First contact physiotherapist

First Contact Physiotherapist – Physiotherapy East Cornwall Pure Unity Health – Jun 15, 2026

Location: East Cornwall, Plymouth. Hours: 40 hours per week, Permanent. Salary: £42,000 to £49,000 pro rata, depending on experience.

Pure Physio has been a leading NHS partner since 2016, delivering high‑quality First Contact Physiotherapists (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, Wales and Northern Ireland to provide community‑based, preventative healthcare that improves population health and reduces system pressure.

Our multidisciplinary teams — including First Contact Physiotherapists, Health & Wellbeing Coaches and Social Prescribers — focus on early intervention, prevention and long‑term wellbeing. We support MSK care, long‑term conditions (including CVD, diabetes and persistent pain), social prescribing, women’s health, neurology, rheumatology and geriatric care.

A First Contact Physiotherapist is an MSK specialist based in GP practices who can assess, diagnose and 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
• Provide expert advice on pain management, mobility and recovery
• Recommend treatment or onward referral to specialists
• Order investigations such as X‑rays or blood tests when appropriate
• Reduce GP workload by managing MSK cases directly

Advanced Practice (APP) Requirements

• 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

Why do these roles matter?

Musculoskeletal problems account for around 30% of all GP appointments. By ensuring patients get faster access to the right clinician, we improve 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 assessments while supporting PCNs with transparent reporting, preventative care and integrated community‑based services.