General practice is currently experiencing an unprecedented workload and recruitment crisis. The idea of developing multi-disciplinary teams can look increasingly attractive.
Physiotherapists have the clinical expertise to assess, diagnose and treat patients with a range of musculoskeletal conditions. Musculoskeletal conditions account for 20-30% of GP consultations.
Benefits
Employing a physiotherapist can:
- help to reduce workload
- give more care options to patients
- gives patients swift access to a specialist
- free up GP time.
Where appropriate, GP time freed up by initiatives such as these will allow them to spend more time with those patients who have complex and, often, multiple care requirements.
Krishna Kasaraneni, BMA UK GP committee
Guidance and first point-of-contact model
This guidance has been produced by the CSP in conjunction with the BMA and the RCGP.
The guidance offers solutions to different scenarios in primary care with a range of practical ways to introduce a physiotherapist role in a GP surgery.
The guidance can be used in conjunction with the Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance’s MSK first point-of-contact model to make a practical assessment of the benefits of employing a physiotherapist.
Discover how much your service could save compared to current service models. Your results can be used to create a local business case for physiotherapy in primary care.
Download ARMA MSK first point-of-contact model