
Digital Physio App Reduces Strain on Scotland’s NHS—and Patients’ Backs
A smartphone app is helping to reshape how musculoskeletal pain is managed across Scotland, with early signs pointing to significant NHS savings—and fewer patients left waiting in agony. Phio, a digital triage and rehabilitation tool built by health-tech startup EQL, has now been rolled out across six Scottish health boards. Designed to give patients instant access to guidance and support for muscle and joint problems, the platform bypasses the GP bottleneck and nudges people into tailored care pathways in minutes—often without the need for a single appointment. From Orkney to the Borders, this quiet tech shift is offering a radical…