Physiotherapy services in Ireland are in some cases operating with only one third of the staff they had in 2007, according to a new survey.

A survey of physiotherapy managers in the health sector has found that the majority of services are currently operating with 80% or less staffing levels when comparted to six years ago, with some sectors as low as 35%.

The survey was conducted by the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists (ISCP).

ISCP President Jill Long said the reduction in physiotherapy staffing was having a negative effect on preventing the admission of many patients with muscoloskeletal problems to expensive acute hospital services.

She pointed out that for those admitted to hospitals, access to regular physiotherapy can reduce length of stay and enable patients to live active, confident and sociable lives within their communities.

"These vacant posts are primarily due to maternity and associated leave, which can last up to one year. In a profession that is predominantly young and female, the non-filling of these posts is having a devastating effect on the services available to patients."

Ruaidhri O'Connor, CEO of the ISCP, said the non-filling of so many posts came at a time when a majority of physiotherapy graduates were being forced to emigrate to get a job.