Otago University Christchurch Physiotherapy Clinic to close

[UPDATED AT 7.37PM WITH COMMENT from Physiotherapy New Zealand Chief Executive Sandra Kirby]

Otago University’s Christchurch Physiotherapy Clinic is set to close.

The University’s physiotherapy Dunedin and Christchurch clinics provide clinical placements to undergraduate students studying at the school.

The Christchurch clinic was created to provide clinical placements for some of the school’s physiotherapy students in Christchurch and most recently has been used for about 30 students over five six-week rotations during each year.

Dean of the School of Physiotherapy, Professor Leigh Hale told Chris Lynch Media, the University has decided to permanently close the Christchurch Physiotherapy Clinic from late November this year.

“This is because the Christchurch Physiotherapy Clinic has struggled to attract enough patients for the students who train there, as well as for the staff of five registered physiotherapists.

“As a result, and despite trialling a variety of operational changes to reverse this trend, the clinic has not been able to generate enough income to significantly offset its running costs.

“This means the School of Physiotherapy is having to cover a growing financial gap.

“The building lease for the clinic is due for renewal in December, so this is an appropriate time to eview our existing arrangements.

We will ensure our current 2023 fourth-year students based in Christchurch will have the appropriate clinical placements to meet all the requirements of their degree and be able to graduate by December. From 2024, our fourth-year students will be offered alternative clinical placements around Christchurch.

Tertiary Education Union Organsier Phil Edwards said that after a “management of change process, initiated 28th June 2023, by Professor Leigh Hale the Christchurch Physiotherapy Clinic will close on the 24th November 2023 with the loss of 5.83 FTE.

“The Tertiary Education Union (TEU) is concerned that the decision to close the clinic will result in a long-term decline in the quality of clinical education offered by the University in response to what may be a short-lived financial crisis.

“In addition to the threat to student outcomes is the loss of access to quality physiotherapy provision and the end of the educational careers and livelihoods of its hardworking and loyal staff.

“The proposal's plan to outsource student placements to private clinics is deeply troubling as it seeks to shift the cost to the private sector, which has limited capability in educational provision.

“The TEU believes that this will undermine the University’s reputation generally and its relationship with the physiotherapy profession specifically.

Physiotherapy New Zealand Chief Executive Sandra Kirby said “the Physiotherapy Clinic run through the University of Otago in Christchurch was established as a safe teaching environment and offers clinical placements for approximately 30 students each year.

“PNZ’s concerns regarding the potential clinic closure centre around the existing pressure on clinical placements. 

“As in other areas of health professional training the number of clinical placement opportunities for physiotherapy students is limiting the workforce pipeline.

“A significant problem in clinical placements is the funding model from central government.