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

Area of Science:

• Primary Care
• Musculoskeletal Disorders
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions constitute a significant portion of general practitioner (GP) caseloads.
• First contact practitioner physiotherapists (FCPPs) offer a clinically and cost-effective management alternative for MSK conditions.
• The impact of FCPPs on primary care workload requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify patient reattendance rates with GPs, nurse practitioners (NPs), or paramedic practitioners (PPs) within 12 weeks after an initial FCPP consultation for MSK disorders.
• To identify the primary reasons for patient reattendance.

Main Methods:

• A national, retrospective service evaluation was conducted across 70 primary care networks (PCNs) in England.
• Data from 2725 patients seen by FCPPs between January 1 and April 30, 2024, were analyzed.
• Patient demographics, reattendance rates at 3 timepoints within 12 weeks, and reasons for reattendance were recorded.

Main Results:

• A substantial majority of patients (78.5%, n=2140) did not reattend within 12 weeks of their FCPP appointment.
• The most frequent reason for reattendance within 8 weeks was medication/analgesia prescription.
• Onward referral was the predominant reason for reattendance between 8 and 12 weeks.

Conclusions:

• FCPPs demonstrably reduce the burden of MSK conditions within primary care settings.
• The necessity for medication prescription highlights the advanced practice role of FCPPs.
• Findings support the integration and expansion of FCPP services to optimize primary care resource allocation.