Primary Care Reattendance Following an FCPP Appointment: A National Retrospective Service Evaluation

TL;DR

This study evaluates how often patients return to primary care after seeing a first contact practitioner physiotherapist for musculoskeletal issues.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into the impact of FCPPs on primary care workload and reasons for patient reattendance.

Findings

78.5% of patients did not reattend primary care within 12 weeks of an FCPP appointment.

Medication/analgesia was the most common reason for reattendance within 8 weeks.

Onward referral was the most common reason for reattendance between 8 and 12 weeks.

Abstract

Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions equate to one third of a general practitioners (GP's) caseload. First contact practitioner physiotherapists (FCPPs) have been shown to be a clinically and cost‐effective alternative to GPs for managing MSK conditions. However, their impact on primary care workload(s) requires further evaluation.

To determine the percentage of patients who, having seen an FCPP for a musculoskeletal disorder, then reattend with a GP, nurse practitioner (NP), or paramedic practitioner (PP) within 12 weeks, and the reasons for reattendance.

National, retrospective service evaluation from 70 primary care networks (PCNs) across England.

Data on the rate of and reasons for reattendance following an FCPP appointment were collected retrospectively between 01 January 2024 and 30 April 2024. Consent was obtained from each PCN/practice site. Extracted data consisted of patient demographics, and whether the patient reattended with a GP/NP/PP at three predetermined timepoints within 12 weeks. Reasons for reattendance at each time point were recorded against 8 predetermined criteria.

Two thousand one hundred forty out of 2725 patients (78.5%) did not reattend within 12 weeks of an FCPP appointment. Medication/analgesia prescribed was the most common reason for reattendance < 8 weeks and onward referral was the most common reason for reattendance between 8 and 12 weeks.

FCPPs do have a significant impact on reducing the burden of MSK conditions in primary care. Medication was the most common reason for reattendance, supporting the advanced practice component of the FCPP role.