Harlow, Essex Pure Unity Health May 7, 2026
Pure Physio has been a leading NHS partner since 2016, delivering highquality First Contact Practitioners(FCP)and wider clinical services fully integrated within Primary Care. We work collaboratively with Primary Care Networks, Neighbourhood Teams, GP Federations, GP clusters and ICBs across England, Scotland,Walesand Northern Ireland to provide communitybased, preventative healthcare that improves population health and reduces system pressure.
Our multidisciplinary teams — including First ContactPractitioners/Physiotherapists, Health & Wellbeing Coaches and Social Prescribers — focus on early intervention, prevention andlongtermwellbeing. We support MSK care, longterm conditions (including CVD,diabetesand persistent pain), social prescribing, women’s health, neurology,rheumatologyand geriatric care.
A First ContactPractitioner/Physiotherapist is an MSK specialist based in GP practices who can assess,diagnoseand support patients at their very first point of contact — without needing to see a GP first.
What FCPs do?
* Assess and diagnose MSK conditions on the patient’s first contact
* Provideexpert advice on pain management,mobilityand recovery
* Recommend treatment or onward referral to specialists
* Order investigations such asXraysor blood tests when appropriate
* Reduce GP workload by managing MSK cases directly
Attimesan APP maybe requiredto fulfil a requirement to
* Take on complex MSK presentations that exceed FCP scope
* Support patients with multimorbidities (CVD, diabetes, frailty, mental health)
* Provide advanced rehabilitation planning
* Reduce unnecessary referrals to secondary care
Whydo these roles matter?
Musculoskeletal problems account for around 30% of all GP appointments.So,weensure patients get faster access to the right clinician, improving outcomes while freeing up GP time for other health needs.
Training and Expertise
All FCPs are qualified physiotherapists with:
* A BSc or MSc in Physiotherapy
* Advanced MSK training aligned with the national FCP/Advanced Practice Roadmap
This enables them to work autonomously, request investigations and make complex clinical decisions.
In Summary
A First Contact Physiotherapist from Pure Physio gives patients rapid, expert assessmentswhile supporting PCNs with transparent reporting, preventative care and integratedcommunitybasedservices.
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