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The First Contact Practitioner (FCP) service, a joint team between Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and local GP Practices, is celebrating after being awarded the regional title for the North West in the NHS Parliamentary Awards.
The service, shortlisted for the Excellence in Primary and Community Care Award category, will now compete for the national prize which will be announced on Wednesday 5th July - the NHS’ 75th Birthday.
The service, established in April 2021, works across the Wigan Borough, bringing specialist physiotherapy clinicians to work exclusively in GP surgeries. In a truly partnership approach, the service is funded by GP Practice Primary Care Network money, but the team is employed by WWL where they continue to receive professional development and support.
Sarah Russell, the Director of Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) and Nursing at WWL, said: “We are all very proud of this project and we are thrilled to be named as regional shortlist winners for the North West region.
“Being in the running for such a prestigious award and being able to highlight the work we are doing at WWL, alongside our partners throughout the Wigan Borough, on a national level is a huge honour.”
Dr Tim Dalton, Local GP and Chair of Healthier Wigan Partnership, said, “WWL and local GP Practices should be really thrilled with this recognition. Thanks to working in partnership to design and deliver this new service, together we have made it easier and quicker for local residents to get the support they need from physiotherapists and other specialists when they need it.”
FCP’s assess, investigate, diagnose, and manage patients presenting with musculoskeletal complaints without the need for GP consultation, therefore increasing availability of appointments to primary care, helping to address the current workforce challenges in General Practice. This has many proven and wide-reaching benefits and efficiencies both to patients and wider services across the healthcare system.
These include:
o Patients seen quickly by a specialist clinician in their GP surgery
o GP appointments vacated for those that need to see a GP, maximising the workforce
o Fewer prescriptions for pain relief with FCPs recommending non-pharmacological or over the counter analgesia first
o More appropriate referrals and reduced waiting time to access physiotherapy services and other hospital services (e.g. orthopaedics)
o Targeted referrals, reducing waiting times for x-rays and scans
o Established links between primary and secondary care to create standard clinical pathways, improve collaborative working and ensure streamlined care and increased knowledge & job satisfaction
Hazel Hendriksen, Director of Operations and Performance at WWL, said: “The FCP team should be so proud of themselves for the work they have, and continue to do, across the Wigan Borough.
“To have this recognised at the NHS Parliamentary Awards is testament to their dedication and hard work to making our patient journey easier and more streamlined across the healthcare service.”
In total, 30,000 additional appointments were provided by the team in general practice in 2022 and over 14,600 patients were assessed and managed without seeing a GP. Patients are now better able to manage their condition, leading to a faster resolution of symptoms, reduced absence from work and return to normal function, due to quicker access to a specialist clinician. Now, the majority of GP surgeries in the borough have benefited from additional workforce and appointment availability.