NHS Trusts Warned Over Gaps in Funded Maternity Cover

Almost half of NHS trusts in England have no dedicated budget or agreed overspending policy to fund replacement staff during maternity leave, according to new workforce analysis.

Freedom of information responses examined by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy found that 49% of trusts had neither of these financial arrangements in place. The finding does not mean NHS employees will lose their maternity pay or entitlement to leave, but it raises questions about how trusts maintain services while members of staff are absent.

Physiotherapy teams appear to be particularly affected. Around 22% of trusts said their maternity-cover arrangements did not extend to physiotherapists, compared with 9% for nursing roles. Women account for approximately 79% of the NHS physiotherapy workforce, making dependable cover an important part of workforce planning.

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy warned that when absent employees are not replaced, remaining staff may be expected to manage the same caseload with fewer colleagues. This could place additional pressure on already stretched teams and leave patients waiting longer for treatment or rehabilitation.

The organisation is calling for maternity-cover funding to be made available fairly across different clinical professions, alongside greater investment in physiotherapy staffing and an end to recruitment freezes.

NHS employees who meet the relevant service requirements remain entitled to occupational maternity pay and up to 52 weeks of maternity leave. The concern identified by the analysis relates to the separate cost of employing temporary or replacement staff so that patient services can continue during that absence.

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