First Contact Physiotherapist Role in Primary Care
A First Contact Physiotherapist (FCP) has the skills to assess, diagnose and manage a range of conditions appropriate to their knowledge and expertise and work at an Advanced Clinical Practice level as advanced practitioners (APs).
This is defined as “a level of practice characterised by a high degree of autonomy and complex decision making… It includes the analysis and synthesis of complex problems across a range of settings, enabling innovative solutions to enhance people’s experience and improve outcomes”.
FCPs working in this role can be accessed directly by self-referral, or staff in GP Practices can direct patients to them to establish a rapid and accurate diagnosis and management plan to streamline pathways of care.