A push from physiotherapists for them to help reduce orthopaedic wait times

Recommendations from the planned care taskforce included considering a national programme where physiotherapists are used in assessment.

Physiotherapy New Zealand CEO Sandra Kirby says people could be referred to physios from their GP, rather than waiting months for a specialist appointment.

She says there's been pilot programmes, and they've been involved in expansion discussions, but it is taking time.

Kirby says they need it to become a national rollout -- they've got enough physios, but what's missing is funding.