Physiotherapy is about getting your body moving again.
This page has information about our Physiotherapy service for people who need to stay in the hospital.
Respiratory TeamThe Respiratory Physiotherapy team provides a service to all the wards at RLUH.
The team is sub-divided into Critical Care Team, Surgical Team, Medical Team, Vascular Team
The cricital care team provides respiratory input and rehabilitation to the intensive care unit, the high dependency unit and the post operative critical care unit. The team works closely with occupational therapists, speech and language therapists and dieticians to meet NICE guidelines on rehabilitation after critical illness.
The respiratory ward team also provides both respiratory input and rehabilitation to those patients admitted to 6X and 6Y. They work closely with Occupational Therapists as well as liasing with community services. Some members of this team also see patients with respiratory disease in an outpatient setting to encourage self management.
The team works extended hours: Monday - Friday, 08:00 - 20:00 with an on-call service overnight, and provides weekend cover for new patients and those who could deteriorate without input.
The ward team aims to see all patients within the hospital who have undergone major abdominal surgery. They will teach breathing exercises to prevent respiratory complications but also ensure mobility is regained in the postoperative period. They will also see any other patients in the hospital with respiratory pathologies and retained secretions.
The team consists of 10 Physiotherapists and 4 Physiotherapy assistants. Weekend and on call cover is provided by staff from the wider department.
The Rehabilitation Team delivers a therapy service across both hospital sites and in a variety of settings in the community. In each area, our teams are tailored to meet the needs of their specific patient population
On the acute site, the team is an essential part of the nationally recognised Stroke Care Pathway, assessing, treating and educating patients and families whose lives Alternate Textare affected by stroke in line with nationally recognised guidelines. The Acute Stroke Unit is based on the second floor and has therapy input over 7 days. Therapists also work with the wider multi disciplinary team in managing the rehabilitation of people admitted with challenging physical and cognitive problems including Brain Injury and multiple trauma, and complex Long Term Conditions. Treatment for these complex groups of patients varies widely, and may encompass strengthening exercises, balance work, functional skills, endurance capacity, splinting regimes and postural support programmes involving specialist seating.
The team at Broadgreen also form an integral part of the Stroke Care Pathway. Based on the Stroke Rehabilitation Unit, Ward 8, Alexander Wing, they work collaboratively with the other members of the MDT to provide ongoing rehabilitation appropriate to each patients individual needs, 24 hours a day. The team has access to 3 fully equipped gyms, a specially adapted kitchen and bathroom and a day room. In addition to more traditional treatment techniques, the team also utilises more modern approaches including ‘exergaming’ to improve balance, coordination, endurance, strength and concentration. Close links with our community team ensures a coordinated, safe and effective discharge from the ward and a seamless transfer of care for each patient.
Stroke patients are followed up on discharge by our Early Supported Discharge Team, in which specialist therapists deliver treatment programmes in the home or other appropriate community settings, including local gyms, supermarkets and parks! The emphasis at this stage in the pathway is to facilitate safe discharge and to work with the patient/family towards independent living. The ESDT works in partnership with Liverpool City Council staff at Venmore Community Care Centre where there are 5 dedicated Intermediate care beds for stroke rehabilitation. Our longstanding partnership with Crossroads Re-enablement Team further reinforces collaboration between health and social services.