Tighearnach O Murchu
Senior Older Person’s Physiotherapist
MCSP · MSc Physiotherapy · PG Cert · BSc Science · 12 years in the NHS
Known to everyone as T. He works as a First Contact Practitioner in Dorset GP surgeries — which means local GPs send musculoskeletal patients straight to him rather than seeing them first.
T’s specialisms
Additional training and skills
About T
T holds a degree in Science and went on to study an MSc in Physiotherapy at Robert Gordon University, and has since completed master’s modules in advanced physiotherapy practice.
He has twelve years in the NHS across paediatrics, orthopaedics, elderly care, intensive care and musculoskeletal health, alongside private community rehabilitation. He has also worked across a wide range of sport — including with the junior British Sailing team and with some of the Irish Olympic athletes in the run-up to the Rio games.
Today he works as a shoulder specialist physiotherapist at Southampton Hospital and as a First Contact Practitioner in Dorset GP surgeries. An FCP is the clinician a GP practice trusts to see musculoskeletal patients first, without a doctor’s appointment in between — it is a role given to experienced practitioners only.
What drives him is helping people manage chronic conditions and the problems that come with deteriorating health — the slow loss of strength and confidence that follows illness, inactivity or a long wait for treatment. He has presented at national conferences on the benefits of exercise in managing arthritic pain.
His view is that with the right guidance people can make real changes to their own health — reducing pain, rebuilding confidence and getting back to the things that matter to them. Outside work he spends time with his family and goes climbing and mountaineering.
Where T visits
T also visits Weymouth and the villages around it. If your town is not listed, call us — we very often cover it.
Common questions
What is a First Contact Practitioner?
A First Contact Practitioner is a senior physiotherapist who assesses and treats musculoskeletal problems in GP surgeries without the patient needing to see a doctor first. It is a role given to experienced clinicians only, and T works as one across Dorset GP practices — so the person visiting you at home is someone local GPs already send their patients to directly.
Can T help with shoulder pain?
Yes. T works as a shoulder specialist physiotherapist at Southampton Hospital alongside his home visits, so shoulder pain and instability are among the things he sees most. Shoulders are also one of the joints where people wait longest and lose most function in the meantime. Call 07384 590177 to arrange a visit.
Can exercise really help arthritis pain?
Yes, and T has presented at national conferences on exactly this. The right kind of graded exercise reduces arthritic pain and improves function — but it has to be built around your joints and your starting point rather than a generic sheet, which is why it works better assessed in your own home than handed out in a leaflet.
Arrange a visit with T
Call our Clinical Director for a free, no-obligation conversation. She will listen to your situation, tell you honestly whether we can help, and match you with the right specialist.