First Contact Practitioners (FCP) are qualified autonomous clinical practitioners who can assess, diagnose, treat, and manage musculoskeletal (MSK) problems and undifferentiated conditions and, where appropriate, discharge a person without a medical referral.
FCPs working in this role can be accessed directly by patients, or staff in GP practices can refer patients to them to establish a rapid and accurate diagnosis and management plan to streamline pathways of care.
Benefits
- Relieve up to 30% of GP workload attributed to musculoskeletal conditions and achieve better patient outcomes.
- Improves patient access.