Physiotherapy care for patients recovering from strokes, surgeries, and severe injuries is in sharp decline across the NHS due to inadequate space, outdated facilities, and insufficient equipment, according to new research by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists (CSP).
The nationwide survey, which gathered responses from more than 2,000 physiotherapy staff, revealed that four in ten have already lost or expect to lose dedicated rehabilitation space. Meanwhile, six in ten reported that their treatment areas have been repurposed for other clinical teams, often due to funding shortages or a lack of priority given to physiotherapy services.
Sara Hazzard, assistant director at the CSP, described the findings as deeply concerning. “Five years after the pandemic, it’s shocking that rehabilitation space continues to be sidelined and routinely taken away from physiotherapy teams who are then forced to provide care in corridors,” she said. “These vital spaces are where people learn to walk again, recover from catastrophic life events such as stroke and rebuild their identity and lives after surgery in a dignified manner.”
She urged the government to enforce NHS England’s existing estates guidance to ensure rehabilitation spaces are protected, warning that the government’s 10-year healthcare plan “won’t happen if rehab continues to be sidelined”.
The survey also revealed a worrying decline in patient outcomes. About 74% of NHS physiotherapists said the quality of rehabilitation they could offer had deteriorated, while 57% reported reduced access to essential equipment. Over half (51%) said they had seen an increase in patient disability levels, and 53% noted higher hospital readmission rates.
One NHS physiotherapist working in stroke rehabilitation described the dire conditions of their unit: “We’re dealing with an utterly inadequate rehab space which is failing so many of our stroke patients.” They explained that their therapy gym has been reduced to just 15 square metres, making it impossible to meet the target of three hours of supervised movement per day. “Without space to rehab, progress and recovery becomes a lottery,” they said.
Others reported that patients recovering from falls were becoming increasingly anxious, as physiotherapy sessions were now taking place in crowded wards rather than in dedicated spaces.
Andy Fletcher, chief executive of Muscular Dystrophy UK, said the figures reflected a growing crisis. “We know the NHS is under enormous pressure. This isn’t just unique to neuromuscular services – it’s part of a wider healthcare trend. The reduction in these services has created a postcode lottery with many people missing out on the crucial care and support they need.”
In response, a Department of Health spokesperson said: “We recognise the vital role physiotherapy plays in helping patients recover from illness, injury and surgery, and we are committed to ensuring NHS staff have the facilities and resources they need to deliver high-quality rehabilitation care.”
The department added that as care increasingly shifts from hospitals to community settings, more patients will gain access to physiotherapy through neighbourhood health centres.
