Paediatric physiotherapy (Ealing)

Ealing Paediatric Physiotherapy Service is part of the Ealing Service for Children with Additional Needs (ESCAN) which integrates health, social care and educational services for children.

It is a specialist service whose purpose is to provide a family centred service to enable and improve the outcome for children and young people with short term illness or injury or long term complex needs/disability.

Physiotherapy aims to be holistic in its approach and is part of a multi-disciplinary team and therefore provides care in conjunction with speech and language therapy and occupational therapy.

We also work closely with other agencies e.g. Education/Children with Disabilities Team/Educational Psychology/Medical professionals both local and across London. 

What we do
We assess, treat, and manage children/young people with conditions or difficulties such as:

• Acute Respiratory problems e.g.  Pneumonia, Cystic Fibrosis, Chest Infections
  
• Fractures (for post fracture management)
  
• Musculoskeletal conditions e.g. Soft tissue injuries, Back pain, Knee pain, Postural problems, Joint problems due to different types of arthritis
  
• Needing rehabilitation following a head injury/acute or planned orthopaedic surgery
  
• Neurodevelopmental problems e.g. Developmental delay, Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, Mobility difficulties
  
• Neuromuscular conditions e.g. Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Arthrogryphosis, Congenital  Myopathies
  
• Erb’s Palsy, Torticollis, Positional talipes equinovarus.
  

We also provide:

• Management of children/young people discharged back to Ealing from other tertiary acute hospitals in London
  
• Assessment and provision of Orthotics for the children and young people we see with neurodevelopmental and neuromuscular conditions to facilitate improved gait patterns and minimise deformity
  
• Onwards referral to the Wheelchair/Special seating service, Podiatry service
  
• Assessment and ordering of mobility and postural support equipment.

What you can expect from our service
Your child will be offered an appointment either in a clinic, at school or in a children’s centre. One of our physiotherapists will assess your child and together with the family we’ll plan what to do next depending on your child/young person’s needs and the outcome that is required.

This may include:

• Provision of an exercise or physical management programme
  
• Training of parents/carers/school staff to carry out the above programme and integrate it into the child’s daily routine
  
• Individual or sometimes group sessions with the Physiotherapist or physiotherapy assistant to focus on gross motor skills and improving function
  
• Provision of equipment
  
• Liaison with Parents/Teachers/Learning Support assistants/Nursery nurses/Medical staff as appropriate
  
• Review of Physiotherapy intervention after a period of time agreed with the family/carers/school staff
  
• Facilitation of inclusion of children and young people with physical disability into educational environments
• The Physiotherapists work closely with the other Paediatric Therapies and School Nursing.