appropriate rehabilitation or work effectively with other members of the medical team.

Generic carers may help reduce the problem created by the national shortage of physiotherapists, but a more satisfactory solution to the problem may be to increase the incentive for physiotherapists to continue working within the NHS.

FIONA STEWART

Senior Physiotherapist

Newcastle upon Tyne