Musculoskeletal First Contact Practitioners

Musculoskeletal First Contact Practitioners are based in local GP surgeries to provide expert musculoskeletal (MSK) care quickly and close to home. Often able to respond quickly with appointments within 24 hours, they assess patients face to face or virtually without them needing to see the GP first. 

These highly trained specialist healthcare professionals are able to diagnose and treat muscular and joint conditions.

You can be referred by your healthcare professional if you are registered at a GP surgery within the areas we provide this service. Please use our contact page if you want to ask PICS about the role.

For residents of South and Mid Nottinghamshire registered to a GP surgery in:

Broxtowe, Hucknall, Gedling including Carlton,  Calverton, Arnold, Daybrook, Westhorpe and Mapperley, Newark, Sherwood, Mansfield and Ashfield.

  

Benefits:

Empower patients to self-care, supported with reassurance about their condition and tailored treatment options.

Move patients quickly and efficiently into treatments in the Musculoskeletal Hubs.

We’re fully integrated with primary, community and secondary care services, offering a streamlined experience and consistently high standards of care.

Our holistic approach and integration with other healthcare professionals offer patients the right care in the right place and at the right time.

Outcomes:

Residents are empowered with information, support and advice to help better manage their condition. 

Enables patients who need a hospital consultant to be seen as quickly as possible.  

Case study

Find out more about how the service works and makes a difference to local residents.

Information for healthcare professionals

PICS currently employs Musculoskeletal First Contact Practitioners in the following Primary Care Networks: Nottingham West, Synergy, Arrow, Byron, Arnold and Calverton, Rosewood, Mansfield North, Newark, Ashfield South, Ashfield North and Sherwood.

Charlie Akiens is the Clinical Lead for the Musculoskeletal First Contact Practitioners team, offering supervision and support to achieve NHS Roadmap accreditation.

PICS is a member of the MSK Together partnership in Mid Nottinghamshire Place Based Partnership, which is a hub that brings together services for residents related to muscular and joint care. We work as part of a diverse team so that residents can access the right care at the right time.