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Overview
Part industry analysis, part honest conversation, and a clear reality check for clinic owners who want to know where they actually stand.
Most clinics don’t know what the average physio appointment costs in their region. They don’t know what a good rebooking rate looks like. They don’t know whether their marketing spend, utilisation, or team structure is healthy compared to the rest of the industry.
In this episode, Michael sits down with Alex Kyriacou, co-owner of Flex Physiotherapy, to walk through the results of the Private Practice Barometer, one of the largest benchmarking surveys ever conducted in the MSK industry.
Using data from hundreds of clinics, they compare Flex Physio’s numbers against national benchmarks. From pricing and retention to staffing models, technology, marketing costs, and owner wellbeing, the conversation explores what “normal” actually looks like in private practice.
Show Notes
What You’ll Learn
Who This Episode Is For
Guest Details
Alex Kyriacou - Co-Owner, Flex Physiotherapy
Alex is a physiotherapist and co-owner of Flex Physiotherapy in Burgess Hill, Sussex. After joining as an associate in 2019, he became part of the leadership team alongside founders Matt Prout and Kieran Barnard.
Flex has grown from small satellite clinics into a multidisciplinary practice with a rehabilitation gym, diagnostics, and a team of more than a dozen staff.
Alongside running the clinic, Alex continues to work full-time in the NHS, giving him a unique perspective on both public and private healthcare systems.
Visit https://hmdg.co.uk for further information.
Follow Michael on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/mjschumacher100
Overview
Most clinics obsess over clinical quality.
Very few audit the experience around it.
In this episode, Michael sits down with Heather, a former agency owner, now AI advisor, and long-term MSK patient, to get an outsider’s perspective on private practice. From first phone calls to follow-up WhatsApp, pricing strategy to practitioner branding, this is an honest look at what patients actually notice.
They explore why “great clinicians” aren’t enough, how small operational details drive referrals, what women in leadership experience differently, and where AI genuinely adds value, without damaging trust.
This is a conversation about business fundamentals, patient psychology, and the uncomfortable truths clinic owners need to hear.
Show Notes
What You’ll Learn
Who This Episode Is For
Not For
Guest Details
Heather. Founder, The AI Edit
Heather built and sold a UK marketing and PR agency before leading a group of agencies and, more recently, launching The AI Edit, a consultancy focused on helping leaders think clearly about AI and implement it responsibly.
With 25 years in business leadership and a long history as a private MSK patient, she brings a rare dual perspective: commercial operator and healthcare consumer. Her work now focuses on AI fluency, risk awareness, and practical implementation, without hype.
Visit https://hmdg.co.uk for further information.
Follow Michael on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/mjschumacher100
Overview
Most clinic owners don’t burn out because they’re “bad at business.”
They burn out because they’re carrying too much, in an industry that rarely admits how hard it is.
In this episode of No Appointment Necessary, Michael sits down with Jo Turner, a physiotherapist of 30 years, clinic owner, and founder of Mehab. To talk about the side of private practice that rarely gets airtime: identity, pressure, perfectionism, and the quiet emotional weight of running a clinic.
They unpack why better metrics don’t automatically create happier owners, why clinic owners often operate like isolated islands, and how well-being support can improve performance as a byproduct, not the goal. It’s an honest conversation about the “messy middle” of clinic growth, the myths around money and success, and what it really takes to stay in the profession without losing yourself.
Show Notes
What You’ll Learn
Who This Episode Is For
Not For
Guest Details
Jo Turner - Physiotherapist, Clinic Owner & Founder, Mehab
Jo Turner is a UK physiotherapist of 30 years and owner of two clinics in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire. Just before COVID, she trained as a life coach, a shift that became the foundation for Mehab, her coaching organisation focused on supporting clinician wellbeing.
Jo provides one-to-one coaching, group coaching, and courses designed specifically for clinicians and clinic owners, helping people feel safe, regain perspective, and rebuild a sustainable relationship with work, identity, and performance.
Visit https://hmdg.co.uk for further information.
Follow Michael on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/mjschumacher100
Overview
Every physio has thought about building a better rehab tool.
Very few follow it all the way through.
In this episode, we speak with Matt Anstey, clinic owner and co-inventor of AFLEX Pro, about what really happens when a clinician turns a rehab problem into a global product. From DIY prototypes and government grants to elite sport adoption and B2C growth, this is an honest look at innovation without the hype.
