Physiotherapy
Our Specialist Palliative Care Physiotherapist provides treatment to enhance rehabilitation and pain control.
Our physiotherapist works with all appropriate patients within the Hospice, including the In-Patient Unit and
Day Services. The Physiotherapist also works as part of the Community Team visiting patients in their own homes.
The physiotherapist focuses on helping patients to move safely and manage stairs. They have particular
expertise in managing pain and stiffness, and helping with problems such as breathlessness, loss of
balance and tiredness.
The physiotherapist also provides families and informal carers with guidance on transfer and lifting
techniques and ways in which to maintain maximum comfort for the client e.g. correct positioning,
passive exercises.
On referral, the physiotherapist carries out a full assessment and draws up a treatment plan in combination
with the patient. This includes discussion of treatment aims and the frequency of treatment. Treatment
plans may include:
- maintenance/improvement of independence by graded exercise programmes ;
- provision of walking aids e.g. frames and walking sticks;
- advice on breathing exercises and managing coughing; and
- control of pain by the use of TENS machines, acupuncture, specialised massage techniques, and hot and cold packs.
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