Allied Health Professions Federation Scotland (AHPFS)

Allied Health Professions Federation Scotland (AHPFS) is made up of 12 professional bodies representing 14 Allied Health Professions. There are over 14,000 Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) in Scotland, making us the third largest clinical workforce, and with that we bring breadth, passion, knowledge, and the skills to drive and support change.

We are arts therapists, dramatherapists, music therapists, orthoptics, dieticians, podiatrists, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, orthotists and prosthetists, occupational therapists, paramedics, and radiographers. We work with people of all ages; we diagnose; we prevent, we treat and we help people live their best lives.

AHPs are leaders and advocates for change. Utilising AHPs to our maximum effect impacts and delivers true transformational change across health, social care, public health, education, the third sector and beyond. We bring different solutions to incredibly tricky problems across the sectors and across the life journey.

MEMBERSHIP:

Chair - Hilary Munro, Professional Head of Speech & Language Therapy (NHS Fife)

Vice Chair - Sharon Weiner-Ogilvie, Podiatry Head of Service (NHS Fife) - Royal College of Podiatry

Vice Chair - Glenn Carter, Head of RCSLT Scotland Office - The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists

AHPFS MANIFESTO LAUNCH: SHAPING SCOTLAND'S HEALTH AND CARE FUTURE

As Scotland prepares for the next national elections, expected in May 2026, the Allied Health Professions Federation Scotland (AHPFS) is calling on all political parties to commit to three strategic priorities that will unlock the full potential of the Allied Health Professions (AHP) workforce.

These priorities are designed to strengthen leadership, widen access to AHP careers, and ensure timely, equitable services for people across Scotland. By embracing these commitments, the next Scottish Government can help secure a sustainable, person-centred health and care system for generations to come.

Our Three Strategic Priorities:

Embed AHP leadership across health and social care systems
Expand routes into AHP careers to grow and diversify the workforce
Ensure timely and equitable access to AHP services across Scotland

Download the full AHPFS Manifesto here: AHPFS Manifesto.pdf

We will be sharing our manifesto with party leaders, MSPs, health and social care spokespersons, and key decision-makers across Scotland. But we also need your help.

Share our manifesto widely to ensure that local candidates understand the value of AHPs and are committed to supporting these priorities in their campaigns and beyond.

Together, we can make sure AHPs are at the heart of Scotland’s health and care future.

AHPFS STATE OF THE NATION:

The Allied Health Professions Federation (AHPF) commissioned the 'State of the Nation' project. This has the overall aim of producing a set of infographics that raise awareness to decision makers of the AHP workforce and the impact they have and could have on service delivery across the four nations of the UK. The infographics aim to influence future policymaking and commissioning in favour of AHPs. There will be one infographic specific to each of the four UK nations and then one overarching infographic for the UK.

The Allied Health Professions Federation Scotland (AHPFS) is delighted to share the 'Unlock the full potential of Scotland's AHP Workforce' infographic. Please share this with AHP members, people who use our services and stakeholders.

AHPF Infographic_Scotland.pdf

AHPFS COMPENDIUM:

The Allied Heath Profession Federation Scotland (AHPFS) is delighted to share with you Scotland Allied Health Professions Compendium 2023.

Our Compendium is designed to showcase the work of AHPs in Scotland and the difference they make through a range of impact stories, highlighting their contribution in many areas across health and social care.

A link to the Compendium is here: AHPS Compendium 2023 e-use FINAL

2025/26 WORKPLAN:

A link to our 2025/26 Workplan can be found here: AHPFS Workplan - Feb 25-Jan 26.pdf

CONSULTATION RESPONSES:

LONG TERM CONDITIONS FRAMEWORK

See our response to the Long Term Conditions consultation, where we welcome the vision and priorities, we remain cautious on some areas and would require clarity before fully supporting the framework. Long term conditions framework Consultation Response AHPFS.pdf

NATIONAL CARE SERVICE

The National Care Service Bill (Stage 2) went out for consultation in July 2024. AHPFS has developed a position paper to highlight how crucial AHPs will be to delivering the NCS and what our key asks are at this stage of the bill. A link to the document is here: AHPFS NCS Position Paper 2024_Final.pdf

LETTERS TO CABINET SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE

AHPFS wrote to the Cabinet Secretary Neil Gray to highlight some concerning findings following an FOI request. The request revealed that not a single NHS Scotland Health Board has an AHP on its board nor do they have voting rights. Only 13 out of 31 Integration Joint Boards (IJBs) has any AHP representation on it with varying ability to influence. We are meeting Mr Gray to discuss this and will update AHPFS following that meeting. A link to the letter is available here: Letter to Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care - May 2025.pdf

AHPFS met with the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Neil Gray, in October 2024. During the meeting, AHPFS highlighted what AHPs offer and the unique contribution AHPs can make in leading the necessary reforms required to address population health in Scotland. AHPFS emphasised the importance of parity with nurses and medical colleagues in regards to leadership roles; the importance of addressing AHP workforce crisis, and widening access to training. A letter was sent to the Cabinet Secretary for health and social care following the meeting, summarising the main issues raised and actions. Letter to Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care - December 2024.pdf

NEWS:

June 2025 - Glenn Carter (Vice Chair, AHPFS) attended the First Minister's speech on 'national renewal' and the urgent need to modernise public services with a key focus on prevention, technology and enhancing efficiency. Principles that he pointed out align with The Christie Commission.

Following the speech, Glenn and Heather Cameron (Scottish Director of AHPs) spoke directly with the First Minister and later with the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care. They highlighted the key part Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) can play in delivering on this transformation and the need to ensure that AHPs are 'in the room' when key decisions are being made. They also stressed the importance of increasing and protecting funding for AHPs services which are key to reducing health inequalities and helping people live healthier, more independent lives at home.

February 2025 - AHPFS members from The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, Royal College of Occupational Therapists and Royal College Of Speech and Language Therapists attended the Scottish #LabourConference to highlight the need for improved rehabilitation services. A huge thank you to Jackie Baillie, Deputy Leader of the Scottish Labour Party and Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health, for her support of the #RightToRehab campaign. Rehab is essential for people recovering from health conditions to live the best lives they can. Everyone deserves the right to rehab.

Sign the #RightToRehab petition: Right To Rehab - Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland

January 2025 - Hilary Munro, Chair of AHPFS, had the opportunity to ask a question during John Swinney's speech on improving public services with focus on NHS. Watch here.