We explore the difference between running a clinic and running a product business, why “boring but effective” rehab tools are harder to sell than flashy gadgets, and what it actually takes to scale ethically in MSK healthcare.
Show Notes
What You’ll Learn
Who This Episode Is For
Not For
Guest Details
Matt Anstey. Clinic Owner & Co-Inventor, AFLEX Pro
Matt is a UK-based physiotherapist and founder of Azzurro Physiotherapy & Training, alongside being the co-inventor of AFLEX Pro, a medical-grade ankle mobility device now used in elite sport, private clinics, and rehab settings worldwide.
Developed with his brother, an engineer, AFLEX Pro was built to solve a real clinical problem: restoring stubborn ankle range of motion when traditional techniques fail. What started as a DIY prototype has grown into a patented, internationally used rehab tool, while Matt continues to run a busy clinic and treat patients.
Visit https://hmdg.co.uk for further information.
Follow Michael on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/mjschumacher100
Overview
In this episode of No Appointment Necessary, Michael sits down with Simon and David, the founders of Rehab Guru, to unpack what it’s really like to build, grow, and scale a healthcare software company from the ground up.
From military roots and clinical practice to bootstrapping a tech platform used by thousands of clinicians, the conversation explores the realities of running a founder-led business in healthcare, including growth pains, customer support at scale, product development, pricing, and why simplicity often beats shiny features.
It’s an honest, behind-the-scenes look at the intersection of healthcare, technology, and business, without the hype.
Show Notes
What You’ll Learn
Who This Episode Is For
Guest Information
Simon & David - Founders, Rehab Guru
Simon and David are the co-founders of Rehab Guru, a UK-built healthcare software platform designed by clinicians, for clinicians. With backgrounds spanning the military, physiotherapy, sports rehab, and software engineering, they’ve spent over a decade building tools that support better patient care while reducing admin burden for clinics.
Unlike many healthcare tech companies, Rehab Guru remains founder-led and bootstrapped, with a strong focus on usability, customer support, and long-term relationships rather than rapid PE-driven scale.
Visit https://hmdg.co.uk for further information.
Follow Michael on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/mjschumacher100
Overview
Most clinics don’t have an insurance problem.
They have a systems problem.
From the moment a patient walks out the door, clinics are relying on manual steps, outdated workflows, and disconnected software to get paid. What feels like “just admin” quickly turns into delayed payments, hidden under-billing, and avoidable cashflow pressure.
In this episode, Michael is joined by Ben Morfoot, co-founder of Effra, to break down why insurance billing is still so broken in healthcare, what actually causes bad debt, and how speed, automation, and better systems can radically change how clinics get paid.
The conversation covers PMI workflows, patient excesses, insurer behaviour, open APIs, manual errors, and why many clinics think their billing process works, until they look closely.
This episode is about fixing what happens after the appointment, protecting cash flow, and building processes that scale without more admin.
Show Notes
What You’ll Learn
Who This Episode Is For
Not for:
Guest Details
Ben Morfoot
Co-Founder, Effra - https://www.effra.io/
Ben is a former GoCardless product builder and co-founder of Effra, a platform designed to automate end-to-end insurance billing for healthcare clinics. His work focuses on removing manual admin, reducing aged debt, and helping clinics get paid faster through better systems, cleaner data, and smarter workflows.
Visit https://hmdg.co.uk for further information.
Follow Michael on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/mjschumacher100
Overview
Choosing a coach should make running your clinic clearer.
For many owners, it does the opposite.
The industry is full of confident promises, packaged systems, and “proven frameworks” that look good on the surface but rarely fit the reality of running a clinic. When the advice doesn’t land, owners don’t just lose money; they lose confidence in their decisions.
In this episode, Michael and Celia explore what good coaching actually looks like, why so many clinic owners end up in the wrong programs, and how to spot the warning signs early.
The conversation also moves into planning, understanding your numbers, pricing decisions, and why many clinics are unknowingly running on guesswork rather than clarity.
This episode is about asking better questions and choosing support that genuinely helps your clinic move forward.
