Physio First membership is open to self-employed physiotherapists, and those physiotherapists who work for them, in private practice across the United Kingdom.
Physio First is run by volunteers and Community Representatives are one group of these volunteers. They are the key link between members and our executive committee.
Community Representatives used to be known as Regional Officers, although the title has changed the role has had minimal alteration. Prior to the pandemic it was already clear that the world had changed and regions were no longer a necessity – we could email, chat and meet with anyone from any region. Covid-19 only made this clearer.
As a group they are here to communicate with members on regular basis – this allows them to understand what is important to members and feed this forward to our executive BUT also allows them to keep members up to date on the often unseen work that is going on within Physio First. This makes Community Representatives a cornerstone of Physio First, they play a key role in our organisation’s success and help to plan and deliver our future.
They communicate with members in numerous ways, Zoom, email, phone and social media. Specific member queries to our office might be directed to a community representative for further support by phone or email. They also run regular Zoom meetings on case studies, peer support and relevant market place topics.
Community Representatives meet together virtually on a regular basis as well as in person 2-3 times a year. This allows them to discuss how best they can support members and identify areas that Physio First can offer further help. They also attend Physio First committee meetings where they meet with our executive and other volunteer teams to represent the members. Our Community Representatives look at all opportunities as well as potential threats facing our members and take part in discussions and debates on meeting any challenges.
Our Community Representatives are supported by, and have regular contact with, our Chair, Vice Chair, Strategic & Business Lead, Hon Community Representative Lead and our Physio First office team.
Being a Community Representative is a great way to be part of a team to help private physiotherapists. It gives Physio First members the opportunity to learn new skills covering business and commercial decisions. It also develops their knowledge of how private practice works around the country and internationally.
So if you’re a member who would like to be more involved in the running of Physio First, to help shape our future and be the voice of our regional members, please contact our Hon Community Representative Lead Lucinda Brock: ro.rep@physiofirst.org.uk or our Chair Karen Lay: chairman@physiofirst.org.uk
Your Community Representatives
Tracie Bolger
Tracie qualified as a physiotherapist from the Royal London Hospital, and worked at University College Hospital for many years before moving to West London to start a family, at which pint she started working as a private practitioner.
She joined Physio First in 2000 in order to connect with other private physios and found that attending our annual was, and continues to be an excellent resource both from her clinical and business perspective.
Tracie is proud to be a member of Physio First, and feels that our organisation provides invaluable guidance in our ever-changing unpredictable marketplace.
The Alternate position is currently vacant, are you interested?
Speak to Tracie, or contact our office team on 01604 684960 or email minerva@physiofirst.org.uk
Details:
Tracie Bolger MCSP
Riverside Physiotherapy, Ruislip
Telephone: 07958 740888
Email: london@physiofirst.org.uk
Susannah Solt
Susannah qualified with a first class Honours degree in Physiotherapy from Manchester University in 1994. She initially worked for the NHS in central London, gaining experience many aspects of health care, before moving into private practice in Kent.
Having set up Active Now Physiotherapy, Susannah moved her practice to Warwick in 2007.
Between 1998 and 2000 Susannah worked as a physiotherapist with the British Para Equestrian Team, and she has worked as a National Classifier for Disabled Sport.
Susannah has been a member of Physio First since November 1998 and was an Alternate for the Midlands region for a year before commencing her current role as Midlands Regional Officer, and sits on our education committee.
Details:
Susannah Solt, MCSP
Active Now Physiotherapy, Turkey Farm House, Beausale Lane, Hatton, Warwick, Warwickshire CV35 7PE
Telephone: 01926 800101
Email: midlands@physiofirst.org.uk
Paul Gibson
Paul qualified with a degree in Physiotherapy from East London University, having previously studied Sports Sciences at Brunel University. After gaining three and half years’ valuable and varied experience at Mount Vernon Hospital, he moved into the private sector.
As a physiotherapist experienced in assessing, managing, and treating a large variety of musculoskeletal conditions, Paul specialises in sports injuries, spinal, knee and shoulder problems, and has an interest in biomechanical assessment of the foot and post-operative rehabilitation. He has been a member of Physio First since 2011 and been in his current role as Regional Officer for North West Met since 2016.
