Blog Post

As healthcare systems around the world grapple with rising demand and workforce shortages, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into clinical services is no longer a distant vision—it’s a growing reality. One of the most promising examples comes from the United Kingdom, where the National Health Service (NHS) recently piloted the country’s first AI-run physiotherapy clinic. Delivered through Flok Health, this innovative service has demonstrated significant results, cutting waiting lists for back pain patients by more than half and offering same-day access to care.

Key Outcomes & Impact on NHS Patients

• 2,500+ patients used the service via app‑based video consultations over the trial period, accessing same‑day AI physio appointments [The Guardian].
  
  
• Compared to initial wait times averaging 18 weeks, there was a 44 % drop in overall MSK waits.
  
  
• Specifically for back pain, waiting lists halved (‑55 %), and the service freed up about 856 clinician hours per month to redeploy elsewhere.
  
  
• Patient satisfaction was high—many found the AI platform as good or better than a human physiotherapist, praising its scheduling flexibility.
  
  

Why It Matters for the Global South & Healthcare Innovation

• Musculoskeletal disorders are leading causes of disability worldwide, causing economic loss, reduced productivity, and limited access to treatment—especially where physiotherapy resources are scarce.
  
  
• AI‑enabled models like Flok can help scale physiotherapy access in regions with workforce shortages or geographic barriers.
  
  
• Unlike some digital pilots, Flok has regulatory approval in the UK—it is the first MSK digital provider registered by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and cleared as a medical device by the MHRA for fully automated triage and treatment .
  
  

Balance of Promise and Caution

• The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) notes the risk of excluding patients who can’t or won’t use app‑based care, and highlights the need to strengthen the physiotherapy workforce alongside digital tools.
  
  
• Critics also warn that AI cannot replicate clinical judgment, empathy, or the hands‑on skills required for complex cases, and they urge that AI be seen as complementary—not replace—human physiotherapy.
  
  
• Ongoing evaluation is needed to ensure safety, equity and real‑world outcomes beyond just wait‑list metrics.
  
  

Implications & Next Steps

1. Scale across NHS trusts – Flok is scheduled to roll out more broadly across England in late 2025.
   
   
2. Hybrid models – Services may evolve as blended care pathways (AI + human) for those requiring physical assessment or therapeutic rapport.
   
   
3. Global relevance – Similar deployments in under‑resourced settings—e.g. rural areas in Sub‑Saharan Africa or Southeast Asia—could reduce delays in MSK management.
   
   
4. Evidence generation – Independent studies measuring clinical outcomes, equity, cost‑effectiveness, and patient‑reported outcome measures (PROMs) must follow.
   
   

Conclusion

The NHS‑Flok AI physiotherapy pilot demonstrates how regulatory‑approved AI platforms can expand access, reduce waits, and free clinical time in overstretched systems. Although not a substitute for human-led care, Flok shows how AI can be a powerful force multiplier—offering rapid access for straightforward MSK cases and enabling physiotherapists to focus on complex patients.