Ascenti Reach, a innovative digital physiotherapy app from UK independent musculoskeletal (MSK) physiotherapy provider Ascenti Physio, is being rolled out as a pilot across York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, giving thousands across the region access to faster, more convenient physiotherapy care.
Early results from other organisations using Ascenti Reach show wait times can be cut by up to 85%, with assessment results delivered in as little as eight working hours.
Through Ascenti Reach, NHS patients across York and Scarborough can access high‑quality, personalised MSK advice, results, and exercise programmes faster than traditional appointments, helping them start treatment sooner and stay engaged in their rehabilitation.
The app is especially valuable for patients in rural areas, as it enables them to access care digitally from anywhere and outside standard working hours. It also improves efficiency for physiotherapists by reducing admin and note taking, streamlining processes, and providing clear, actionable insights into patient progress.
This partnership directly supports the NHS 10‑Year Health Plan by making care more accessible, modernising clinical pathways, and using digital technology to ease pressure on overstretched teams. It comes at a critical time, with NHS planned care waiting lists across the UK standing at 7.3 million, and more than 372,560 people currently waiting for MSK treatment.
Karl Barbaro, Advanced Practice Physiotherapist, at York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “We’re initially launching a six-month pilot with Ascenti Reach to help us understand how digital physiotherapy can improve access to care, support recovery, and enhance the overall patient experience. We’re excited to get started and see the results, as this partnership could help thousands of patients across the region, especially those living in rural areas with limited access to clinics.”
Ian Thistlewood, CEO of the Ascenti Group said: “NHS York and Scarborough is an ambitious, forward‑thinking Trust, and we’re delighted they have chosen Ascenti Reach as their digital partner.
“Getting patients into a rehabilitation pathway quickly is proven to improve outcomes, and Ascenti Reach is designed to make that possible. This transformative app has already helped hundreds of thousands of private patients across the UK gain faster access to care, and we’re ready to support thousands more across York and Scarborough.”
“We’re also proud to play our part in contributing to the ambitious NHS 10-Year Plan, helping to bring care closer to home, harness technology to deliver better services, and give clinicians the tools they need to enhance, not replace, their expertise.”
Within the Ascenti Reach app, patients can also access more than 50,000 tailored exercise programmes and 5,000 educational articles, supporting continuous, personalised rehabilitation.
Anthony Howells, Product Owner for Ascenti Reach added: “We built Ascenti Reach entirely in-house, and we are continuously developing and improving it to deliver the best possible patient experience. People, feedback, and innovation sit at the heart of this project, and we’re focused on advancing it as a scalable, future‑ready platform that supports people across the UK with injury prevention, recovery, and education.”
The partnership between Ascenti Physio and York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust launched in February 2026.
