Advancing Physiotherapy Practice: My Experience Speaking to Final Year Students at the University of Suffolk

Hey everyone!

Yesterday was a busy but really fulfilling day. I took my final exam for my MSc Module for injection therapy at the university of Essex (I feel so relieved) and I had the pleasure of speaking with final-year physiotherapy students at the University of Suffolk about advancing physiotherapy practice. It was such a great session, and I could see how eager the students were to understand the different career paths available in physiotherapy, especially around the First Contact Practitioner (FCP) role.

I spoke to them about what the FCP role actually is, how to get into it, the challenges that come with it, and the career progression opportunities it offers. A lot of people think FCP is a specialty, but it’s not—it’s a job title. Any MSK-trained clinician can become an FCP, including physiotherapists, chiropractors, osteopaths, and even nurses and paramedics with an MSK background. The role was introduced to help ease the pressure on GPs, since MSK conditions make up a huge chunk of GP consultations. Instead of waiting to see a doctor, patients can now go directly to an MSK specialist, which speeds up care and reduces unnecessary referrals.

One question that kept coming up from the students was how on earth it’s possible to see a patient in just 20 minutes. And honestly, I get it—when you’re coming from a traditional physiotherapy background, where you’re used to spending 45 minutes to an hour with a patient, the idea of diagnosing and managing someone in 20 minutes sounds impossible. But the reality is, it gets easier. The more you do it, the more efficient you become. You start to recognize patterns, your questioning becomes more precise, and you learn how to streamline your assessments. It’s all about being structured, knowing what’s relevant, and cutting out the fluff. That’s why the training process for FCPs is so important—it’s not just about clinical knowledge, but also about developing rapid decision-making skills.

Another big concern was burnout. The students wanted to know if seeing so many patients a day—sometimes over 100 a week—takes its toll. And the truth is, yes, it can. The workload is intense, and because you’re seeing undifferentiated conditions, every patient is different, which means you have to be switched on at all times. But again, with time, it becomes more manageable. The key is having systems in place, staying organized, and knowing your limits. If you go into this role without boundaries, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. But if you learn how to pace yourself, make use of support networks, and set realistic expectations, you can thrive.

We also talked about the pros and cons of the role. On the plus side, there’s great career progression, better pay, and the chance to develop advanced practice skills like injection therapy and non-medical prescribing. On the flip side, you lose your hands-on physiotherapy skills, which some people really struggle with. If you love doing manual therapy, you might find that you miss it. Some FCPs work part-time in MSK clinics to keep those skills up, but others fully embrace the shift to pure assessment and diagnosis.

For those thinking about getting into the role, I emphasized the importance of setting clear career goals early on. Physiotherapy is evolving, and if you want to position yourself for leadership, private practice, or advanced clinical roles, you have to be intentional about it. That’s one of the reasons I chose to invest in leadership training, pursue an MBA, and expand my skill set beyond just clinical practice. Physiotherapists often talk about feeling stuck in low-paying roles with little recognition, but to change that, we need more physios stepping into leadership, research, and business. The more we have a seat at the table, the more we can shape the future of the profession.

At the end of the day, the FCP pathway is an amazing career move for the right person. It offers stability, progression, and the chance to make a real impact in primary care. But like anything, it comes with its challenges. My advice? Keep learning, keep networking, and keep pushing yourself out of your comfort zone. Physiotherapy is full of opportunities, but you have to go out and grab them.

If you’re a student or early-career physio wondering what path to take, think ahead, plan smart, and be open to new opportunities. And if you have any questions, feel free to ask—I’m always happy to help!