A PLEA to the Health Secretary for more physiotherapists has been made by Hindhead resident Marianne O’Brien, who has been hard hit by a 16-week waiting list.

Calling on her local MP Jeremy Hunt to help her and hundreds of others like her across the country, she wrote: “Where have all the physiotherapists gone? There is a 16-week waiting list for the rehabilitation team at Milford - they said because of a shortage of physiotherapists.

“Having been injured by a driver reversing across the pavement and into the main road, the A287, in Beacon Hill as I was walking towards the bus stop in the middle of June, resulted in me being in a wheelchair since then.

“I am at last allowed physiotherapy with a view to eventually being able walk again and regain my independence, and get in and out of the bath. I’ve been given a couple of exercises, but not permitted to walk outside, nor use my exercise bike until I am seen.

“I’m desperate to get out of my wheelchair, walk up the to the village and get on a bus. There must be hundreds of others waiting too. Do you know what’s going on?”

Virgin Care provides the Day Assessment and Rehabilitation Unit at Milford Hospital, which offers physiotherapy and occupational therapy assessments and treatment programmes, among other services.

Responding to Marianne’s complaint, a spokesman for Virgin Care said: “Demand for our community rehabilitation service is currently very high, but there are no vacancies in the team and we are working very hard to see all patients as soon as possible.

“We cannot comment on individual patient cases but we run a range of closely integrated services across Surrey, and these services – which includes the community rehabilitation team – work together to ensure patients’ needs are met, and care is put into place where it is needed.”

Mr Hunt said: “Virgin Care is the provider of the physiotherapy service on behalf of the local NHS at both Haslemere and Milford Hospitals. Despite being fully staffed, the demand for this service can vary and there is currently very high call for this type of treatment.

“There can be a wait for routine physiotherapy, however during this time, their community team provides an ‘at home’ service for patients to ensure individuals are being monitored and supported effectively. But I expect Virgin to provide the highest standards of care and will continue to raise any issues of concern that come up.”