Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy helps people of all ages with a disability, illness or injury. Physiotherapy can improve physical problems including loss of strength, movement and function. Physiotherapists work with babies, children and people of all ages and abilities to prevent illness or recover from injury helping people to be as active and independent as possible.

Physiotherapists working in South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust (SEHSCT) are Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) who work closely with other AHPs, nursing, social work and medical colleagues to provide the best care for every patient. Physiotherapy offers a range of interventions, services and advice to prevent illness & injury and improve individuals’ health and wellbeing.

Physiotherapists in SEHSCT provide a range of services in acute inpatient settings; outpatient clinics; in the community and in a person’s home.

• Accessing Physiotherapy

  Accessing Physiotherapy Services in the South Eastern  Trust

  Physiotherapy services are provided throughout the South Eastern Trust; you can access outpatient physiotherapy via self-referral, or through a referral made by your GP, Consultant, appropriate AHP, social worker or nurse practitioner

  • • All Physiotherapy outpatient referrals are sent to the AHP Central booking office (CBO)
    • Referrals received by CBO are then triaged by physiotherapy staff, according to regionally agreed guidelines, and placed onto urgent or routine waiting lists
    • You will receive a letter asking you to contact CBO to book an appointment
    • The time between point of referral and appointment will be dependent on urgency of the referral. We strive to see all urgent referrals within 2 weeks of receipt.

   

  All initial referrals to the Community Respiratory Service, for patients with a diagnosed respiratory condition, are made via a health care professional by contacting Primary Care Connect on (028) 9598 8000. These referrals will then be triaged, An urgent referral will be seen within 48 hours and a routine referral should be seen within 2 weeks.

• Self-Referral

  What is self-referral?

  Self-referral is a direct route to physiotherapy for those within the South Eastern Trust. It allows you to refer yourself to physiotherapy for assessment & treatment without having to see or be prompted by another healthcare practitioner.

  Who can self-refer?

  If you reside in the South Eastern trust area, are over 16 and are suffering from e.g. low back pain, neck pain, or recent injuries such as strains and sprains or joint or muscular pain self-referral physiotherapy is for you.

  We are unable to accept a self-referral if you are –

  • Under the age of 16,
  • If you have a neurological, paediatric, respiratory, obstetric or gynaecological problem.
  • If you are under the care of a consultant for this problem, or if you have had a fracture/ break or surgery related to this problem in the last three months.

  A referral from your GP or hospital doctor will be required in these instances to ensure that physiotherapy is appropriate for your condition.

  How can I self-refer?

  You can Self-Refer by submitting an online form below

  Alternatively, printable versions of the Self-Referral can be downloaded here.

  Paper copies are also available in your GP practice, or all South Eastern Trust Physiotherapy Departments. The completed form can be posted to:

  Central Booking Office
  1st floor Main Building
  Downshire Estate
  Ardglass Road
  Downpatrick
  BT30 6RL

  Or email the form to: AHP.centralbookingoffice@setrust.hscni.net

  Self-referral is available for adults over 16 who need support and advice to manage symptoms related to muscle strains/joint sprains/back and neck pain.

  This referral option is not available if you are under the care of a consultant for this problem, if you have had a fracture/ surgery related to this problem in the last 3 months, or if you have neurological/respiratory/continence conditions.

   If you have Pregnancy related pain, please ask your GP/Midwife to refer you to the Pelvic Health/ Women’s Health Physiotherapy Service who do not currently accept self-referrals.

