The Children's Physiotherapy Team provides support for children and young people (aged 0 to 19 years) who have a condition that affects their movement, posture or physical skills development. 

The service is child, young person and family focussed. It aims to promote maximum independence and the ability of the child or young person to participate in family, school and social activities.

The service provides;

  • specialist advice on equipment and activities that can help the child or young person,
  • activity programmes for the child/young person and their carer(s) to follow,
  • episodes of treatment to achieve goals which are jointly set with the child/young person and their family around improving gross motor skills and function.

The team have specialist knowledge in;

  • holistic child development,
  • the breadth of child specific medical conditions and disabilities,
  • the ability to recognise atypical development and offer a range of physiotherapy interventions and activities to improve gross motor skills and function.

By ensuring the delivery of appropriate and timely information, advice, assessment, intervention and equipment provision, paediatric physiotherapists and physiotherapy assistants can reduce the risk of long-term health problems for children.

Criteria for referral

Referrals into the Children's Physiotherapy Service are accepted for:

  • Children and young people 0 to 18 years old (19 years old if in full-time education) with a movement or co-ordination difficulty which interferes with their motor skills and restricts their participation in daily activities and where their level of performance is not in line with their levels of learning.

And also for:

  • Children and young people with acute musculoskeletal problems (injury and pain) up to and including 15 years of age. (Patients aged 16 and over will access the adult MSK service)

Sources of referral

Other professionals may refer the child or young person to the service, e.g. health visitors, learning disability nurses, speech and language therapists, children's services, hospital staff, GPs, community paediatricians.

Children's physiotherapy referral form. 

Telephone: 01772 215 065. Email: CTS.Central.West@lscft.nhs.uk​​​​​​​

 

At your child’s first physiotherapy appointment we will aim to find out about your child’s difficulties and how physiotherapy might be able to help.

We advise parents to come to the first initial appointment to give consent and information needed. You will be asked about your child’s development, any medication they may be taking, how they are managing at school, things they like to do, their abilities and difficulties, any pain they 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 physiotherapist to physical examination them. This is important in order to assess your child appropriately; in this case they may want to wear shorts and a vest top.

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.

What if English is not my first Language?

If English is not your first language and you think you may not be able to communicate well with our staff please let us know this on the request for involvement as a professional interpreter can be booked for appointments.

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Contact Details

Chorley and South Ribble

Telephone Number: 01772 644 498

Address:
Suite 10 Leyland House, Lancashire Business Park, Leyland, PR26 6TY

Greater Preston

Telephone Number: 01772 777 318

Address:
Minerva Health Centre, Lowthorpe Road, Preston, PR1 6SB

West Lancashire

Telephone Number: 01695 684 300

Address:
Ormskirk CDC, Ormskirk Hospital, Wigan Road, Ormskirk, L39 2JW