Evaluation of the First Contact Physiotherapy (FCP) model of primary care: a qualitative insight

Abstract

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Patient satisfaction with the first contact physiotherapy service: Results from the national evaluation survey

“…The results of this thematic analysis are in line with the qualitative findings of the National Evaluation (Goodwin et al., 2021). In particular, respondents valued the FCP service, the efficiency of the service and how it brought a MSK specialism to general practice.…”

“…The findings of the phase 3 Evaluation are reported elsewhere (Goodwin et al., 2021; Stynes et al., 2021) and confirm that key success criteria are being met. This article presents a thematic analysis from the phase 3 Evaluation, of previously unreported free‐text responses provided on the online questionnaires, from patients on their experiences and satisfaction following consultation with a FCP.…”

“…It is reassuring in terms of FCP efficacy that most respondents did not seek support from another HCP following their FCP appointment/ s. On the one hand this lends weight to the advanced clinical skill set of the FCPs (Health Education England, n.d.). However, those skills most frequently attributed 'advanced practice' (injections, nonmedical prescribing and referral for diagnostic investigation) have been described as being utilised infrequently (Goodwin et al, 2021;Langridge, 2019;Morris et al, 2020). It is interesting to note that of those respondents who did seek additional HCP input, the majority attributed this to persistent pain.…”

“…Policy‐driven diversification of the workforce has been addressing these issues over the last 5 years. Part of this solution are first contact physiotherapists (FCPs): autonomous practitioners who have been introduced to streamline MSK care pathways, provide faster access to specialist MSK healthcare and release GPs’ MSK capacity to manage other patients (Goodwin et al., 2021). Currently the majority of FCPs are physiotherapists, so they are able to bring physiotherapy expertise to the front of the MSK pathway (NHS England, 2019).…”

“…capacity to manage other patients (Goodwin et al, 2021). Currently the majority of FCPs are physiotherapists, so they are able to bring physiotherapy expertise to the front of the MSK pathway (NHS England, 2019).…”