AS many as 54,000 people in Yorkshire were hospitalised for head, neck, back and bone injuries last year.

And according to new statistics, people are set to suffer more as physio services face increased pressure.

This high demand for services was highlighted by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) at its recent Annual Congress.

Across the UK, just over half of all 12 million hospital admissions were for head, neck, back and bone injuries.'

Many patients who suffer from these injuries rely heavily on physiotherapy rehabilitation and treatment.

However, budget cuts mean that existing physio services are struggling with too few staff to meet patient demand.

Seven out of 10 physiotherapy managers say waiting times are rising, while 93% of this year's physio graduates have been unable to obtain their first NHS job.

CSP chair of council Sarah Bazin said: "These figures for people in Yorkshire and Humberside show that there is a high level of demand for physiotherapy.

"But Government pressure on NHS finances is biting hard.

"Physio staff and services have been cut, waiting times are rising, and patients are losing out.

"Thousands of positions for newly qualified physios have been frozen or cut to help balance the books.

"Experienced physiotherapists are left struggling to deliver existing services, with no time or resources to focus on ways of improving them."

For the region, Barnsley ranked highest in the league table of hospital admissions, with 2,683 people admitted for head, neck, back and bone injuries.

Huddersfield Central PCT ranked 26 out of 34 with 1,265 admissions, and South Huddersfield PCT came bottom with just 744 admissions.