Children's musculoskeletal physiotherapy

We provide specialist physiotherapy for children and young people at West Suffolk Hospital and in various Outreach clinics in the West Suffolk area.

Services we provide

We provide specialist physiotherapy assessments and interventions for children and young people from birth to 16 years with musculoskeletal and orthopaedic presentations and conditions. We work closely with colleagues at West Suffolk Hospital including paediatricians, paediatric orthopaedic surgeons, and the paediatric psychology team. If further investigations are deemed appropriate onward referral can be made by the paediatric physiotherapist to these services.

We also see children and young people on the Rainbow Ward at West Suffolk Hospital and have a specialist physiotherapist working on the Neonatal Unit. We work closely with our colleagues in the Integrated Community Paediatric Service (ICPS), in social care and in education.

In addition to running paediatric physiotherapy outpatient clinics at West Suffolk Hospital, we also operate our clinics in various centres around the West Suffolk region.

We see children and young people with the following conditions:

Musculoskeletal conditions
Torticollis/plagiocephaly
Positional talipes
Obstetric Brachial Plexus Palsy
Mild gait abnormalities e.g. toe walking, intoeing
Oncology patients undergoing active treatment
Chronic fatigue syndrome/post covid syndrome
Functional disorder
Chronic pain
Symptoms associated with hypermobility spectrum disorder
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Respiratory conditions e.g. dysfunctional breathing

Contact the musculoskeletal physiotherapy team

Physiotherapy Department, West Suffolk Hospital 01284 713300

Email us at paediatricphysiotherapy@wsh.nhs.uk

We will listen to the concerns of the child and parent/carer and ask questions about your child's condition, general health, and regular activities
We will then examine your child through a combination of observation and relevant assessments/tests
The physiotherapist will then explain their assessment and findings and answer any questions/concerns you or your child may have
We will then agree with you and your child how to best manage your child's condition/needs. This may be advice only or exercise/activity prescription. Onward referral and liaising with other services will be done where needed.

We do not accept referrals for the following conditions:

Cerebral Palsy
Muscular Dystrophies
Spina Bifida
Down's Syndrome
Developmental delay
Suspected neurological movement disorder
Pre-term infants/low birth weight

Referrals for these conditions should all be directed to the paediatric community team.

Referrals for Congenital Talipes Equinovarus and Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip should be made to paediatric orthopaedics at West Suffolk Hospital.

We welcome your comments, compliments and suggestions.

If you have any queries or concerns with any aspect of your child's care that cannot be resolved with your clinician, please contact the team leader.

If you feel unable to discuss your concerns in this way, please contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS).

Following your appointment we ask that you please complete this survey regarding your experience of children's physiotherapy at West Suffolk Hospital.