The Northumbria First Contact Physiotherapy (FCP) Service provides expert assessment and advice for patients with musculoskeletal problems such as back, neck, joint, and soft-tissue pain. By allowing patients to be seen directly by a specialist physiotherapist without first needing to see a GP, the service supports faster access to the right care and helps reduce pressure on GP appointments.
The FCP team works closely with the practice, offering assessment, self-management advice, exercises, referrals for imaging where appropriate, and onward referral to specialist services if needed. However, this is a separate NHS service provided by Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and is not directly employed by or managed within the practice.