Physiotherapy

How to find us

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The Children’s Physiotherapy Team

The Children’s Physiotherapy service is based in the Jenny Lind Children’s Hospital at the university hospital. There are 27 members of the children’s physiotherapy team working in various roles both in the hospital and out in the community.

We assess and treat children from pre-term to 16 years (or 19 years if your child attends a special school) with a wide variety of conditions.

Each child is given a treatment or management programme based on an individual assessment of the child’s needs, and their condition.

We work very closely with parents, carers and other professionals to ensure each child reaches their full potential.

Where do we see children?

Children can be seen in a range of settings in the hospital and in the community:

• Jenny Lind Physiotherapy department at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital
• Child’s home
• Mainstream and special schools
• Children’s Centre (Upton Rd)
• Nurseries / Play groups
• Carrow Road Sports Injuries Clinic
• Respite Centres
• Quidenham Children’s Hospice

What conditions do we treat?

Children’s physiotherapists are specially trained to treat a variety of conditions, some are seen only in childhood and others are long-term conditions which will need ongoing management for the child’s whole lifetime.

Some of the more common conditions are:

• Musculoskeletal – eg. after fractures, sports injuries, rehabilitation following surgery
• Neurological conditions – eg. cerebral palsy, head injuries, spina bifida
• Neuromuscular conditions – muscular dystrophies
• Baby Orthopaedic conditions – eg. talipes and torticollis
• Respiratory conditions – eg. cystic fibrosis, asthma
• Rheumatological – eg juvenile idiopathic arthritis
• Palliative Care – in hospital and children’s hospice
• Syndromes – and metabolic disorders, developmental delay
• Pre-term – follow up clinics

Specialist Services

We also run other services within the department alongside other professionals. These include:

• Orthotic Clinic – with an orthotist assessing for orthoses and lycra garments
• Movement Clinic – alongside a paediatrician and orthopaedic consultant for children with movement disorders
• Baby Orthopaedic Clinic – Treatment of babies with developmental dysplasia of the hip and talipes.
• Hydrotherapy – post surgery and rehabilitation in the water
• Cystic Fibrosis Clinic – A multidisciplinary clinic monitoring the treatment of children with cystic fibrosis
• Norfolk Body Shape Team – training for parents, carers and professionals working with children with complex disability.

Referrals

If you feel your child may need a physiotherapy assessment please discuss this with your consultant, your GP or other health care professional who will be able to refer you to the service if necessary.

Your first appointment

• A physiotherapist will contact you either by telephone or letter to arrange your first appointment.
• This will usually be up to an hour long.
• Your child will need to attend with an adult who has parental responsibility for them.
• Your child may need to undress for the physiotherapist to examine them, so older children may wish to bring shorts and a T-shirt to wear during the assessment.
• Younger children may wish to bring a few of their favourite toys with them to help them to settle in the hospital clinic environment.
• Please bring any relevant information from other medical appointments that your child may have had, any medications they are taking, and parents of younger children should bring their red book along with them.

See our Useful Leaflets  section for more information and advice