First Contact Physiotherapist

“Low back and neck pain are the greatest cause of years lost to disability in the UK, with chronic joint pain or osteoarthritis affecting more than 8.75 million people”

- NHS England

First Contact Physiotherapists (FCPs) are a team of specialist physiotherapists working in your GP practice to support patients with musculoskeletal conditions (MSK) such as back pain and sciatica, neck pain, joint pain, arthritis, soft tissue injuries, sports injuries, problems with muscles, ligaments, tendon. Our FCP’s also work alongside a complimentary therapy service for more sever and chronic cases of MSK.

When to see your FCP? - video

What To Expect When You See An FCP

FCP’s will work with you to help you manage your MSK conditions earlier so that you can recover and can get back to normal life quicker. FCP’s can:

  • Offer early expert assessment and diagnosis of MSK conditions.

  • Offer early advice, guidance and exercises for MSK conditions.

  • Arrange investigations if needed e.g. x-ray, ultrasound scan and MRI scans

  • Refer you for further treatment and a second opinion if needed e.g. Physiotherapy Rehabilitation, Orthopaedics, Rheumatology

FCP’s also work alongside a limited complimentary service that supports patients with more sever and chronic cases of MSK. Patients are referred by the FCP and health and wellbeing coaches and are offered limited sessions with a massage therapist alongside their rehabilitation exercises.

Better Lifestyle Programme

A 4 week group programme focusing on improving the quality of life of people living with pain for more than 3 months after their body has healed or after trying different ways to treat it. This group is led by first contact physiotherapist and 2 health and wellbeing coaches.

Ask your GP practice for a referral

  • "Instils confidence"

    “Mike instils confidence in his patients, showing care and attention beyond the call of duty and he considers other alternative reasons contributing to his patients’ ailment. Add to that the time he takes to impart information and I readily recommend him to any patient in need of treatment."

  • "Better flexibility, less pain and better sleep"

    “To review my experience with massage therapy for sciatica and chronic back pain, I have seen significant improvement. I rarely have any pain where it used to be a daily issue, my sciatica has immensely improved, I feel more energetic and even my mental health has really improved”

  • "He's a physiotherapist who cares"

    "Michael Glover is one of those practitioners that you just know goes much further than just being a physiotherapist, he’s a physiotherapist who really cares. My instinct always, without fail, informs me of those who are doing it because it’s just their job, and those who do it because it’s their vocation."

  • "He listened and understood my frustration"

    “Within a minute of assessing my foot; he could tell what was wrong, where doctors had not been able. He also gave me a great programme of exercises, which helped hugely with my rehab and checks in to make sure the recovery, is going smoothly. He has a great manner, a wicked sense of humour and really knows his stuff…. I now highly recommend Mike”

How Can I Be Referred?

If you’re registered at one of the GP practices on the Isle of Dogs and experience musculoskeletal issues, you can be referred to a first contact physio for an assessment by self-referral via e-consult or ask for a referral from your GP practice. We do have an exclusion criteria however all initial consultations begin with a telephone call.

Michael Glover

First Contact Physiotherapists  

I was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland; one of seven siblings.  Growing up I was very much involved in Sports, Running, Football, Gaelic football and Hurling.  I was successful to represent the North and South of Ireland in International athletics on the track and x-country, and I was All-Ireland Cross-Country Champion in 1991.  Sports lives on in my life and I have a sub 2hr 53 marathon time.

I moved to London to pursue a career as a Physiotherapist.  I started in Tower Hamlets, moved to Hackney in 2001 before returning to manage the Sports Gym at Mile End Hospital.  The opportunity to return and serve the Tower Hamlets population again where it all began was a no brainer.  I was successful in being offered the post of First Contact Physiotherapy Practitioner in 2021.