First Contact Practitioner/Joint Pain

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physiotherapist

Physiotherapy - First Contact Practitioners

What is a First Contact Practitioner?

First Contact Practitioners (FCPs) are physiotherapists usually based in GP surgeries with an expertise in the assessment and management of musculoskeletal conditions.  If your GP surgery has a first contact practitioner, you can book an appointment directly with a physiotherapist via the receptionist, which means you won’t need to wait for a referral from a doctor.  You may be seen at your surgery and another nearby surgery as sometimes the FCPs work across a group of surgeries in a local area.

What can we offer patients

In one session we will do the following:

  • Assess and provide diagnosis
  • Give expert advice on how best to manage your condition
  • Prescribe Medication
  • Give Injection therapy
  • Give Physical activity advice
  • Refer for course of physio treatment
  • Triage for orthopaedics, rheumatology and pain management services
  • Refer patients for X-ray and blood tests if these are needed

We do not provide rehabilitation, if we feel that you need a course of Physiotherapy we will refer to the community physiotherapy services.

Who can use the service?

  • Patients over 16
  • All soft tissue injuries, sprains, strains or sports injuries
  • Arthritis - any joint
  • Possible problems with muscles, ligaments, tendons or bone (e.g. tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, ankle sprains)
  • Spinal pain including lower back pain, mid-back pain and neck pain
  • Spinal-related pain in arms or legs, including nerve symptoms (e.g. pins and needles or numbness)

Who is the service unsuitable for?

  • Acutely unwell
  • Children under 16
  • Medical management of rheumatoid conditions
  • Women’s health, antenatal and postnatal problems
  • Housebound patients
  • Medication reviews for non-MSK conditions
  • Neurological / respiratory conditions
  • Headaches
  • Acute mental health crises
  • MSK chronic pain who are already being seen by orthopaedics, pain clinic or seen within last 6 months in regular physio
  • Where the GP has advised that the FCP is unsuitable

How to get an appointment

Patients can request an appointment with a First Contact Practitioner by contacting their practice reception team or use the practice online consultation forms.

You do not need to see a GP first prior to seeing us.