Children Suffering from Physio Shortage

The Growing Concern Over Physiotherapy Shortages

A growing concern among parents of children with physical disabilities has emerged, highlighting the risks posed by a lack of proper physiotherapy services. This issue is particularly acute for children at Claremont School in Bristol who suffer from scoliosis, a condition that causes the spine to curve abnormally. Parents are now raising alarms about the potential harm their children could face due to insufficient support.

Sirona's Decision and Its Consequences

The families of these children have voiced their frustrations regarding Sirona Care and Health, a community interest company that manages the school’s therapy services. In June 2024, Sirona made the decision to reduce the number of experienced physiotherapists at the school, opting instead to train unqualified teaching staff to manage scoliosis cases. This move has sparked significant backlash from parents, who believe it compromises the well-being of their children.

After being contacted by DISCOVERTREND, Sirona initiated a review of its children's therapy service. A spokesperson emphasized that the company's priority is "the safety and wellbeing of the children and families we support."

A Parent's Heartbreaking Experience

One parent, Helen, shared her distress over the impact of Sirona's decisions on her son, Sam, who was born with severe cerebral palsy. His condition includes a curved spine, which requires appropriate physiotherapy and equipment to manage effectively. However, Helen claims that the changes implemented by Sirona worsened Sam's scoliosis between May 2024 and March 2025.

She described how his spine deteriorated significantly, going from 20 degrees to over 90 degrees within a 10-month period. The result was excruciating pain, as his pelvis rubbed against his bottom rib. Helen expressed her frustration, stating that the situation was entirely preventable and left her with a difficult choice: let Sam endure pain or risk a lengthy and dangerous operation.

Parental Frustrations and Challenges

Helen's experience is not unique. Many parents have reported similar issues following Sirona's decision to cut back on physiotherapists. Some of these professionals have resigned, citing the lack of support and resources. Helen wrote a complaint about the changes, but Sirona labeled her letter as "aggressive and abusive," leading her to withdraw her consent for Sam's treatment.

Instead, she is using her life savings to hire a private physiotherapist, costing £90 per hour. Another parent, Julian, also faced accusations of being aggressive from Sirona. He claimed that despite a formal investigation into his daughter Gemma's care, no action was taken, prompting him to continue contacting the company.

Julian stated that he and his partner received a letter indicating they had been "aggressive and threatening" towards the therapy team. As a result, they were given a "second stage warning about modifying their daughter's care," which included only seeing her at school with a member of staff present.

The Open Letter from Parents

The group of parents, whose children all attend Claremont, has since written an open letter criticizing Sirona's cuts to school physiotherapy. The letter highlights the profound negative impact on their children's development and emphasizes the absence of therapists on a daily basis.

The parents also pointed out that their children have ECHPs (Education, Care, and Health Plans), which outline their needs and unlock funding. They are deeply concerned about the poor communication regarding the changes, which has come third-hand without any explanation.

Sirona's Response

Sirona declined to comment on the families' allegations but confirmed that an external review began on December 1 and is expected to run until mid-February. A spokesperson, Mary Lewis, chief nursing officer, stated that all concerns raised have been formally recorded and will be shared with the review team.

She added that the inquiry will look into how the service operates across all settings, identifying what is working well and what may need improvement. The review will also examine factors within Sirona or the wider system that could affect the delivery of care.

"We will act on the findings of the review. Our priority remains the safety and wellbeing of the children and families we support, and ensuring our staff have the conditions they need to deliver high-quality care."