The Alternate position is currently vacant, are you interested?
Speak to Paul Gibson (above), or contact our office team on 01604 684960 or email minerva@physiofirst.org.uk
Details:
Paul Gibson, MCSP
Ruislip Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Clinic, 15 West End Road, Ruislip, Middlesex HA4 6JE
Telephone: 01895638841
Email: nw.met@physiofirst.org.uk
Kenny Cross
Kenny is a Manager and owner of Ascent Physio and Massage based in Falkirk. He has over 29 years' experience as a physiotherapist and has been a member of Physio First for approximately 15 years.
Kenny has a special interest in sports injuries and manual therapy assessment, and has worked as Head Physiotherapist for Falkirk Football Club for six and a half years.
The Alternate position is currently vacant, are you interested?
Contact to Kenny Cross, or contact our office team on 01604 684960 or email minerva@physiofirst.org.uk
Details:
Kenny Cross, MCSP
Sumo Therapies, 81-83 Mary Street, Laurieston, Falkirk, FK2 9PR
Telephone: 01324 630888 or 07967 446356
Email: scotland@physiofirst.org.uk
Liam Duffy
Liam Duffy, has been a volunteer for Physio First since 2017, and lives and owns a practice in Rhyl in Flintshire, Wales. He qualified as Physiotherapist at the St George University of London in 2012; he is also a Licensed Acupuncturist. After qualifying, Liam worked in a practice in Bangor before joining PhysioNow
He specialises in musculoskeletal problems including road traffic injuries and whiplash and an emphasis on Sports Injuries. Born and raised in North Wales his first language is Welsh and he can liaise confidently with Welsh & English-speaking patients
The Alternate position is currently vacant, are you interested?
Speak to Liam Duffy (below), or contact our office team on 01604 684960 or email minerva@physiofirst.org.uk
Details:
Liam Duffy, MCSP
39 Highfield Park, Y Rhyl, Flintshire, LL18 3NL
Telephone: 07738 081738
Email: wales@physiofirst.org.uk
Katie Knapton
Katie is a chartered physiotherapist with over 30 years of musculoskeletal experience within the NHS and latterly in her own private practice in West Sussex.
Based in London, trained at Kings College then spent 2 years at Guys Hospital after which Katie specialised at St. Georges Hospital Tooting for 9 years working alongside Orthopaedic Consultants, running a team of physiotherapist in the busy hospital clinic setting.
Katie has been in private practice since 2002, is passionate about quality and ensuring people receiving accurate information about their specific conditions to determine the best course of management for optimal recovery
Jill Drew
Jill has been a Physio First member 1999. She works as a sole practitioner in her own practice in Warwickshire, specialising in the treatment of upper limb and spinal disorders including post operative rehabilitation. Jill is also a qualified acupuncturist.
She has been a Quality Assured practitioner since 2016 and a Quality Assured Clinic since 2020.
Jill has always enjoyed and valued being a member of the Physio First family and in particular has found the business guidance given over the last 24 months invaluable.
Susan Julians
Sue studied at Guy’s Hospital School of Physiotherapy, graduating in 1990. She went on to complete a Postgraduate Diploma of Academic and Practical Physiotherapy for Sport at the Royal London Hospital in 1994, and a Master of Science Degree in Neuromusculoskeletal Physiotherapy at University College London in 1996. She spent her first 3 years working in the NHS then 2 in a Military Hospital and during this time she was a physiotherapist for Blackheath Rugby Football Club for 4 seasons. Sue has been in full time private practice since 1996.
Sue’s experience is wide-ranging. Her early career was focussed on sports injuries, orthopaedics and acute trauma, then she moved to Harley street to treat mainly performers of musical theatre, and then to the city where she gained experience in working with office workers. She particularly enjoys tricky conditions including chronic neck and back pain, RSI (WRULD) and pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy. She strongly believes that every patient is different and needs an individual assessment and treatment plan