First Contact Physiotherapists (FCPs) are highly trained physiotherapists, usually based in GP surgeries.
FCPs have extensive experience in the assessment and management of musculoskeletal conditions – such as back or neck pain – and see these patients without the need for a GP appointment.
If you have bone, joint or muscle pain, you can see an FCP.
What to expect when you see your FCP
Your FCP will assess and diagnose you.
Give you expert advice on how best to manage you condition.
Refer you onto a specialist service if necessary.
How do you book an appointment to see your FCP?
Simply contact your GP practice and request an appointment to see the FCP. The reception team will check that you’re suitable and book an appointment for you.
The following symptoms can be assed by your FCP:
ACUTE BACK PAIN
ACUTE NECK PAIN
SHOULDER PAIN
HIP PAIN
KNEE PAIN
WRIST/HAND PAIN
ELBOW PAIN
SPORTS INJURIES
STRAIN / SPRAINS
Your FCP can see patients aged 14 and above.
The below video gives more information about the service the FCP provides. The receptionist may signpost you to see a FCP rather than a GP if your symptoms fit their criteria.
For information on how to stay safe and healthy abroad along with Travel Health Advice please see the Fit for Travel website.
Holiday Health
It is always a wise precaution to pack some essential items in case of illness on holiday. Do choose medicines according to your needs and the country you are intending to visit. lf you take prescription medicines regularly remember to pack them too.
You may want to consider packing the following:
Paracetamol Travel Sickness tablets Plasters and a small crepe bandage
Rehydration solutions such as Dioralyte, Anti diarrhoeal for example lmodium
High factor sunscreen
Anti material tablets, Water purification tablets, Insect repellent
Condoms and other contraceptives
Sunhats for yourself and children
Mosquito Bite Avoidance for Travellers
In many tropical countries, mosquitoes can spread diseases such as dengue, chikungunya, West Nile, malaria, yellow fever and Zika. Here are five simple rules you should follow to reduce your risk of infections spread by mosquitoes.
Arrange travel vaccine appointments and get travel advice.
Fitfortravel is a free, interactive, public access website providing up to date health information for the UK public on avoiding illness and staying healthy when travelling abroad.
The FCO’s Consular Division aims to look after the safety of British travellers overseas. This site offers access to the full range of country-specific Travel Advice notices, and a selection of information designed to ensure that British travellers are well prepared before departure.
Disabled parking badges, accessible public transport, holidays in the UK, planning your trip, travel insurance, what do I need for going away, taking medicines abroad, advice on travelling if you have a stoma, fitness to travel, what if I need help away from home? Helpful travel hints.
As more and more people travel to different parts of the world, they come in contact with diseases rarely seen in the UK or other developed countries. The Travel Doctor is a good site which helps travellers look after their health before, during and after such a trip.
Travel Health Advice & Information About Travel Diseases. The information and advice on TravelHealth is nurse-led. The site content has been researched and is reviewed by UK Travel Health professionals.
TravelHealthPro is the website comprising the travel health resources of the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC). The NaTHNaC aims to help protect the health of British travellers.
Travelling in Europe is the European Union’s official website for people travelling in the 27 countries of the EU. Whether you are on holiday or on business, you will find practical advice and helpful tips on a wealth of subjects, from what documents you need, to getting healthcare and using your mobile phone.
If you are not sure whether you or your child have had all your routine vaccinations, ask your GP or practice nurse to find out for you. It may be possible to ‘catch up’ later in life.
Try to make sure you or your child have vaccinations delivered on time to ensure protection.
If you are going to be away from the GP surgery when a vaccination is due, talk to your doctor. It may be possible to arrange for vaccination at a different location.
Palliative Care
Caring for patients at the end of their lives can be one of the most challenging aspects of our jobs. We invest considerable resources in trying to get this right. We work together as a team to ensure that the physical, psychological and spiritual needs of our patients and their families are met.
The team comprises your GP, practice nurses, district nurses, and community palliative care nurse. We will be in close contact with specialists based at the Beatson Oncology Centre, and Accord Hospice. We hold regular meetings to ensure excellent care.
If you require any further information or support please contact your GP, or the district nurses.
Midwives and Ante natal Care
Antenatal Clinics are now held at Royal Alexandra Hospital.
If you believe yourself to be pregnant, please make an appointment to see the midwife by calling 0141 347 8422. The booking line team will arrange your first initial appointment with the midwife at the hospital. The midwifery team will support you throughout your pregnancy and will give you all relevant contact numbers and advice at your first appointment. If you are not already taking folic acid, please consider doing so as soon as possible. You may wish to refer to some of the excellent advice available at www.patient.co.uk.
Joint Injection
Dr Damian Smith can provide steroid or “cortisone” injections for the treatment of certain conditions such as tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, plantar fasciitis, trigger finger, frozen shoulder, etc.
Injection with steroid is often NOT required and most of these conditions will improve with rest, anti-inflammatory, time and sometimes physiotherapy.
Please make an appointment with Dr Smith or one of the other GPs to discuss the management of your condition. An appointment for a joint injection may be arranged after discussion with the GP.
Family Planning, Contraception and Sexual Health
Please make an appointment with any of the doctors or advanced nurse practitioners if you wish to discuss contraception or for preconception advice.
The practice offers assessment and treatment for patients with drug misuse particularly opiate addiction.
The Clinic is run by Dr McLoone. The clinic is held on a Tuesday afternoon and is by appointment only.
Chronic Disease Management Clinics
The practice holds specialist clinics in a number of areas. The clinics are run by doctors and nurses with a special interest and training in the particular disease area. We run a computerised recall system and you will be invited when your review is due.
The clinics are arranged so as to have the appropriately trained staff member and equipment available when you attend. The correct amount of time is allocated for a standard review of the disease area. As a result the appointment times are not particularly flexible and cannot always be arranged to fit in with other (eg work) commitments. We realise this may be inconvenient for some people, and where possible will try to amalgamate clinic reviews (eg heart clinic and diabetes and Blood Pressure) to minimise inconvenience to you.
We hold the following chronic disease clinics:
Hypertension
CHD (Coronary or Ischaemic heart disease)
Heart Failure
Diabetes
Asthma
COPD (Chronic Pulmonary Disease previously known as bronchitis or emphysema)
Non-urgent advice: These clinics are for monitoring of chronic disease to help prevent problems
If you experience a deterioration of your condition, you should make a routine or same day appointment.
