Nottingham physiotherapists the new trailblazers in Primary Care

Patients in Nottingham are already benefiting from specialist physiotherapy assessment and care from their GP surgery can now be assured they’re receiving the most progressive service in England.

The programme was developed by HEE to enable first contact physiotherapists from a variety of professions to join local GP surgeries by recognising their qualifications, supervision, experience, training and providing assurance of safety for patients. They can provide expert musculoskeletal (MSK) care, which accounts for approximately 30% of the overall GP caseload quickly and close to home, while enabling patients who need a hospital consultant to be seen as quickly as possible.

The overall programme was delivered collaboratively by HEE and the University of Herefordshire to provide templates and materials for other practitioners across England and in March 2022, four FCPs completed the course and are the first to achieve recognition in England.

Our Regional Faculty Lead for Advancing Practice, Dr Julian Barratt in the Midlands region said:

“HEE has been pleased to support the development of clinicians at the enhanced level of practice by progressing to first contact practitioner roles in primary care to speed up access to care for patients and improve their health outcomes.”

This initiative is part of the NHS Long Term Plan to ensure patients are seen by the right person at the right time. By 2024 the target is that all adults in the UK will be able to see a FCP, meaning thousands of staff within primary care will need to complete the ‘Roadmap to Practice in Primary Care’ programme.