What we do

The Trust has a number of highly-qualified and experienced physiotherapists who provide both inpatient and outpatient services.

Respiratory services – Medicine and Surgery

Respiratory physiotherapy is involves helping patients who are having difficulty with their breathing. Their treatment may include advice and education on different breathing techniques, and instruction and assistance with coughing and clearing secretions from their chest

Patients might need respiratory physiotherapy after an operation i.e. heart surgery, major abdominal surgery, or due to a medical condition such as COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), asthma and cystic fibrosis. Physiotherapists also work in intensive care.

Respiratory treatments take place at the patient's bedside.

Physiotherapists who carry out this work are highly-trained specialists, who work with other ward staff such as occupational therapists, nurses and doctors as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

The department also runs pulmonary rehabilitation classes for outpatients. This is a six-week programme for patients with chronic respiratory disease that teaches them how to manage their condition and symptoms in the long term.

Paediatrics

The Trust has a specialist team of physiotherapists who are trained particularly to work with children in hospital. They treat children on the wards, and as outpatients.

They see children with respiratory, neurological and orthopaedic conditions. A service is also provided in paediatric intensive care and to neo-nates at the Princess Anne Hospital.

Stroke patients

Physiotherapists work with on the Trust's Acute Stroke Unit to help patients in the first stages of their recovery following a stroke.

They work with patients to improve their sitting balance, standing, and functional movement. This involves treatment at the bedside or in a small gym area on the ward. Patients are given exercises that will help on the road to recovery.

Physiotherapists who carry out this work are highly-trained specialists. They work with other ward staff such as occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, nurses and doctors as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

In the treatment of stoke patients, it is very important that hospital professionals work together as a team to look after the patient.

Cancer

Physiotherapy in the care of cancer patients can include respiratory and mobility interventions.

This includes helping them to walk, climb stairs and get in and out of bed – back to the level that they were doing it before they were ill – in order that they can go home.

Physiotherapists work as part of the multi-disciplinary team offering specialist care to cancer patients, usually carrying out exercises with them at the patient's bedside.

As well as treating patients on wards C4, C6 and D3, the physiotherapy team will also see patients at Countess Mountbatten House.

Elderly care

Physiotherapists work with patients over 80 years of age to improve mobility so that they can carry out practical day-to-day activities such as washing, dressing and walking.

Some older people are admitted because they have suffered a fall. The physiotherapy team provide advice, exercise and equipment to try and prevent the patient suffering further falls

Specially-trained staff will talk to patients to find out what aspect of their health or mobility they want to improve. They will use techniques and equipment to encourage patients to achieve the level of mobility they had prior to coming into hospital.

Musculoskeletal

This includes orthopaedic inpatients and outpatient services

Orthopaedic physiotherapists treat patients who are on the wards who have broken a bone. These patients may have had surgery to fix the bone.

Treatment will usually involve exercise and walking practice – with or without equipment. This treatment takes place on the ward beside the bed or in a gym area on the ward.

The outpatient service treats patients who may have been discharged home form the orthopaedic wards, or who have been referred by the orthopaedic consultant from an outpatient clinic.

Treatments involve techniques to reduce pain and increase functional movement. This could include an exercise programme.

Wessex Neurological Centre

Specialist physiotherapy staff work within the Wessex Neurological Centre. Patients in this department may have had neurological surgery or have a neurological disorder, such as spinal injury or multiple sclerosis.

Physiotherapy treatment may involve respiratory care and or help with mobilising. Treatment takes place at the bedside or in the gym within the Wessex Neuro Centre.