A TEAM of First Contact Physiotherapists (FCP) in Somerset is going from strength to strength with 17 colleagues recently gaining an advanced Master’s degree level qualification.

FCPs work across the Somerset healthcare system in every primary care network in Somerset, helping to ease the pressure on GP practices and ensure that patients who need a musculoskeletal assessment get seen by the right person, at the right time, in the right place.

The physiotherapists are employed by Somerset NHS Foundation Trust (FT) and Yeovil District Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, but they work across the whole musculoskeletal (MSK) patient pathway, through primary care, the Orthopaedic Assessment Service in Somerset (OASIS), and hospital-based orthopaedic clinics.

In total, over 40 FCPs work across many of Somerset’s GP practices, offering patients an advanced assessment and support to manage their musculoskeletal conditions through their GP practice without needing to come into hospital.

Patricia Acton, clinical lead for physiotherapy at Somerset FT, said she was proud of the team of FCPs.

“Our 17 FCP colleagues have done so much hard work to achieve this qualification,” she said. “We’re all very proud of them and we hope that this attracts even more people to consider a career with us in Somerset “All colleagues who work in the service must take a specialist postgraduate course in first contact physiotherapy, and the first 17 colleagues have recently completed stages 1 and 2 of the qualification, through a blended learning course run by the University of Plymouth.

“The postgraduate course covers advanced practice in primary care, such as the FCP role itself, and is aligned to ensuring colleagues have the right clinical skills, leadership and developmental skills for the role.

“We received funding for the course from Health Education England, which also paid for a limited amount of supervision and support.”

The FCP service is made up of a team of advanced physiotherapists, who assess and diagnose a range of MSK conditions, while playing a key role in health promotion and signposting patients to appropriate services as required.

“A good example of the way our FCPs operate is how if a patient phones up a GP practice with knee pain, the practice receptionist would triage them to see an FCP instead,” Patricia continued.

“The physiotherapist would have advanced clinical decision-making skills, with some having injection and pharmacology skills. FCPs can also request x-rays, and because of their in-depth knowledge of the secondary care pathway, they can refer on to other services.

“It’s very much a prevention role and helps to ensure that patients who need that extra help get on the right pathway at the beginning of their care needs, which could range from acute hospital care to advice and signposting from community services, such as health coaches – this is very much in line with our NHS trust’s values.

“Our GP colleagues have been very supportive of our clinical supervision and really value the role. In fact, they want more FCPs, which we are working hard to recruit.”

Toby Chapman, one of the MSK physiotherapists at Somerset FT, began working at the trust as a physiotherapist and progressed into an MSK post. Over the last year he has further developed his skills and took the FCP qualification, so he’s now working as an FCP.

He said: “Having worked in the trust as a MSK physiotherapist for a number of years, the masters-level modules provided an opportunity to challenge and enhance my clinical skills.

“They improved my confidence in clinical skills with our physiotherapy department, and the support of supervised sessions helped me to make a relatively smooth transition into the FCP role.”