Making access easier.

First Contact Physiotherapists are highly skilled and experienced NHS Chartered Physiotherapists.  They can complete a thorough physical assessment, prescribe exercise, suggest lifestyle changes and access medical investigations such as x-ray or MRI scans, or refer to routine physiotherapy and specialities such as orthopaedics or rheumatology, if deemed necessary. This initial contact offers quick access and high quality care to patients.

The service allows patients with new joint and muscle problems to be assessed directly by a clinician with the right skills to assess and begin management.  Often this will remove the need for further contact with the routine physiotherapy team, though where further physiotherapy input is needed an onward referral may be made.

By contacting the GP surgery and speaking to a First Contact Physiotherapist, in most cases an acute problem can be assessed and treatment can begin immediately.