Brunel University has been awarded a new contract with NHS London for the provision of physiotherapy education, following a competitive tender.
Brunel's School of Health Sciences and Social Care will receive funding for its full-time and part-time BSc Hons Physiotherapy courses, and the award will also enable the University to offer a new pre-registration MSc in Physiotherapy.
This means that Brunel has been awarded funding for 82 physiotherapy student places, which makes it one of the largest providers of physiotherapy education in the UK.
Following signing of the contract Brunel, will be working in partnership with NHS London over the next few months to plan for the future provision of NHS-funded physiotherapy degree programmes.
The announcement caps an "outstanding year" for Brunel's physiotherapy team, according to John Cossar, the University's Director of Physiotherapy. "This new contract is an indicator of how we have met the heightened quality standards set by NHS London for the training of physiotherapists," he said. "These standards measure how universities ensure that physiotherapists are equipped with the best skills, abilities and attitudes to provide excellent levels of care, and London education providers were invited to show how they would meet these levels as part of a competitive tender process. It's a tremendous feeling to have come out on top and be regarded as number one for physiotherapy in London."
Professor Lorraine De Souza, Head of the University's School of Health Sciences and Social Care, added: “We wish to thank everybody who has been directly involved in the NHS tender process and all those who offered us support and advice.”
Brunel's undergraduate Physiotherapy programme was recently re-approved by the Health Professions Council and the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. The University's Physiotherapy programmes are regularly ranked in the top five in the national education league tables and achieved sector-leading results in the last National Student Survey.
Notes to editors
To request to interview John Cossar, please call Phil Smith on 01727 733888 or email
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