  Physiotherapy Referral Form

  • Name*
    First Last
  • Todays Date*
    DD slash MM slash YYYY
  • Date of Birth*
    DD slash MM slash YYYY
    Please be reminded that Direct access physiotherapy in SEHSCT is only available to prospective clients of 16 years and over.
  • Address*
    Street Address Address Line 2 City ZIP / Postal Code AfghanistanAlbaniaAlgeriaAmerican SamoaAndorraAngolaAnguillaAntarcticaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBoliviaBonaire, Sint Eustatius and SabaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBouvet IslandBrazilBritish Indian Ocean TerritoryBrunei DarussalamBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaCape VerdeCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaChristmas IslandCocos IslandsColombiaComorosCongoCongo, Democratic Republic of theCook IslandsCosta RicaCroatiaCubaCuraçaoCyprusCzechiaCôte d'IvoireDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEswatiniEthiopiaFalkland IslandsFaroe IslandsFijiFinlandFranceFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench Southern TerritoriesGabonGambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGibraltarGreeceGreenlandGrenadaGuadeloupeGuamGuatemalaGuernseyGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHaitiHeard Island and McDonald IslandsHoly SeeHondurasHong KongHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsle of ManIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJerseyJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiKorea, Democratic People's Republic ofKorea, Republic ofKuwaitKyrgyzstanLao People's Democratic RepublicLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacaoMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMarshall IslandsMartiniqueMauritaniaMauritiusMayotteMexicoMicronesiaMoldovaMonacoMongoliaMontenegroMontserratMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNauruNepalNetherlandsNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNiueNorfolk IslandNorth MacedoniaNorthern Mariana IslandsNorwayOmanPakistanPalauPalestine, State ofPanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPitcairnPolandPortugalPuerto RicoQatarRomaniaRussian FederationRwandaRéunionSaint BarthélemySaint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da CunhaSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint MartinSaint Pierre and MiquelonSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesSamoaSan MarinoSao Tome and PrincipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSint MaartenSlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSurinameSvalbard and Jan MayenSwedenSwitzerlandSyria Arab RepublicTaiwanTajikistanTanzania, the United Republic ofThailandTimor-LesteTogoTokelauTongaTrinidad and TobagoTunisiaTurkmenistanTurks and Caicos IslandsTuvaluTürkiyeUS Minor Outlying IslandsUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomUnited StatesUruguayUzbekistanVanuatuVenezuelaViet NamVirgin Islands, BritishVirgin Islands, U.S.Wallis and FutunaWestern SaharaYemenZambiaZimbabweÅland Islands Country
  • Your Health and Care Number (if known)
  • Email
    Please enter your email address if you have access to an email account and wish to receive confirmation of your request.
  • Phone Number*
    A telephone number is essential as this is the preferred method of communication with our service users. To ensure a timely response to your request for treatment, please ensure you have entered a telephone number where you can be contacted. If you do not have a home telephone number, please provide an alternative.
  • Can we leave a message at this number?*
    • Yes
    • No
  • Do you require an interpreter?*
    • Yes
    • No
  • Do you require adjustments for reasons related to a disability?*
    • Yes
    • No
  • GP Name*
  • GP Practice Address*
    Street Address Address Line 2 City ZIP / Postal Code AfghanistanAlbaniaAlgeriaAmerican SamoaAndorraAngolaAnguillaAntarcticaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBoliviaBonaire, Sint Eustatius and SabaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBouvet IslandBrazilBritish Indian Ocean TerritoryBrunei DarussalamBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaCape VerdeCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaChristmas IslandCocos IslandsColombiaComorosCongoCongo, Democratic Republic of theCook IslandsCosta RicaCroatiaCubaCuraçaoCyprusCzechiaCôte d'IvoireDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEswatiniEthiopiaFalkland IslandsFaroe IslandsFijiFinlandFranceFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench Southern TerritoriesGabonGambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGibraltarGreeceGreenlandGrenadaGuadeloupeGuamGuatemalaGuernseyGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHaitiHeard Island and McDonald IslandsHoly SeeHondurasHong KongHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsle of ManIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJerseyJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiKorea, Democratic People's Republic ofKorea, Republic ofKuwaitKyrgyzstanLao People's Democratic RepublicLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacaoMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMarshall IslandsMartiniqueMauritaniaMauritiusMayotteMexicoMicronesiaMoldovaMonacoMongoliaMontenegroMontserratMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNauruNepalNetherlandsNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNiueNorfolk IslandNorth MacedoniaNorthern Mariana IslandsNorwayOmanPakistanPalauPalestine, State ofPanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPitcairnPolandPortugalPuerto RicoQatarRomaniaRussian FederationRwandaRéunionSaint BarthélemySaint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da CunhaSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint MartinSaint Pierre and MiquelonSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesSamoaSan MarinoSao Tome and PrincipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSint MaartenSlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSurinameSvalbard and Jan MayenSwedenSwitzerlandSyria Arab RepublicTaiwanTajikistanTanzania, the United Republic ofThailandTimor-LesteTogoTokelauTongaTrinidad and TobagoTunisiaTurkmenistanTurks and Caicos IslandsTuvaluTürkiyeUS Minor Outlying IslandsUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomUnited StatesUruguayUzbekistanVanuatuVenezuelaViet NamVirgin Islands, BritishVirgin Islands, U.S.Wallis and FutunaWestern SaharaYemenZambiaZimbabweÅland Islands Country
  • Did your GP suggest self-referral to Physiotherapy*
    • Yes
    • No
  • Where is your main problem? Please only select ONE*
    BackNeckShoulderArmElbowWristHandChestHipKneeLegFoot
  • How long have you had this problem?*
    • 0-6 Weeks
    • 7 -12 Weeks
    • > 13 Weeks
    • > 1 Year
  • Hidden
    How long have you had this problem?
    • 0-6 Weeks
    • 7 -12 Weeks
    • > 13 Weeks
    • > 1 Year
  • Have you seen your GP regarding this problem?*
    • Yes
    • No
  • Is this problem..*
    • New
    • Return of old problem
  • Are the symptoms getting worse?*
    • Yes
    • No
  • If yes, in what way?
  • Are you able to carry out your normal activities? (work, care for a dependant, sport)*
    • Yes
    • No
  • If No what are you having difficulty with?
  • Do you know what caused your problem?*
    • Yes
    • No
  • If yes, please give details
  • Do you have any other medical condition or information that you think may be relevant e.g. Cancer, previous fractures, Diabetes, Osteoporosis?*
    • Yes
    • No
  • If yes, please give details:
  • Sometimes we miss what is most important to you, what is concerning you most?*
  • Have you lost weight in the past 6 months for reasons you cannot explain?*
    • Yes
    • No
  • If yes, how much?
  • Have you developed Numbness / Tingling / Pins and Needles since the start of your problem?*
    • Yes
    • No
  • If yes, where?
  • Since the onset of your problem do you have any of the following symptoms?*
    • A new episode or a sudden change to your ability to control or to pass urine
    • A new loss of sensation to your inner thighs, genitals or back passage area
    • A new difficulty with Bowel function resulting in a loss of bowel control (soiling yourself)
    • None of the above
    If you answered YES to any of the questions above and you HAVE NOT seen a doctor for this symptom, it is essential that you arrange for URGENT advice from your GP or attend your local Emergency Department DO NOT SEND IN THIS FORM UNTIL YOU HAVE SOUGHT FURTHER ADVICE
  • Please tick where you wish to attend for assessment*
    • Ards Community Hospital
    • Bangor Community Hospital
    • Downe Hospital
    • Lagan Valley Hospital
    • Lisburn Health Centre
    • Stewartstown Road Clinic
    • Saintfield

