The first contact physio team helps patients with musculoskeletal issues such as back, neck and joint pain by assessing and diagnosing issues, giving expert advice on how best to manage their conditions, and referring them onto specialist services if necessary.
The benefits for patients are:
- Quicker access to treatment and diagnosis – patients can contact their local physiotherapist directly via their GP practice, rather than waiting to see a GP or being referred to hospital
- By making it easier for patients to access physiotherapist, patients will have quicker access to diagnosis and treatment, helping them to manage their conditions more effectively and recover faster, so they can get back to normal life quickly.
And having expert first contact physiotherapists in GP practices also assists clinicians and reduces the need for onward referrals.
Patients can refer themselves to first contact physiotherapists by contacting their GP practice. They do not need a referral from their GP.