The Orthotics department assess, design and fit orthoses to patients who require them via primary, secondary and tertiary care providers.
An orthosis is an external device applied to a part of the body to influence function, restrict movement, offload pressure, reduce pain, prevent injury, reduce or accommodate deformity.
We are a team of nine Orthotists and seven Orthotic Officers all working across the NCA.
Orthotists are autonomous registered practitioners who provide gait analysis and engineering solutions to patients with problems of the neuro, muscular and skeletal systems.
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They are extensively trained at undergraduate level in mechanics, bio-mechanics, biomechanics and material science along with anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology
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Their qualifications make them competent to design and provide orthoses that modify the structural or functional characteristics of the patients’ neuro-muscular and skeletal systems enabling patients to mobilise, eliminate gait deviations, reduce falls, reduce pain, prevent and facilitate healing of ulcers
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They are also qualified to modify CE marked Orthoses or componentry taking responsibility for the impact of any changes
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They treat patients with a wide range of conditions including Diabetes, Arthritis, Cerebral Palsy, Stroke, Spina Bifida, Scoliosis, MSK, sports injuries and trauma. Whilst they often work as autonomous practitioners they increasingly often form part of multidisciplinary teams such as within the diabetic foot team or neuro-rehabilitation team
For more information about our profession and what we do, visit the Bapo website.
The Orthotics Services provide a service for both inpatients and outpatients.
We accept outpatient referrals for Bury, Rochdale, Oldham and Salford residents via their local GP surgeries and any patient who is ‘Out Of Area’ must be under a local Consultant. The average waiting time for a ‘First Assessment’ is approximately three to four weeks. Each appointment lasts approximately 30 minutes, but this can depend on the complexity of the referral.
Appointments can now be made via the Choose and Book Service available at your local GP Surgery.
Community clinic at Salford Royal
We run community clinics every Thursday at the Walkden Gateway. For more information, please contact us via the main Orthotics telephone number.
Domiciliary Clinic
We provide domiciliary visits across the NCA, please contact us to arrange an appointment.
Where a more holistic or specialist approach is required, we work within multidisciplinary teams in the following clinics:
Royal Oldham Hospital:
- Adult Learning Disability Clinic
- Diabetes Clinic
- Neuro Clinic
Rochdale Infirmary: Floyd Unit visits
Fairfield General Hospital: Diabetes Clinic
Bury Living Well Centre Paediatric Clinic
Students
As Salford Royal is an active university hospital, we accept undergraduate P&O students where capacity allows us to.
During your first visit, you will usually be asked to provide a clinical history. We will then assess the relevant area, which will be followed by a discussion regarding possible orthotic treatment. The orthotist will usually need to take your whole posture into account, so please bring shorts/wear a tight fitting top where possible.
Some orthoses can be supplied on the day, however if a bespoke orthosis is required, you may need to return for a ‘mid-fitting’ appointment prior to your ‘final fitting’ appointment
It is important to bring any prescribed orthoses to your appointment so that they can be reviewed.
If you have been advised you will need to pay a prescription charge, please bring a method of payment or current proof of exemption.
Referrals are received in the Orthotics department from both Inpatient and Outpatients clinics.
Salford Royal
For inpatients, please refer via the Sunrise Enterprise Gateway. Please ensure these referrals contain the following:
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Presenting problem (pain/weakness/deformity/diagnosis)
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Clinical objective (what you would like the orthosis to do, e.g. accommodate deformity/improve function/reduce pain/prevent further injury/limit movement. Please do not request specific brands of orthoses)
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A contact number in case of any queries.
Outpatient referrals can be received via post, email, Sunrise Enterprise Gateway and most recently via the ‘Choose and Book’ system available from Local GP Surgeries.
Referrals are triaged upon receipt, then allocated to the appropriate clinic. While the majority of our patients are seen at our Salford Royal base there is also a weekly clinic at the Walkden Gateway every Thursday and a Home Visit service every Tuesday for patients who may find it difficult to reach our Salford Royal Clinic. If either of these options is preferred, please mention so on the patients’ referral so as to avoid any delay in treatment.
Inappropriate referrals will be discussed with the referrer and will be passed on to the correct department or service.
If you have any questions please contact us.
Fairfield General - Rochdale Infirmary - Royal Oldham
For inpatients, please fill out an Orthotics Online Request Form in the Interactive Systems section on the Trust intranet. Please ensure these referrals contain the following:
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Presenting problem (pain/weakness/deformity/diagnosis)
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Clinical objective (what you would like the orthosis to do, e.g. accommodate deformity/improve function/reduce pain/prevent further injury/limit movement. Please do not request specific brands of orthoses)
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A contact number in case of any queries.
For outpatients, we accept referrals from GPs, Consultants and AHPs.
Please ensure referrals state whether they require a home visit, specialist clinic or school visit. Patients will be booked on to our general clinics unless states otherwise.
Links you may find useful:
Spinal Brace Guide video links:
British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists
International Society of Prosthetists and Orthotists
Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences
Motor Neurone Disease Association
Age UK