  While you are waiting if you are concerned that your condition is worsening please seek medical advice.

• Inpatient Care
  • Respiratory – acute respiratory
  • Neurology – rehabilitation of acute neurological conditions including stroke
  • Intensive care and rehabilitation
  • Trauma and Orthopaedics
  • Post-operative rehabilitation
  • Oncology and palliative care
• Community Care
  • Respiratory care- Oxygen Service, Bronchiectasis service, Pulmonary Rehabilitation, dysfunctional breathing service
  • Community assessment and treatment and rehabilitation of children and adults with a wide range of neurological, physical and learning disabilities
  • Oncology and palliative care
• Outpatient Care
  • Musculoskeletal physiotherapy outpatient clinics providing assessment, diagnostic  advice, education and treatment services for patients with back and neck pain, shoulder, knee or hip pain, strains and sprains, sports injuries
  • Rheumatology service
  • Post-operative rehabilitation
  • Hand Therapy and plastic surgery rehabilitation
  • Chronic pain rehabilitation
  • Trauma and orthopaedic outpatient rehabilitation
  • Paediatric musculoskeletal conditions
  • Rehabilitation exercise classes
  • Pelvic health – obstetric advice and classes, gynaecological diagnostics and treatment for Pelvic Pain
  • Male and female continence and prolapse rehabilitation
  • Neurology rehabilitation
  • Falls rehabilitation, strength and balance classes
  • Respiratory outpatient clinics and rehabilitation classes
  • Lymphoedema management
  • Exercise in water classes
  • Child Development clinics and paediatric outpatient clinics
• Appointment Information

  What should I wear?

  Please wear comfortable shoes or trainers and bring appropriate clothing such as shorts or a vest-top or T-Shirt so that your condition can be properly assessed by your Physiotherapist

  How long will the assessment take?

  This varies but usually between 30 – 45 minutes.

  What happens if I need to cancel or re-schedule my appointment?

  Please call the central booking office as soon as possible on 028 44838386 to reschedule your appointment.

  Please note – as we cannot easily reallocate late cancellations, we would appreciate you make every effort to attend your appointments. This will help us to reduce waiting times.

  If you need to cancel or re-arrange your appointment, please do so at least 48hours prior to attendance. Late cancellations on two occasions will result in discharge.

  What happens if I miss my appointment?

  If you do not attend the appointment you have agreed and fail to contact us within 24 hours you will be discharged from the service.

  The outcome of all Physiotherapy Assessments and treatments will be forwarded to your GP.

• How can I help myself?

  Many musculoskeletal conditions benefit from good self-care and self-management. Please see the links below for access to information, videos and leaflets that you may find helpful. You can use this information independently while you wait for your appointment, or following assessment from a health professional. Please note, these resources are aimed at individuals aged 16 and over.

  • Chartered Society of Physiotherapy: Your health provides advice on common musculoskeletal conditions, exercises and how to stay healthy and active.
  • Arthritis Research UK: Arthritis Research UK offers a range of advice and support for people living with all forms of arthritis.
  • Musculoskeletal Self-help app from NHS Scotland: http://www.nhsinform.co.uk/msk
  • NHS Choices: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions
• Out of Hours Times & Information

  Outside of usual outpatient service times and on Bank Holidays, the physiotherapy service provides an emergency respiratory on call service for in patients in all acute hospital sites trust wide.

  Contact is restricted to hospital staff and can be made through the Trust switchboard Tel: (028) 9048 4511

• Accessibility Guides

  View accessibility guides for the various locations below

  Ards Hospital

  Bangor Hospital

  Downe Hospital

  Downshire Hospital

  Ulster Hospital