Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) help many people of all ages live a happy and healthy life, and one expert has suggested the appropriate investment must made into their work and development.

Writing for Wales Online, Patricia Price, head of Cardiff University's school of healthcare studies, lauded AHPs and the essential role they play: "Many of you reading this article will be able to recount a tale of someone living in the community because of the support they receive from a team of health professionals." 

Be it working with children with cystic fibrosis, the elderly in nursing homes or assisting cancer patients, AHPs work tirelessly within the community; as such, their commitment should be recognised and encouraged, Price said.

The industry insider also argued that the money spent discovering new drugs for the future could also go towards funding the work of occupational therapists, dietitians or those working in physiotherapy jobs - as it is these professionals that can help in the here and now.

She claimed: "While I fully endorse the need to support new drug development, we must also recognised the patients we managed now simply cannot wait as long as 15 to 20 years for laboratory discoveries."

Many Welsh AHPs have echoed this opinion, taking their questions to the Welsh National Assembly and ensuring their voices were heard by politicians ahead of the election in May. Industry bodies joined them, asked for increased recognition, a relaxation of patient eligibility procedures and support in employment. 

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy's manifesto read: "The CSP in Wales in calling on the Government to value the contribution of the physiotherapy profession and promote physiotherapy services as vital."