Physiotherapy Body Raises Safety Concerns Over Autonomous AI in NHS Care
The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy has cautioned that autonomous AI in NHS physiotherapy should not be treated as equivalent to a regulated clinician’s judgment. The warning follows Flok Health’s Class IIa approval for an AI care pathway covering back pain, sciatica, and later broader musculoskeletal and pelvic health conditions. CSP argues that diagnosis alone does not capture clinical reasoning, accountability, communication, and shared decision-making.
Flok Health received EU Class IIa clearance in October 2025, reportedly the first European AI system authorized to run a complete care pathway, including diagnostic choices, without a clinician reviewing every case. Its initial scope covered back pain and sciatica; in August 2026 it was broadened to musculoskeletal and pelvic health, including hip, knee and urinary incontinence issues.
The company has since worked across eleven NHS regions and raised $12.5 million in an oversubscribed Series A led by AlbionVC. In one English rollout, over 80% of patients rated its AI clinic as equal to or better than face-to-face physiotherapy, according to the material.
Patients with back, joint or pelvic health problems could see quicker access if autonomous tools prove reliable, yet some may miss nuanced human interaction and shared decision-making. Physiotherapists may face shifting roles and unclear accountability, while NHS leaders could weigh efficiency against safety and equity. Public confidence may depend on transparent evidence and safeguards. Founders and investors could encounter both clearer regulatory pathways and heightened reputational scrutiny.