Understanding Your Options and How to Make the Most of Your Care
If you or someone you care for is undergoing physiotherapy treatment, you may be wondering whether it’s possible — or even advisable — to access both NHS and private physiotherapy at the same time. The good news is: yes, you can. And in many cases, doing so can enhance your rehabilitation and improve your overall outcomes.
At SP Therapy Services, we frequently work with individuals who are receiving or have received NHS care, while continuing or supplementing their rehabilitation with private, community-based physiotherapy.
In this blog, we’ll explain how this works, why it’s perfectly acceptable within the healthcare system, and how you can manage both pathways to your benefit.
Can I Access NHS and Private Physiotherapy Together?
Patients can access both NHS and private physiotherapy at the same time, as long as treatments are clinically appropriate and coordinated. NHS treatment won’t be withdrawn simply because a patient is receiving private care. All patients are entitled to NHS care based on clinical need, and concurrent treatment can only be declined if there’s a clinical risk from overlapping treatments.
To protect patients and ensure high-quality care, physiotherapists should ensure:
- Communicate clearly and regularly, with patient consent, to avoid conflicting advice and ensure consistency in treatment goals.
- Establish agreements about roles, responsibilities, and lead practitioners when concurrent care is ongoing.
- Uphold professional standards, including clinical governance, safeguarding, and accurate documentation.
NHS physiotherapists must not promote their private services during NHS duties, and must follow employer guidelines when asked about private options. Private physiotherapists should also inform patients of their right to access NHS care.
Why Might You Choose Both?
There are a number of reasons someone might choose to combine NHS and private physiotherapy:
- NHS physio services are often stretched, and patients may face long waits between appointments or to begin treatment. Private physiotherapy can fill the gap.
- NHS appointments are usually limited in frequency. Private physio gives you the option of more regular or intensive rehabilitation based on your needs.
- Most NHS physiotherapy takes place in clinics or hospital settings. At SP Therapy Services, our private physiotherapists visit you at home, supporting your goals in your real-world environment.
- Some neurological or complex conditions may require more specialist input than NHS services can provide. We support people with acquired brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, stroke and other neurological conditions that benefit from focused, community-based rehabilitation.
Will My NHS Physiotherapist Mind?
Generally speaking, no, many NHS physiotherapists understand and even encourage the use of private therapy, especially when it supports a patient’s recovery goals and helps them make progress more quickly.
The key is to keep lines of communication open. If you would like both NHS and private physiotherapists to share notes or treatment goals, you can provide consent for this. At SP Therapy Services, we are happy to liaise with NHS colleagues (with permission) to ensure your care is complementary and consistent.
Making It Work in Practice
- To get the most out of having both NHS and private physiotherapy:
Be clear about your goals and what you want to achieve, and how can each service help? - Let both physios know, transparency helps prevent duplication or conflicting advice.
- Track your progress, whether in a notebook or using a goal tracker, record improvements and challenges to share with your physios.
- Communicate and keep the conversation going, especially if one treatment is helping more in a particular area.
Specialist Neurological Physiotherapy in the Community
At SP Therapy Services, we work across Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Yorkshire, visiting patients in their homes and communities. We work alongside NHS services, case managers, social care teams and private individuals to deliver:
- Neurological rehab after brain or spinal cord injury
- Support for long-term neurological conditions like MS and CP
- Tailored therapy plans with clear, measurable goals
- Updates and reporting to support multidisciplinary care
Interested in exploring private physiotherapy while under NHS care? We’re happy to have a no-obligation conversation about your situation and how we might help.
Local areas include within a 30 mile radius of Bury, Holmfirth, Bradford, Barnsley, Stalybridge, Blackburn & surrounding towns.