Flok Health is the UK’s first AI-operated physiotherapy clinic, providing NHS patients with immediate access to personalised care, at population scale.
Key information
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Focus area
Impact venture -
Investment type
Enterprise equity -
Region
United Kingdom
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Challenge
The NHS remains a chronically understaffed and underfunded public service, leading to increased wait times, particularly for musculoskeletal (MSK) issues such as back, neck, and knee pain, which account for up to 30% of GP consultations in England. NHS data shows that waiting lists for MSK treatments have grown by 27% since January last year [1].
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Approach
Flok is the UK’s first autonomous physiotherapy clinic, providing same-day access to care for NHS patients. Individuals seeking physiotherapy for issues such as back pain can be referred to the platform through a community or primary care setting, such as their GP. They also have the option to self-refer directly into the service.
An initial video assessment with an AI physiotherapist is conducted to evaluate their symptoms. Once approved for treatment, patients can schedule weekly video appointments with their AI physio, who prescribes exercises and pain management techniques, monitors symptoms, and adjusts treatments accordingly. A dedicated clinical team of physiotherapists and doctors oversees patients' recovery remotely, stepping in when additional information is needed or to further optimise the treatment plan.
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Revenue model
In July 2022, Flok raised a £2 million pre-seed round led by Eka Ventures [2]. Upon delivery, Flok will generate revenue through its contracts with NHS Trusts, commissioners, and other payers for patients who self-refer or are referred to the clinic.
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Impact
Initial trial results have proven its effectiveness—as part of a series of three-month pilot studies, more than 1,000 NHS staff suffering from back pain self-referred to Flok’s AI physiotherapist for treatment. All surveyed patients reported that their experience with Flok was at least equivalent to seeing a human physiotherapist, with 57% stating that they found the AI experience to be better.
Flok is also the first AI-powered physiotherapy solution to be clinically approved by the health regulator, the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Crucially, this means it is not just a “tech provider”; as an independent healthcare provider, it can deliver complete treatment pathways directly to patients on behalf of NHS partners. Every stage of a patient’s treatment from assessment to discharge can be safely managed by the platform, providing faster access to care for thousands of patients while freeing up significant capacity for overstretched NHS teams.