Show Notes
What You’ll Learn
Who This Episode Is For
Not for:
Guest Details
Celia Champion
Founder, Painless Practice
Celia has worked in the healthcare sector for over 20 years, supporting physiotherapy and MSK clinics with coaching, consulting, and strategic planning. Her work focuses on helping clinic owners build sustainable, profitable businesses through better decision-making, financial clarity, and realistic growth strategies.
Visit https://hmdg.co.uk for further information.
Follow Michael on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/mjschumacher100
Overview:
Most clinics don’t fail; they stall.
They reach a comfortable size, decent revenue, and a full diary, and then everything gets harder. Margins tighten. Staff costs rise. Insurance work drags profitability down. Growth feels risky, but standing still feels worse.
In this episode, Michael sits down with Steve Hines, founder of Wandsworth Physio, to unpack what actually changes once a clinic moves beyond survival and into scale. From pricing strategy and tiered services to customer experience, technology investment, AI, and the shift toward polyclinic models, this is a candid look at how advanced clinics think defensively as well as offensively.
This isn’t about chasing growth at all costs. It’s about protecting margin, upgrading the offer, and building a clinic that can evolve as the market changes.
Show Notes
What You’ll Learn
Who This Episode Is For
Not for:
Guest Details
Steve Hines
Founder, Wandsworth Physio
Steve is a physiotherapist with over 20 years’ experience, including a decade in professional football with Fulham FC. He founded Wandsworth Physio and has grown it into an advanced, multi-service MSK clinic through organic growth, technology investment, and a strong focus on patient experience.
His work spans clinical practice and clinic operations, with an increasing focus on expansion and acquisition.
Clinic: Wandsworth Physio
Location: London, UK
Visit https://hmdg.co.uk for further information.
Follow Michael on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/mjschumacher100
Overview:
The phone rings, no one answers, and the patient disappears. That tiny moment is where clinics lose revenue, trust, and momentum and it’s exactly where AI can quietly do the heavy lifting.
We unpack how AI phone reception helps clinics capture bookings after hours and during peak spikes while protecting data, avoiding lock‑in, and freeing staff for high‑value human moments. We also share a vendor‑vetting checklist to spot wrappers, weigh security, and implement AI that works.
Show Notes
What You’ll Learn
Who This Episode Is For
Not for:
Guest Details
Tanmay
Co-Founder, Lyngo
Lyngo is an AI phone answering platform built specifically for healthcare clinics. It handles inbound calls, bookings, patient queries, and escalation while integrating directly with practice management systems via open APIs.
Website: https://www.lyngo.ai/
Email: [email protected]
Visit https://hmdg.co.uk for further information.
Follow Michael on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/mjschumacher100
Overview
Pilates is either a nice add-on you never quite monetise, or it becomes the engine room of your clinic.
In this episode, Michael speaks with Lowry O’Mahony (Max Physio & Pilates, and Maxona) about how she integrated Pilates so tightly into a multi-site MSK business that it now generates roughly half of revenue, stabilises cashflow, and creates a workforce pipeline when physio hiring gets tight. They get into where Pilates fits in the patient pathway, how to make it recurring without it feeling “salesy”, and why the best lessons often come from entrepreneurs outside MSK, not the usual industry gurus.
Lowry also explains why she built Maxona: training, studio fit-outs, equipment, and smart reformers designed to measure progress and keep people engaged.
Show Notes
What You’ll Learn
Who This Episode is For
Guest Details
Lowry O’Mahony
Founder of Max Physio & Pilates (Ireland) and Maxona.
Find Lowry and Maxona
Visit https://hmdg.co.uk for further information.
Follow Michael on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/mjschumacher100
From the publisher's feed
This is the podcast clinic owners listen to when they’re done with gurus, funnels, blueprints, and templates pretending to be strategy. No hacks. No 'proven' 10X systems.
This…
You get the truth about how clinics actually grow. Why some print money while others burn out. What patient numbers mean once you stop pretending templates can fix capacity problems or that “mindset” builds a business. The idea that a clinic becomes successful because someone journalled harder is fantasy. We talk to people who have actually achieved something. Multi-site owners. True specialists. People with real P&Ls, not testimonial slides about a “life-changing £30k month”.
We break down marketing, pricing, staffing, finance, AI, and operations without pretending there is a magic blueprint that saves everyone. There isn’t. The only thing that works is understanding the fundamentals and executing them properly.
If you want comforting stories, find a guru. If you want the unfiltered reality of running a clinic, you’re in the right place.