Therapies
Royal Bolton Hospital Therapy Services provides a high quality, effective and integrated patient centred services in a variety of in-patient and out-patient settings. We aim to meet the needs of all patients referred to us, guided by best practice.
Therapy Services consists of:
- Physiotherpy
- Occupational Therapy
- Podiatry
- Nutrition & Dietetics
- Orthotics
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy aims to help people of any age whose normal function has been disrupted by injury or illness. It: "uses physical approaches to promote, maintain and restore physical, psychological and social well-being, taking account of variations in health status." (CSP Curriculum Framework January 2002). Physiotherapists assess and treat patients with a wide range of conditions including musculo-skeletal, neurological, respiratory, and medical conditions. The aim is to help restore or maintain respiratory function, normal movement, strength, mobility and optimum function to patients who have had an illness or surgery.
Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapy is the treatment of physical and psychiatric conditions through specific activities in order to help people reach their maximum level of function and independence in all aspects of daily life. (World Federation of Occupational Therapy).
The aim of this therapy is to enable those who are temporarily or permanently disabled to be as independent as possible in their daily lives, whilst recovering from illness or adapting to disability. The therapy service includes staff working on the wards and outpatient areas within the hospital premises. Patients may be referred to Bolton Disability Services for provision of equipment if appropriate or hospital staff may issue equipment as required. Occupational Therapists provide input into the pulmonary rehabilitation services.
Podiatry
Podiatry is the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of common and more complex lower limb pathologies associated with the toenails, soft tissues and musculoskeletal system with the purpose of sustaining or improving foot health (Farndon, 2006).
The out patient clinics for both musculoskeletal problems, where we can provide gait analysis, biomechanical assessments and manufacture orthotics, and podiatry care including neurological and vascular assessments and nail surgery. Our patients are referred via consultant. We also provide a service to staff.
Our in patient service covers all wards focusing on wound care and pressure relief, as well as providing routine podiatry care. We are part of the diabetic foot ulcer ward round carrying out neurological and vascular assessments when necessary.
Nutrition & Dietetics
Dietitians aim to enhance patients' recovery from illness and surgery, and/or maximise general wellbeing, through nutrition support and dietary advice.
This is done through:
- Offering information and advice relating to nutrition and special diets to patients, healthcare staff, the catering department, the public and others.
- Individual patient assessment and advice relating to nutrition or special diets.
- Advising patients and health care professionals on appropriate means of nutrition support, from food fortification and supplements to enteral feeding and TPN.
- Advising the catering department on menu design and dietary issues, to ensure that meals available accommodate patients' nutritional, dietary, medical, cultural, religious needs and personal taste.
- Teaching sessions to student and qualified healthcare professionals of all grades, from basic nutrition awareness to specialist courses.
Orthotics
Orthotics is a predominantly out-patient service with ward visits on request, providing a wide range of orthoses from helmets to footwear, to both adults and children.
Orthoses are provided to align, prevent or correct deformities, or to improve the function of moveable parts of the body. This may be a temporary supply pre/post surgery or for a lifelong condition.
The main aim of the service is to enable patients to maintain mobility and independence, reducing strain on family/carers and deferring the need for surgery and social services care.
Clinical Teams
Therapy Department is organised into clinical teams:
- Out Patients
- Emergency Medicine
- Critical care and surgery (including amputees)
- Complex Care
- Orthopaedics
- Stroke
Each team works independently within the multi-disciplinary team setting in their respective clinical area.
Out Patients
The out-patient department is located on the first floor of N Block at The Royal Bolton Hospital.
Out Patients department opening Times
- Monday 8.00am - 6.30pm
- Tuesday 8.00am - 5.30pm
- Wednesday 8.00am - 6.30pm
- Thursday 8.00am - 4.30pm
- Friday 8.00 - 4.30pm
A&E Physiotherapy services are available 7 days a week, excluding public holidays.
Outpatient services offered at Royal Bolton Hospital include:
- Musculo-skeletal assessment and treatment
- Paediatric physiotherapy
- Gym classes
- Hand therapy
- Hydrotherapy
- Paediatrics
- A&E - minor injuries
- Pain management
- Amputee rehabilitation
- Cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation
- Respiratory care
- Women's health
In Patients
- On most wards, our regular service is delivered to in-patients from 8.30am to 4.30pm, Mon-Fri
- Out of hours, a 24-hour on call service is in place for emergency respiratory physiotherapy
- There is a reduced service at weekends and Bank Holidays
On-call Physiotherapists can be contacted via Switchboard
Emergency Medicine
We work with people who have an acute illness or a sudden deterioration in an existing illness that is sufficiently severe to require a hospital admission but does not need surgery.
We focus on:
- assessing people to identify their main difficulties, planning and carrying out appropriate activities to aid recovery
- helping people to gain the skills they need to be as functionally independent as possible
- helping plan for a safe discharge home
- assessing patients to help determine where they may go for further rehabilitation
- providing information and education to help patients and their families and friends to cope with any disability.
We provide a regular service on wards: D1,D2, D3, D4, C1, CCU, and C3
Critical Care / Surgery
We work with people who are acutely unwell. We see people who have had major abdominal, vascular, urological and breast surgery. We also co-ordinate the In Patient and Out Patient amputee rehabilitation service.
We focus on:
- preventing breathing problems and optimising breathing, assisting in the clearance of sputum from the lungs
- maintaining joint range of movement, assisting the recovering patient to regain muscle power and function
- restoring mobility and function to pre-operative level where possible
- educating patients about their condition and its management
- assisting in a safe and timely discharge from hospital.
We provide a service for wards: E3, E4,F3, F4, ICU and HDU
Amputee rehabilitation
Patients undergoing amputation are seen and assessed as soon as they are referred. Initially, you will be seen on the ward, given appropriate exercises to do and advice about limb care. If appropriate, you will attend amputee sessions in the gym once you can get into a wheelchair. In Patients and Out Patients at all stages of rehabilitation attend.
Orthopaedics
We work with people who have sustained an Musculoskeletal injury e.g. fractured bones, joint dislocations, ligament or tendon injuries, We focus on:
We provide cover wards: G3, G4, and A4
On the orthopaedic wards Physiotherapy staff will assess you, get you out of bed for the first time, provide walking aids, teach you how to use them and progress your mobility. You may also be taught a set of exercises. Stair assessments are provided where necessary. We liaise closely with the Physiotherapy Out Patient department to book appropriate follow-up appointments.
The Occupational Therapy Staff will work with you to ensure that you can go home and safely go about your daily activities e.g. get on and off a chair and the toilet and in and out of bed appropriately and with any appropriate equipment in place e.g. raised toilet seats, bed raisers etc.
Complex Care
The Complex Care Team work with patients who have complex medical / social problems. The therapy staff in the team screen every patient to assess therapy need.
The Physiotherapy and Occupational therapy staff work closely together, involving patients and their relatives / carers, to streamline the patient's hospital stay and ensure a safe and timely discharge. The physiotherapist may prescribe a regime of exercises and may provide a walking aid if appropriate.
The Occupational therapist may assess daily activities eg kitchen assessment, personal care assessment, and may carry out an Environmental Assessment or Home Visit. They may also provide equipment eg bed lever, kitchen trolley, perching stool if deemed necessary.
If the patient requires further rehabilitation, the therapists will refer to Intermediate Care, Intermediate Care at Home, Reablement or Falls service depending on the patients need.