Musculoskeletal (MSK) First Contact Practitioner (FCP) Physio

What is a First Contact Practitioner (FCP)?

A First Contact Practitioner (FCP) is a highly experienced clinician—such as a Physiotherapist, Podiatrist, Dietitian, or Occupational Therapist—who works within general practice at the first point of contact, seeing patients directly without the need for a GP referral.

FCPs are embedded in general practice via the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) and are aligned with the NHS England Roadmaps to Practice, where applicable. They are trained to assess, diagnose, manage, and appropriately refer patients, depending on the presenting need— reducing GP pressure and streamlining care pathways.

Why Was the FCP Role Introduced?

Primary care is under increasing pressure. Many patients attend GP appointments with conditions that could be better assessed and managed at the outset by other clinical specialists

For example:

Up to 30% of GP appointments are MSK-related—often best seen by a Physiotherapist.
Foot pain or diabetes-related concerns may benefit more from a Podiatrist’s early input.
Nutritional needs, from malnutrition to obesity, may need a Dietitian, not a GP.
Patients with difficulty performing daily tasks might benefit from an Occupational Therapist who can help them regain independence.

The FCP model helps ensure that patients receive the right care, first time, freeing up GPs to focus on complex or long-term cases.

Benefits to PCNs, Practices, and Commissioners

Frees up GP capacity to focus on higher-acuity or long-term conditions
Supports better appointment planning and triage
Enhances service resilience, especially during winter and peak demand
Facilitates ARRS fund utilisation without adding VAT or management fees (when delivered via a partner like Xcel Health)

Aligns with Long-Term Plan, Core20PLUS5, and anticipatory care priorities
Supports reduction in referrals, prescribing, and diagnostic overuse
Enables local place-based care models and primary care transformation
Offers measurable impact on service performance (e.g. GP time saved, DNA rates reduced, improved patient feedback)

Earlier access to relevant clinical advice
Reduced need for repeat appointments or GP gatekeeping
Stronger continuity of care and better self-management outcomes

High-Quality Clinicians, Embedded in Primary Care

At Xcel Health, all of our FCPs are:

Registered with the HCPC.
Fully compliant with Health Education England’s roadmap.
Skilled in identifying red flags and escalating appropriately.
Embedded within local practice teams and trusted by GPs.

They don’t just treat—they guide, advise, and empower patients toward recovery, ensuring that every MSK patient is seen by the right person, in the right place, at the right time.

Why Choose Xcel Health for Your First Contact Practitioner (FCP) Service?

At Xcel Health, we’ve been delivering First Contact Physiotherapy and Podiatry services to Primary Care Networks (PCNs) since 2019. We’ve combined our deep clinical expertise from private practice with a strong understanding of primary care pressures to develop a dependable, patient-centred FCP model.

We don’t just place clinicians—we become an integral part of your team.

We understand the daily challenges faced by GP surgeries and PCNs, including growing demand, limited capacity, and the need to reduce waiting times. That’s why our FCPs are embedded within practices—working side-by-side with reception teams, clinical leads, and PCN managers to deliver high-quality MSK care at the first point of contact.

Get in touch and discover how we can support your Practice/PCN