Overview

An AI-powered physiotherapy clinic has successfully reduced waiting lists for back pain treatment by over 50% in its initial large-scale deployment in England.

Key Highlights

• The service, developed by Flok Health, offers same-day appointments through an app.
• Trial conducted by Cambridgeshire Community Services (CCS) NHS Trust lasted 12 weeks from February to June 2025.
• More than 2,500 patients in Cambridge and Peterborough utilized the AI clinic, leading to a 55% reduction in waiting lists for back pain.

Impact and Future Plans

Mike Passfield, deputy director at CCS NHS Trust, stated:

“We’re proud to have been the first NHS organization in England to deploy Flok Health’s AI-powered physiotherapy clinic at scale. The impact has been extraordinary, delivering same-day access to care for thousands of patients, reducing back pain waiting lists by over 50%, and freeing up clinicians to focus on other patients with complex musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions.”

Following the pilot’s success, Flok is collaborating with CCS to consider a permanent rollout of the digital service in the region.

Background of the Initiative

This trial was part of a pilot deployment commissioned by CCS in partnership with the GIRFT Further Faster Programme, aimed at improving patient access and reducing waiting times.

At the start of the trial, waiting times for elective community MSK services in the area were approximately 18 weeks. The initiative, which also included MSK superclinics and community assessment days, decreased waiting times for all MSK conditions by 44%, bringing them down to less than 10 weeks.

About Flok Health

Flok Health is recognized as the first digital MSK service registered as a provider with the Care Quality Commission, meeting the necessary standards for treatment of diseases, disorders, or injuries. The service utilizes video footage of a human physiotherapist to provide personalized treatment for back pain, simulating a video call experience.

Statements from Leadership

Finn Stevenson, co-founder and CEO of Flok Health, expressed:

“Seeing the impact our service has had in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough has been incredibly meaningful. Our AI clinic enables patients to access world-class MSK care immediately while freeing up traditional clinical capacity for those who need in-person consultations.”

Expansion Plans

In January 2025, NHS Lothian in Scotland also implemented Flok Health, extending its reach to over one million NHS patients in its first large-scale deployment.