About us
An Expert Team in Exeter and across Devon & Cornwall
We’ve been helping clients recover from pain and injuries for over twenty-five years, initially as Neil Davey Physio and now as Transform Health.
The new approach, a research-based progression of traditional physiotherapy known as Cognitive Functional Therapy (CFT), is a powerful solution to both short-term and long-term problems.
Our team in Exeter and across Devon & Cornwall have seen how CFT benefits our clients and want to change how musculoskeletal healthcare is delivered. We shift the focus from the short-term relief of symptoms, which requires repeated treatments to identifying the cause of these symptoms. This empowers patients with the tools to manage pain and break the cycle of repeated treatments.
We work in partnership with you, assessing the reasons for your pain and the factors that are preventing your recovery. We then provide a structured plan for you to follow, which enables you to make the changes you need for rapid improvement in your pain symptoms.
Searching for Truly Effective Physiotherapy
We have worked both in the NHS and in private practice, as well as with top level sports teams, including at the Exeter Chiefs RFC and the European PGA Golf Tour. During this time, we’ve supported individuals from many walks of life, successfully dealing with all kinds of pain and injury.
This has given us a great deal of experience – and is also the reason why our approach has evolved beyond standard physiotherapy.
Having observed many clients over the years and the way they responded to different treatments, we began to realise that the traditional techniques we had been taught just weren’t getting to the heart of the problem.
These may have provided short-term relief, but we could see a pattern in return visits. Time and again, we were hearing from people that niggling or chronic pain was limiting their ability to live their normal life. It was apparent that patients were in the trap of treatment shopping: seeing many different clinicians with the same ineffective results, then moving onto the next in the hope of a positive outcome.
We became disillusioned. We were doing what we’d been trained to do, but weren’t seeing the lasting outcomes we wanted for our clients.
A Quicker Recovery with Long-term Results
This all changed in 2009, when Neil was introduced to an alternative way of working as a physiotherapist in Exeter. Backed by the latest science on pain and how our body and mind work together, this made sense of all the previous questions and frustrations.
Neil began to practice differently and saw dramatically improved results. Patients responded so quickly that they only needed one or two sessions with him before they were able to maintain their own wellness.
Neil stopped using the ineffective, dependency-creating treatments and replaced these with a research-based method, centred on each patient as an individual. This reduced the need for repeated treatments and provided sustained improvements.
Our approach
Successful physiotherapy requires routine check-ups, with ongoing visits for adjustments, alignments and other treatments, right? Wrong…
CFT
Developed from decades of research on how our bodies work, CFT looks at the whole person rather than treating your symptoms in isolation.
News / Blog
The brain is incredible, it processes a huge amount of information... it constantly takes in information, decides what it means and then how to react...
Meet the team
Neil Davey
After qualifying in 1996, Neil initially worked in the NHS before setting up Exeter Physio in 2001.
In 2009 he was introduced to cognitive functional therapy (CFT), a development of physiotherapy backed up by science and research.
Since practising CFT Neil has seen dramatically improved results. Neil focuses on developing skills that benefit patients. The new approach has proved effective in helping people who suffer from musculoskeletal pain and disability.
- B.Sc. (Hons) Physiotherapy 1996 at the University of Birmingham
- Worked in the NHS until 2001
- Worked in private practice from 2001 to present
- Worked with European PGA Golf tour over five years
- Worked with Exeter Chiefs RFC over five years.
- Played county cricket with Worcestershire, Hampshire, Gloucestershire and Somerset County Cricket Clubs.
Nick Critchley
Since qualifying as a physiotherapist in 1997 Nick has primarily practiced in the private sector, assisting a diverse patient population in overcoming pain and injury-related challenges.
He has cultivated a strong interest in chronic pain management and has specialised in this field for over two decades.
In 2018, he completed a Master’s degree in the “Clinical Management of Pain & Headache Conditions” at the University of Edinburgh.
Since 2022 Nick has collaborated with Transform Health, coaching patients in their recovery from chronic back pain, and facilitating their return to fulfilling, pain-free lives, as part of the Cognitive Functional Therapy service.
“Contributing to this unique project has been the most fulfilling work I have undertaken, reinforcing my dedication to providing equitable access for all individuals struggling with chronic pain, empowering them to achieve optimal physical, emotional, and mental well-being through sports, exercise and lifestyle modifications.”
Andy Beacham
Andy brings a wealth of experience from over 22 years in private practice as well as diverse roles – CFT spinal pain specialist, Osteopath, University Clinic Tutor and Lecturer, and rugby coach. These experiences shape his unique perspective and ability to connect with people from all walks of life.
Inspired by the compassionate, evidence-based approach of CFT, Andrew is committed to integrating these principles into his practice and refining his skills. His work focuses on uncovering the cognitive, emotional and social factors that influence pain and creating strategies for lasting change.
- Degrees in Physiology & Psychology and Osteopathic Medicine
- Postgraduate Diploma in Pain Management
- Advanced training in Lifestyle Medicine
Outside the clinic, Andrew is a Careers Advisor and Lead at a local secondary school. He can often be found on the rugby training ground honing his coaching skills.
Fran Osborn
Fran studied Physiotherapy at the University of East London, graduating in 2011 with a First-Class degree. She started work at a Burns Rehabilitation centre, where she became interested in helping people with persistent pain. Since then, she has worked across a range of clinical settings, gaining extensive experience helping people with a wide variety of pain conditions.
When she was introduced to Cognitive Functional Therapy, she found that it really resonated with her own approach to patient care. In 2024, Fran joined the team at Transform Health to deliver this care across Cornwall.
As a busy working mum, Fran understands how the pressures of life can influence physical and mental health and wellbeing. She is passionate about helping people to understand their bodies better, regain control over their pain and get back to doing the things they love.
Kate Hassall
Biography coming soon.
Lloyd Skett
Lloyd has been a physiotherapist for over 35 years. Over that time he has developed the knowledge and skills needed to help people to find their way out of pain.
After working in private practice for many years he moved into the NHS, working in out-patients and then in the community, supporting people in their own environments and seeing all the ways their contexts can make it more difficult to overcome problems and to function well.
In 2016 Lloyd got a job in the Pain rehabilitation team with the Torbay Foundation Trust before doing a CFT course in 2018.
“Getting older can be tough. What people really need is to learn how to understand and manage their pain and situation themselves. Things can turn around quickly even after years of pain.”