The short answer: no, you do not need one. Care Physio is a private clinic with direct access — you can book an assessment without a doctor's referral, and our physiotherapist first assesses whether your complaint is suitable for physiotherapy at all. But “not required” does not mean a doctor does not matter. This article covers when seeing a doctor first is the wiser order, which documents help if you already have them, and how we work with a doctor who is already treating you.

Direct access: what it means for you

You can consult our physiotherapists directly, without a referral first. In practice at our clinic, the first session is a thorough assessment — around 60–90 minutes — covering the history of your complaint, posture, strength, range of motion and how you move. That is where the physiotherapist judges whether your complaint is suitable for physiotherapy. If we find signs that need further medical examination, we will advise you to see a doctor and coordinate with your doctor. So the first assessment also works as a filter: not every complaint should be exercised, and some must be examined first. Our four steps begin with this assessment.

When a doctor first is the wiser order

The signs below are taken from the condition guides on this site. If any of them applies, see a doctor before booking physiotherapy:

Severe pain after a fall or accident — a fracture has to be ruled out first.
Leg weakness that is getting worse, or trouble controlling your bladder or bowel.
Numbness around the groin or inner thighs.
Fever together with back pain.
Unexplained weight loss, or pain that is worse when resting at night.
One leg that is swollen, hot and red.
Chest pain, breathlessness, or pain spreading to the jaw or left arm — this is not a physiotherapy matter; seek medical help.
In a child: a skill lost after it was mastered at any age, seizures, or not turning to loud sounds — the last one needs a hearing check.
Signs of a stroke — a face that suddenly droops on one side, an arm or leg that suddenly goes weak, suddenly slurred speech — get medical help immediately; do not wait for clinic hours.

If you already have a referral or test results

A referral is not required, but if you have one, bringing it helps a great deal — as do any previous results. We want to build on the care already under way, not start again from zero. The most useful things:

X-ray, MRI or ultrasound results if you have them, together with the doctor's report.
Surgical notes and any limits your surgeon has set. Where the surgeon has set limits, those come first — we work within them.
A list of the medicines you are taking.
The referral letter or doctor's notes, if you were referred.

What to bring to the first visit

Comfortable clothing you can move in; for a leg complaint, shorts make the area easier to examine.
The shoes you usually wear for sport or work.
A short note: when the pain started, what makes it worse, what eases it.
For a child: results from a paediatrician or specialist if there are any, and something that comforts them.

A fuller list for muscle and joint complaints is in our orthopaedic assessment guide.

How we work with your doctor

If a doctor is already treating you — an orthopaedic, neurology or rehabilitation specialist, or a paediatrician — physiotherapy is not a separate track. We build the programme within the limits your doctor has set, share our assessment findings where needed, and send you back to the doctor if something changes beyond what exercise can address. And if you come without a doctor and we find something that needs examining, we will say so plainly — rather than carry on with therapy.

A closing note

You do not need a referral to start, but you do need an honest assessment. If you are unsure whether your complaint should go to a doctor first or straight to a physiotherapist, just tell us on WhatsApp — we will gladly help you decide the right order.

Do You Need a Doctor's Referral for Physiotherapy?