First Contact Practitioner

The FCP consultation will typically follow this path:

1. Person presenting with an MSK condition is booked in to see an FCP (instead of the GP) by the Receptionist / person making the appointment.
2. In one session the MSK First Contact Practitioner can assess and diagnose (including screening for serious pathology).

Potential interventions:

• Give information on self-care and enable and support behaviour change
• Discuss fitness for work
• Refer to Social Prescribing
• Discuss physical activity and health (eg: smoking cessation and weight management)
• Refer to a course of treatment (eg: physiotherapy or podiatry)
• Refer to Orthopaedic, Rheumatology or Pain services
• Request investigations
• Refer for medicine's optimisation
• Administer joint / soft tissue injections (if qualified).

 Inclusion criteria 

• All soft tissue injuries, sprains, strains or sports injuries
• Arthritis – any joint
• Possible problems with muscles, ligaments, tendons or bone (eg: tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, ankle sprains)
• Spinal pain including lower back pain, mid-back pain and neck pain
• Spinal-related pain in arms or legs, including nerve symptoms (eg: pins and needles or numbness)
• Post-orthopaedic surgery

Exclusion criteria 

• Acutely unwell
• Children under 16
• Medical management of rheumatoid conditions, women's health, antenatal or postnatal problems.
• House-bound patients
• Medication reviews for non-MSK conditions, Neurological / Respiratory conditions
• Headaches
• Acute mental health crises
• Patients who do not want to see an FCP
• Multi-joint problems
• Rheumatological problems.
• Medication / Prescriptions