Sir - As a chartered physiotherapist working in the health services I take great exception to the recent remarks made by Ruairi Quinn when he described me and my colleagues as "greedy" in relation to the ongoing pursuance of an outstanding pay claim. The facts are that we have not had a review of the status of the profession since 1978 and have been in negotiation under PCW since June of 1995. In 1986, the profession achieved degree status and the role of the chartered physiotherapist has evolved. Now we are clinicians in our own right and are recognised as such by medical colleagues and in law.
Traditionally for 40 years the basic grade physiotherapist salary was linked to that of ward sister, in June 1997 it will have fallen by £4,000 per annum below the Ward Sister Grade. On average after tax, chartered physiotherapists take home £6 per hour. To call an attempt to improve this situation as "greedy" is an insult to our profession. The entry requirements for physiotherapy are the same as for medicine yet, looking at the potential earning capacity of chartered physiotherapists, it is a wonder anyone would choose it as a career option.
Already we have a situation that there is a huge bleed from the public health service to abroad and the private sector. This is making it increasingly difficult to keep public posts filled. If this continues, instead of being able to fulfil the aspirations of the national health strategy we will be battling to keep an acute service functioning. We, as a group of health professionals, are reaching a situation of "zero tolerance" and will be balloting for strike action, early in April. I would urge the minister to re examine this claim and provide a just and realistic renumeration for this small hard working and forgotten group. - Yours, etc.,
North Road,
Drogheda,
Co Louth.