Integrated Therapy – Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy - Royal Oldham

The physiotherapy and occupational therapy team at Royal Oldham hospital work together as an integrated therapy team. They work across both inpatient and outpatient services.

The over-riding aim of the integrated therapy service is to maximise patients’ function and to help them manage their condition independently.  This will usually include provision of an individualized exercise programme and condition-specific advice.  Where appropriate, treatment may also include manual therapy (where the physiotherapist helps to mobilise joints or tissues) and provision of equipment, such as walking aids or equipment for the home.

We offer a variety of in-patient and out-patient physiotherapy and occupational therapy services:

The inpatient Integrated Therapy teams cover a wide range of areas including:

Medical Integrated Therapy Team – This team treat patients on all the medical wards in the hospital. Patients will be referred to the service by the ward doctor or nurse. Common reasons to be seen by a member of this integrated therapy team include; falls, chest infections, frailty.

Surgical and Vascular Integrated Therapy Team – This team treat patients on all the surgery and vascular wards in the hospital. Patients will be referred to the service by the ward doctor or nurse. Common reasons to be seen by a member of this integrated therapy team include: post-operative abdominal surgery, colorectal surgery, ERAS patients, post op lower limb amputations

Orthopedic Integrated Therapy Team - This team treat patients on the orthopedic ward in the hospital. Patients will be referred to the service by the ward doctor or nurse. Common reasons to be seen by a member of this integrated therapy team include: post operative hip surgery, post operative knee surgery, post operative ankle surgery.

Patients who are referred to the Medical, Surgical, Vascular and Orthopedic teams will be assessed by either a physiotherapist or an occupational therapist who will ask questions about their pre illness mobility and function. Based on the information provided the integrated therapy team will support the patient towards regaining their pre illness abilities whilst in the hospital. The integrated therapy team will support patients through discharge planning by providing appropriate equipment and referral onto additional services as required. 

Critical Care Integrated Therapy Team – This team treat patients on the intensive care unit. Patients will be referred to the service by the intensive care doctors or nurses. Patients referred to the service will be assessed by both physiotherapy and occupational therapy. Based on the information gathered patients may receive treatments such as chest physiotherapy, bed / chair exercises, cognitive rehabilitation and mobility practice as appropriate.

The out-patient integrated Therapy teams cover a wide range of areas including:

The Musculoskeletal service (MSK) – The Physiotherapy Out-Patient team accepts referrals from consultants working within the trust, A&E, occupational health and therapists working on the wards. Assessment and treatment is provided for a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions both spinal and peripheral. Conditions range from soft tissue injuries, acute spinal pain, post orthopaedic surgery, osteo-arthritis, post fractures, rheumatological conditions, TMJ disorders, Dizziness, postural related conditions and general deconditioning.

Alongside general MSK conditions the Physiotherapy out-patient Department hosts a specialist hand therapy team and a Pelvic Health Physiotherapy service. 

Alongside individual treatment sessions there is group rehabilitation and educational based treatment sessions.

The Hand Therapy service – This team is an acute specialist splinting service, patients are predominantly referred from Accident and Emergency.  

The Paediatric physiotherapy service - The specialist paediatric physiotherapists are based in a child friendly area of the main physiotherapy out patients department. They cover both inpatient and outpatient areas.

Inpatient provision is made to the children’s unit including the high dependency unit, neonatal intensive care unit, post natal ward, paediatric observation/assessment unit and occasionally paediatric A+E. The main caseload on the children’s unit is of a respiratory nature and also trauma and orthopaedics. On the NICU they advise on a variety of developmental presentations and triage vulnerable pre term babies for physiotherapy follow up. Congenital musculoskeletal conditions are seen on the post natal ward before discharge home wherever possible.

Referrals into the outpatient service are made by acute paediatricians, neonatologists, trauma and orthopaedics, emergency medicine, midwifery services and orthotics. Virtual and/or face to face assessments are offered depending on clinical need and patient choice.

Training within paediatric physiotherapy is offered within a paediatric competency framework to offer as wide an experience as possible. The department is seen as an important member of the multi disciplinary team in managing acute conditions and in recognising the need for and signposting services to support children with long term conditions in the community.

Outpatient Amputee Rehabilitation Clinic – This clinic is held in the physiotherapy outpatient department. The clinic is designed to regain function and assess for prosthetic use. After an initial assessment patients will be provided with an exercise programme.

Patients will have one to one sessions with the physiotherapy staff to work on their personalised goals which may include walking practice with an early walking aid. Once a patient has been provided with a prothesis by the Specialised Ability Centre

Manchester (SACM) they will continue to receive rehabilitation from the amputee rehabilitation clinic.  We will transfer patients rehab to their local community Physiotherapy team at the appropriate time.

Outpatient respiratory service – for patients with long-standing chest problems, such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and bronchiectasis.  The service accepts referrals from GPs and Pennine consultants.

Neurology outpatients – for patients with long-standing neurological conditions, such as Multiple Sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease.

Cardiac rehabilitation – The Cardiac Rehabilitation Team are an integrated team of specialist physiotherapists and specialist nurses. We are here to offer advice and support for patients following a cardiac event. This includes but is not exclusively MI, HF, or after Heart Surgery for example Angioplasty, CABG, Valve replacement/repair. The Service takes referrals from Consultants and GPs or from the Specialist Nursing Team.

The Service works within a menu based approach and provides specialist advice around cardiac conditions, risk factor management, and goal setting. In addition to this we can provide a structured Cardiac Rehabilitation Exercise Programme either in Classes based in the Physiotherapy Department or as a programme that can be taken away and done at home. We also have strong links with the community and after completing the cardiac rehabilitation programme we are able to refer patients into services that run in the local leisure centres. Prior to starting any exercise programme patients will be individually assessed by a member of the team and then directed onto the most appropriate treatment pathway.

What to expect when being seen by a member of the inpatient integrated therapy team:

Once a patient has been referred to one of the inpatient therapy teams a member of team will meet the patient on the ward.

The inpatient integrated therapy team work Monday – Friday 8am – 4pm. There is a small weekend service that runs on a priority basis.

If possible, patients should bring the following with them into hospital;

  • Slippers
  • Shoes
  • Night clothes
  • Day clothes
  • Toothbrush / toothpaste
  • Flannel / soap / shampoo / conditioner

What to expect when being seen by a member of the outpatient integrated therapy team:

When attending the physiotherapy and occupational therapy outpatient department patients will initially meet a member of the reception team, who will arrange their appointments for them.  They will then be assessed and treated by their physiotherapist or occupational therapist.

The out-patient service core hours are Monday-Friday from 8am until 4pm.

If possible, patients should bring the following to their appointment:

  • Trainers
  • Wear clothes that allow easy access to the affected body part (for example, a vest top for shoulder pain or shorts for a knee problem).

Inpatient teams – J Block or T7, 
Outpatient team – Physiotherapy department

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