Children's Physiotherapy

The Physiotherapy Service for Children are now offering face to face appointments at West Ham Lane Health Centre & Appleby Health Centre, as well as completing home / school visits when required. We will be following NHS England Guidelines on social distancing and therapists will continue to wear PPE during clinic appointments. We kindly ask that only 1 family member attend our clinic appointments. We would like to thank you for your continued co-operation and patience during these uncertain times.

Phone

0208 586 6380

Email

children.physiotherapy@nhs.net

Who we are

The Children’s Physiotherapy Team provide a child centred service to children who are registered with a Newham GP, under the age of 18, and who have a physical disability, condition or concern that impacts on their development and functional daily activities at home or in school. Sometimes only one appointment is needed and sometimes we are involved with the child until adulthood.

A children’s physiotherapist has an understanding of:

child development
childhood diseases and conditions that may impact on development and well being
therapeutic interventions that enable and optimise development and well being
the need to place the child at the centre of planning
the impact that having a sick or disabled child has on family life
how to keep children safe
how to ensure that children and young people make choices
how to develop their own skills and practice
how to develop services in line with Government guidance committed to improving quality and life chances for children

What we do?

We assess and treat to promote independence and help every child achieve their physical potential. We see children in clinic, in their homes, at schools/nurseries and children’s centres depending on the needs of the child and family. We are also now able to offer appointments via video and telephone consultations.

Our treatment is based upon an assessment of the child’s needs. This may include:

advice, reassurance and recommendations
personalised activity or exercise programmes
positioning and handling
providing specialist equipment
serial casting and orthotics
referrals to other Professionals

Who do we see?

We see children who are registered with a Newham GP and aged up to 18 years old. There are many children who may benefit from physiotherapy with a huge range of problems or conditions.

The most common conditions we treat are:

Neurological conditions e.g. cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury or stroke
Neuromuscular conditions e.g. muscular dystrophy
high risk infants due to traumatic birth history or prematurity,
Syndromes and metabolic diseases e.g. Down syndrome
Congenital abnormalities e.g. talipes, torticollis, spina bifida
Delayed motor skills e.g. rolling, crawling, sitting, walking
Concerns with walking or posture and developmental variations
Community rehabilitation following planned hospital admission or surgery
Rheumatological conditions for community access needs
Musculoskeletal concerns under the age of 10

Parents, Guardians, GPs, Schools and other Healthcare Professionals can refer to the Children’s Physiotherapy Service. We have a standard referral form which enables you to provide us with the information we need to decide how it is best to help the child/ young person. These referrals can be posted or emailed directly to our Service. Once a referral is received, an experienced qualified Physiotherapist, will read the referral and decide whether the referral will be accepted or not.

Universal-referral-form - Feb 2019.pdf

Your child's first physiotherapy appointment will involve a thorough examination to establish how physiotherapy might be able to help. Initially, we will ask you various questions. You will be asked about your child's development, any medication they may be taking, how they are managing at school, their abilities and difficulties, any pain there are suffering from. Your child will be involved as much as possible in these discussions.

Your child will then need to be appropriately undressed for the physical examination. This is important in order to check ranges of movements and see how your child moves. They may prefer to wear shorts.

Once the physiotherapist has assessed your child, they will discuss their findings with you and together establish a plan for your child's treatment if this is required. This may include what we can do to help you and what you and your child can do at home to continue the treatment. You will always have the opportunity to discuss any concerns or questions you may have.

The physiotherapy department work within a larger Specialist Children's and Young People's Services. Our external professional partners within Health, Social Care and Education include the following:

Health

Social Care

Children's Safeguarding
Integrated Equipment at Stores
Interpreting Services
Wheelchair Services at Enabled Living
Enabled Living

Education

Local Education and Early Year's Providers
London Borough of Newham (LBN)
Complex Needs and Dyslexia Service (CNDS)
Health Visiting in Newham
Special Educational Needs (SEND)

Children's Physiotherapy