Bedfordshire Community Therapy Service

The Community Occupational Therapy team provides assessments for those who require health-related minor works equipment, support or advice. 

This service follows the national guidance of assessments occurring within 18 weeks from the point of referral. 

The service provides:

• Comprehensive moving and handling assessments
• Postural Seating Assessments
• Assessments for equipment with demonstrations and advice to patients and carers
• Equipment that supports safety and independence. Please note that all equipment items we supply has criteria which needs to be met for it to be prescribed. There may be times when equipment is wanted by a patient, but if they do not meet the criteria, we will not be able to provide it. In which case, it will need to be purchased privately
• The service refers to and liaises with Social Service’s Occupational Therapy service regarding major adaptation needs, identified on assessment. 

The service does not provide: *this list is not exclusive

• Reimbursement for privately funded equipment
• Housing support letters
• Supporting letters for new windows or aids to facilitate the lights to be turned on and off
• Garden sheds for mobility scooters 
• Small aids such as kettle tippers, jar/tin opening aids, cutlery, light switches etc. These will need to be privately purchased.

Our equipment provider Millbrook are able to provide some items of equipment directly to the client without requiring an OT assessment.  This is available via the self assessment website, and includes items such as toileting equipment, basic rails, bed levers.

Who can refer to the service:

• GPs
• Health Professionals
• Social Services
• Acute Hospitals
• Self referrals/relatives
• Carers
• Voluntary Services

This service is for patients who are housebound, unable to attend a physiotherapy outpatient appointment or there is a clear benefit/justification to a physiotherapy assessment taking place in the patient’s home environment who would benefit from a period of rehabilitation to improve their strength, stamina and/or mobility.

This may include provision of basic equipment to support your identified and agreed rehabilitation goals.

If the patient is not housebound, the referral will be passed to the GP or referring consultant to request an outpatient’s appointment to be arranged.

This service follows the national guidance of assessments occurring within 18 weeks from the point of referral. 

The service provides:

• Mobility assessment and provision of walking aids
• Gait assessment and mobility progression
• Stair assessments
• Transfer assessments and provision of equipment
• Minor Physiotherapy aids
• Personalised Rehab/Exercise Plans
• Falls assessment/advice/exercises

The service does not provide for (*this list is not exclusive):

• Patients that can attend an outpatients’ appointment
• Patients that have active private physiotherapy involvement

Who can refer to the service:

• GPs
• Health Professionals
• Social Services
• Acute Hospitals
• Self referrals/relatives
• Carers
• Voluntary Services

Primary Care at Home North
Twinwoods, Milton Road, Clapham,
Bedford, MK41 6AT
 
Primary Care at Home Mid
Shefford Health Centre, Robert Lucas Drive, Shefford, SG17 5FS
 
Primary Care at Home South
Queensborough House, Friars Walk,
Dunstable, LU6 3JA