FOUR years after a second lifegiving liver transplant, Laura Fairlamb has just qualified as a physiotherapist.

But the enthusiastic 25-yearold, who says she was born to be a physio, fears she will never get a job because of NHS cutbacks.

Ms Fairlamb, 25, from Lanchester, County Durham, says that only one out of her 50 classmates who graduated as physiotherapists at Teesside University a few weeks ago has a job.

She said: "It is such a waste. It feels as if there are a thousand people going after every single physiotherapy post."

The Chartered Society of Physiotherapists has estimated that nine out of ten of those graduating in physiotherapy from English universities this year are without a job.

Last week, it was reported that none of the new physiotherapy graduates at Northumbria University in Newcastle had found a job.

Ms Fairlamb finds it particularly frustrating to be out of work after she overcame so many difficulties.

She had her first transplant at the Freeman Hospital, in Newcastle, in 2000 after a potentially fatal virus attacked her liver.

However, her first replacement liver only lasted three years before it failed. In 2003, the then 21- year-old was given only a two per cent chance of survival and told to say her goodbyes to friends and family as her replacement liver failed.

At the 11th hour, a new liver was found after a year-long wait.

Determined to lead a normal life, she passed three A-levels and won a place at Teesside University to study physiotherapy in 2004.

She graduated with flying colours a few weeks ago, but is dismayed at the lack of physiotherapy posts in the NHS.

She said: "Traditionally, when you graduate, you do a junior rotation, different jobs in different hospital departments, but there seem to be virtually no NHS hospital jobs going.

"The whole point is to develop different skills. A lot of people go into private practice, but I do not really want to do that. I want to develop my skills in the NHS."

A spokeswoman for the North- East Strategic Health Authority said it was working closely with the Department of Health, the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, unions, universities and health and social care employers to help graduates get jobs.