WHEN we’re ill, our GP surgeries are the first place we turn for help. But who we’re seen by is changing, with some patient care moving away from under pressure doctors. In our series, Changing Care: The new GP team, we’re looking at what patients in North Cumbria can expect.

Anyone who has ever suffered debilitating back or neck ache knows the misery the pain and restriction of movement can cause.

Such issues are commonplace, in fact musculoskeletal (MSK) health issues like these are the most common cause of repeat GP appointments, accounting for around one in five of all appointments.

The good news for under-pressure GP surgeries is that many problems can be dealt with effectively by a physiotherapist, without any need to see a doctor.

In North Cumbria, First Contact Physios (FCP) have become part of the team at some GP surgeries after Workington was a successful local and national pilot.

The role of the FCP in primary care is to assess patients with soft tissue, muscle and joint pain and decide on the most appropriate management of that injury or condition.

Sima Moyo is an FCP with the James Street Group Practice in Workington Primary Care Network.

She said: “Our day-to-day job is to see patients who would normally go to a GP for things like back, neck, knee or shoulder pain.

“With the new model of care, the receptionist will establish what kind of problem it is and navigates them to the appropriate practitioner, such as the MSK clinic.”

FCPs operate in a similar way to a GP, so the patient attends consultation for assessment. The FCP will establish the problem and the service needed. They refer for follow-ups like X-rays, blood tests, core physiotherapy, or to orthopaedic surgeons and for elective services.

Sima said there’s a growing awareness and appreciation of the role.

“People now use the service more and seem to appreciate they can come directly to somebody who deals with musculoskeletal problems and they feel that is the best way to be seen.

“We can give them advice, such as exercises, there and then so this reduces the number of people who have to be referred on for physiotherapy and wait longer for treatment.

“The job is quite challenging; you see new patients and new conditions daily. But it’s satisfying because you can refer them and you have opportunity to follow them up. Patients can always come back if they don’t get better and that is quite reassuring.

“The feedback we’ve got from both clinicians and the patients has been positive.”

Such is the demand for the services, two FCPs are now in post with Workington Primary Care Network offering daily clinics.

Fellow FCP Tamsin Cass said: “Some patients are very pleased just to be seen and are very thankful.

“I have had a few who have come in and said ‘no offence, but I want to see a GP’ but normally when you explain your speciality they are fine with it.

“We are specialists in MSK, we have good connections with the acute trusts and the orthopaedic service so we can ask direct questions there.

“We can give patients a better journey, quicker hopefully, so they see the right person, get the right investigations and the right advice from the word go.”

READ MORE: Just what the social prescriber ordered