In the run-up to the general election, the UKKA has joined 35 charities in signing a Community Rehabilitation Alliance letter calling for the government to invest in and commission quality rehabilitation services.

The CRA highlights how vital these services are to meeting people's mental, physical, social and communication needs and is calling for them to be at the heart of developing future NHS services.

The alliance, which comprises more than 60 charities and professional bodies, is asking the next government to:

• Commit to the expansion of the rehabilitation workforce in the community making use of the full workforce available, including allied health professionals, mental health experts, nurses, support workers, exercise professionals, and the voluntary sector. It is essential that rehabilitation is given priority.
• Make a commitment to rehabilitation as an equal pillar of health care to medicines and surgery and reflect this in an updated NHS Constitution and other NHSE planning guidance Mandates.
• Mandate integrated care boards (ICBs) to improve access to high-quality community rehabilitation services for their populations with a single accountable lead in each ICB for rehabilitation and reflect this in their planning guidance.

Read the full letter here.