A Delphi Study to Identify Research Priorities for the Therapy Professions in Northern Ireland - Executive Summary Report

Introduction
In Northern Ireland (NI) the therapy professions include Chiropody/Podiatry, Dietetics, Occupational Therapy, Orthoptics, Physiotherapy and Speech and Language Therapy and constitute a significant and growing proportion of the healthcare workforce throughout the United Kingdom (UK). Allied Health Professionals (AHP) (originally referred to as Professions Allied to Medicine (PAM) in NI) have an important role in the planning, organisation and delivery of health care across most sectors of health care within both acute services and primary health and social care where they also contribute to assisting individuals with long term conditions to maximise their potential and independence. These roles are important in maintaining the quality of health care provision within changing, multidisciplinary and increasingly technological health and social care delivery systems.