What is physiotherapy?
Physiotherapy is treatment to enhance rehabilitation and pain control in palliative care.

Who is it available to?
It is available to all appropriate patients in the Hospice Inpatient Unit, Day Services Centre and receiving community care.

Who can be referred for physiotherapy?  
All patients referred to St John's.  
   
Is there a charge for the service?
No - all treatments are provided free of charge

What does the treatment include?

• Maintenance/improvement of independence by graded exercise programmes
• Provision of walking aids e.g. frames and walking sticks
• Advice to carers on transfer and lifting techniques and ways in which to maintain maximum comfort for the client e.g. correct positioning, passive exercises
• Clients suffering from chest conditions can be helped by being given advice on breathing exercises and coughing
• Control of pain by the use of TENS machines, acupuncture, specialised massage techniques, hot and cold packs
• Advice of the management of lymphoedema (swelling that can occur when the lymph system is damaged by surgery or radiotherapy) - we are able to offer specialised massage, compression bandaging and hosiery

How often would you be seen?
Our physiotherapist will do a full assessment and discuss treatment aims and frequency of treatment with you. A physiotherapist may be contacted Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm on 020 7806 4014 or email hospice.info@hje.org.uk.

Our physiotherapist is a member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and is state registered.