Children’s Physiotherapy

Parents, young people and children in Gloucestershire have access to advice through Children’s Physiotherapy Direct. A qualified children’s physiotherapist will provide a telephone assessment, advice and onward referral if appropriate.

Children’s Physiotherapy Direct is available Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays) 9am to 12pm.

Referrals are also accepted in writing from GPs, Consultants or other healthcare professionals. These can be sent to Quedgeley Clinic.

Referrals can also be made online, using this form. 

As part of Gloucestershire’s Children and Young People’s Physiotherapy Service, we have physiotherapists who work in specials schools across the county. These physiotherapists aim to support children and young people by providing them and their families with support, advice and physical intervention to promote optimum outcome for the child both whilst they are at school and at home.

Who we see

Children’s Physiotherapy is a countywide specialist physiotherapy service for children and young people up to 19 years old in full time education. We work with children with a variety of presentations and conditions including cerebral palsy, neuromuscular conditions, Down’s syndrome and developmental delay.

Physiotherapists work with children, their families and carers, and educational staff to improve a child’s access to the curriculum. This may include providing a physiotherapy programme that is carried out in school. It may be providing specialist equipment, postural management ideas and working alongside other healthcare professionals to encourage function, movement and posture.

The Gloucestershire Community Children and Young People’s Physiotherapy Service aims to support children and young people with a range of conditions by providing them and their families with support, advice and physical intervention to promote optimum outcome for the child and their family.

Who do we see?
Children’s Physiotherapy is a countywide specialist physiotherapy service for children and young people aged 0-16 years (16-19 in full time education), their families and carers, providing physiotherapy in both the hospital and community settings.

What to expect
We aim to provide an effective, safe, high quality service along with its partners and skilled workforce. The service provides assessment, advice and physiotherapy management of any childhood condition to promote the health and physical development of each individual.  Treatment is planned around the child and families’ individual needs. The length of the treatment will vary for each child and condition. Children and young people are regularly re-assessed to evaluate progress and parents/carers are actively involved in the child’s physiotherapy programme.  We also offer group work, including a lower limb class and hydrotherapy.

What should I wear?
Please bring shorts and a vest to your appointment. You may be asked to undress in order for the physiotherapist to complete a thorough assessment.

How can I get the best out of my treatment?
Your physiotherapist will help you decide your aims of physiotherapy.  With your physiotherapist you will be able to plan how you will meet these aims. This will involve treatment from your physiotherapist  and activities and advice for you to complete at home independently, often daily.  It is very important that you comply with your programme and contact your physiotherapist if you are unable to do so. At each appointment your physiotherapist will review your aims and your programme and help you progress these in order to meet you goals.

Where will I be seen?
The Children and Young People’s Physiotherapy service is provided in a variety of locations and settings. Access to physiotherapy is in the most appropriate setting for their assessment, treatment and ongoing support, enabling them to achieve their outcomes. This may be at a clinic, in a hospital, at a children’s centre, in school or at home. We also run aqua therapy sessions and lower limb classes.

When can I be seen?
The service operates from 8.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday, excluding Bank Holidays, with some staff working flexibly to meet additional need. Some bases also offer evening clinics.
We aim to see you within 8 weeks of you being referred to our service.