Aim of the FCP
The aim of the first contact practitioner (FCP) is to reduce GP demands, instigate assessment, diagnosis, and self-management advice to the patient with a lower limb presentation and improve appropriateness of onward referrals within primary care. This includes referrals to GPs, other AHPs, podiatric surgery/orthopaedic surgery, rheumatology, vascular teams, Diabetic foot teams, and community podiatry services. This does not replace the community podiatry teams: in fact it very much compliments the work. The triage assessment undertaken by the FCP podiatrist will highlight need and improve referrals to community podiatry for nail surgery, orthotics, wound care etc which are unlikely to be carried out by the FCP role. Equally the FCP podiatrist could be utilised by the community podiatry team for extended scope skills and training.
Supporting the FCP podiatrist and improving retention
- Models of employing FCP
- What to have in place for employing / sub-contracting FCP podiatrist into the PCN checklist
- Challenges reported by FCP
Supervision requirements for FCP
- Supervision needs explained
- Funding challenges and supervision