MSK FCPs are highly experienced members of the wider general practice team and are able to assess, diagnose, treat and manage patients with MSK issues. FCPs are mainly advanced physiotherapists with many years of experience.
FCPs are offered as a better alternative to seeing your GP for MSK conditions such as hip, knee and back pain. Our service aims to improve your access and ensure you are seen by the right person at the right time. Early specialist assessment with take home advice/exercises has been proven to enhance patient recovery and self-management of the majority of these types of conditions.
FCPs can help 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
- referring them onto specialist services if necessary
- By making it easier for patients to access physiotherapy services, 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. This will in turn help GPs to manage their workload more effectively, and reduce the need for onward referrals.
The benefits of the MSK FCPs:
- Typically will be seen quicker than a GP appointment
- Faster access to specialist musculoskeletal care
- Longer more in-depth appointments (20 minutes not 10 or 15)
- Reduced referrals to other NHS departments (GP into Physio services etc)
- FCPs have direct referral access to tests such as XRAY/ultrasounds where needed in the same way a GP does
Service eligibility:
- Patients aged 16 or over
- An MSK problem which you are not already under active treatment for
- MSK conditions such as:
- Soft tissue/muscle/tendon/ligament strains/sprains
- Joint pain/injury
- Acute flare up of a long-term condition
- Back/neck Pain
- Postural pain/problems
- Osteoarthritis
- Minor trauma (falls / sports injuries)
The service is inappropriate for you if you have any of these red flag symptoms alongside your MSK concern:
- Weight loss
- Previous history of cancer
- Violent trauma
- Fever
- Saddle anaesthesia (loss of sensation of the buttocks, perineum or thighs)
- Difficulty in micturition (abnormalities with the process of urinating)
- Progressive neurology
- Systemic steroid use
Musculoskeletal (MSK) First Contact Practitioners | NHS England | Workforce, training and education (hee.nhs.uk)
First contact practitioners in musculoskeletal services (youtube.com)
