Natasha Price, Managing Director, Central Health was appointed MSKPN board member in March 2022. In this member’s showcase, she tells us about why she joined MSKPN and what she hopes to achieve.
“If MSKPN was around when I was starting out, I’d probably have done things differently”
I genuinely love the kick of seeing the positive impact of physio, from someone bent over with back pain, to feeling a lot better and more confident
At school I always wanted to be a doctor but didn’t get the grades, so opted for physio thinking it would be a route into medicine. However, I soon realised I really enjoyed it. The big difference between being a physio and a doctor is the instant ability to do something to help someone, without needing to offer medication or an operation.
I joined MSKPN in January 2020
Like everyone, the last 2 years have been very difficult and MSKPN has been a very supportive group, an open forum for discussion and a network to manage the issues we’ve all faced such as landlords, business rates and employment issues. I’ve always been active in discussions about how we tackle the insurance companies on quality, but I now see how much more MSKPN has to offer.
My first impressions of MSKPN?
Initially I thought it would be quite difficult for the private practices, in London especially, to work together when you are competitors. But I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the openness. We all have the same objective which is to provide good quality, evidence based physio for our patients which leads to a successful business. As a group with shared goals in quality, we aim to be appropriately recognised as such by the PMIs.
We’ve all behaved in a very open and honest way
I think Covid was a catalyst to making everyone realise we’re all in the same boat and working together is better than not working together. When I started up my business, I didn’t benefit from the support of MSKPN so I really wanted to be on the Board so I can help support those new, smaller businesses thrive.
We’re really in the thick of it and really understand the issues
As a Board member I would like to have the opportunity to mentor and support other people embarking on what I started 23 years ago. I see my role as helping ensure that all members’ voices are heard – especially championing the smaller businesses. In addition, as an owner of a multisite business and a clinician, I offer insights from a clinician/owner perspective.
As a profession, I want us to be recognised for what we do
Read more about Natasha’s career to date …
Central Health Physiotherapy is one of the larger physiotherapy companies in London
I started as a one room practice with a business partner in 1999 and now we’ve grown to 40 staff, three clinics in St John’s Wood, Chelsea and Chancery Lane and have some onsite corporate contracts. When we started there wasn’t much private physio around and there was a lot to learn. I only wish there was something like MSKPN to call upon back then!
I trained at The Middlesex Hospital in London
I worked in London Teaching Hospitals over the next 10 years, finishing as an extended scope practitioner at St Mary’s and the Royal Free. I then went into professional rugby, working for London Scottish and then London Irish RFC. I was probably influenced by my six brothers who all played rugby!
I joined Central Health around the same time
There were about three of us to start with and after a year, I bought into the practice and became a partner/joint MD, up until 9 years ago when I bought my partner out. Now we’re clinic based, but we previously ran all the physio for a large private hospital in London, running their inpatient and outpatient work, building it into a profitable business.
I love the fact that private practice can be efficient and effective
One of the frustrating things in the NHS is the waiting list and the time patients had to wait before they saw us. By the time they get an appointment, their condition is much worse. I also love the fact that the physios I employ have the opportunity to see patients at the beginning of their recovery and achieve great results for them. I also really enjoy sharing my clinical experience and am always learning from our rich mix of senior clinicians.
MSKPN is a great support network for MSK clinicians all over the country who are having the same issues that you are
Top 3 benefits of being part of MSKPN
A great support network – people have been/are really amazed at the support offered eg in setting up your own business, what software package to use, how do you employ people, all the HR and infrastructure needed to run a business.
Collaboration – What I got out of MSKPN initially was the collaborative approach about how we managed Covid.
Mentorship – I’m hoping to have the opportunity to help younger growing practices and physios. I think we lack that from existing organisations, who don’t really seem to support private businesses.
Download Natasha’s member showcase HERE
Learn more at www.mskpn.co.uk