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Our physiotherapy service has services in the hospital and in the community, with a team of specialists working across a number of different areas and health conditions.
Many of our physiotherapists are members of specialist interest groups and have developed extended roles. We always aim to deliver the best, most up-to-date practice for our patients and families.
At the hospital, our state of the art physiotherapy department was funded by the Andrew Flintoff Foundation and has a large gym, hydrotherapy pool and treatment rooms, and has been used as a blueprint for other childrens physiotherapy departments around the country.
When you attend a physiotherapy appointment, please make sure your child wears a comfortable outfit they can be assessed in and do exercises in, for example t-shirt, shorts and trainers. We have changing facilities in the department. They may be asked to remove some of their clothing during their appointment so their muscles and joints can be assessed properly. This will always be done in a dignified manner and privately and the child can have a family member with them.
We ask a parent or carer to accompany their child for at least the initial appointment, but attending future appointments can depend on the child's age and what works best for them.
If you come to Alder Hey hospital for physio, are already a patient and you have any questions, please use the information below to find the correct team and call them on the number provided . Details for our Physiotherapy colleagues in the community teams can be found through the page links above.
If you have an appointment you need to rearrange or cancel, please contact our Appointment Centre.
Aquatic physiotherapy (hydrotherapy) is the use of warm water to relieve discomfort and promote physical well-being. Our heated pool is graduated to allow for different depths of treatment. Using the heat and buoyancy of water, pain can be eased and muscles relaxed to aid normal movement and function that is not possible on land.
The aquatic therapy pool is a child-friendly and fun environment that encourages our patients to reach their full potential by working on their strength, flexibility, balance, posture, mobility and functional activities, on an individual or group basis. Access to the pool is via the stairs, over the side or using a hoist.
Aquatic Physiotherapy can be appopriate for a wide variety of inpatients and outpatients with different conditions within all physiotherapy specialities. We consider each patient for their suitability, on an individual basis, after a medical screening form has been completed.
Alder Hey's aquatic therapy pool is open from 8.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday.
What if I can’t swim?
You don't need to be able to swim to use our pool, and a member of staff will be in the pool with you.
What will happen when we arrive?
You need to allow enough time for changing before your appointment time. You and your child will be shown to the changing area. At your first appointment you will be asked to complete a health screening sheet with a member of staff. You will be asked for consent to the treatment and be able to discuss any questions.
What happens in the pool?
Before entering the pool everyone should have a quick shower. The physiotherapist will assess your child during the initial session. At the end of session the physiotherapist will advise you of when to arrange further appointments.
What do we need to bring?
For more information, contact:
Susie Harrison, Clinical Lead for Aquatic Physiotherapy: susie.harrison@alderhey.nhs.ukor call 0151 252 5372
The Neurophysiotherapy team have extensive experience in a range of neurological conditions and syndromes that affect muscles, balance, posture, movement, co-ordination, growth, development and play.
The acute neurosciences team provides a service for inpatients with neurological conditions for example: following head injury, after neurosurgery, spinal cord injury and meningitis. We also provide a service for inpatients with oncological conditions requiring rehabilitation for mobility problems. We also assess and establish developmental and positioning programmes for babies who are inpatients, and provide advice on postural management for children who are inpatients with long term neurodisability.
We work closely with many teams and frequently carry out joint sessions with other therapists from Speech and Language Therapy and Occupational Therapy. We form a key role within the Head Injury Rehabilitation Team (HIRT) and also liaise closely with community therapists to assist discharge home.
The way we work:
The team consists of: Nicola Idowu, Helen Hartley, Lisa Kaye, Kelly Johnson, Jo Hines, and 2 rotational members of staff
To contact the acute neuro team please call 0151 2525660
The neuromuscular physiotherapy therapy team work within the larger multidisciplinary neuromuscular team which includes Consultants, speech and language therapist, occupational therapist, dietician, clinical psychologists, neuromuscular care advisors and pathway cocoordinator.
The team provides specialist neuromuscular assessment and management of over 500 children with neuromuscular conditions across the North West, North Wales and the Isle of Man. This service is mainly delivered in outpatient clinics however the team also provide assessment and management for acute inpatients, rehabilitation and pre/post spinal surgery patients.
Services and clinics the team contribute to and provide include:
The team are members of the Northstar Clinical Network and contribute to the National Northstar database which aims to drive improvements and developments in services with children living with Duchenne muscular dystrophy one of the most common neuromuscular conditions. The network consists of centres across the UK with Alder Hey being one of the largest centres along with Newcastle and Great Ormond Street Hospital. The team also contribute to SMartNet, a similar national database for Spinal Muscular atrophy.
The team are also a key part of the Children’s Neuromuscular Research team and have recently received funding through partnerships with Duchenne charities for additional staff to support and increase clinical trial capacity working with the clinical research facility here at Alder Hey. Clinical trials we currently contribute to include Summit 005, Pfizer B516002, Serpin DMD, FOR-DMD and Heart Protection. We also aim to promote therapy-led in-house research.
The team can be contacted by calling 0151 252 5660 or by email at neuromuscle.physioah@nhs.net
Obstetric Brachial Plexus Lesions (OPBL)
We provide assessment, advice and/or treatment for children within the Liverpoolcatchment area with Obstetric Brachial Plexus Lesions (OPBL)
The spasticity service is a multidisciplinary service for children with tone and movement disorders These Specialist Tertiary Clinics provide multiagency assessment, offering a range of interventions/support and provide services across the North West, North Wales, parts of the Midlands and Northern Ireland. We work jointly with colleagues from neurology, neurosurgery, upper limb service, orthopaedics and the gait laboratory to offer in-patient and out-patient assessment and treatment, in close collaboration with community colleagues. .
Alder Hey is one of four centres in England providing assessment and management for children with cerebral palsy having Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR). The team are part of a national research project in conjunction with NHS England regarding this surgical procedure
Interventions provided include:
The team consist of: Christine Sneade, Carol Lever, Colm MacEoin, Bea Migas, Zoe Pulford, and Rachel Smith.
To contact this team please call 0151 252 5660.
Our team includes highly specialised physiotherapists and physiotherapy assistants.
We cover a wide range of orthopaedic patients in both the ward and outpatient settings, as well as in the hydrotherapy pool. We have excellent facilities, including a gym, which we use to rehabilitate children back to normal function and fitness.
Some of the areas we cover include:
The Rheumatology physiotherapy team are involved in the assessment and management of patients with a diverse range of complex rheumatological conditions, and are very involved with research into rheumatology conditions.
Chronic inflammatory disorders may include:
Also under the rheumatology umbrella we care for patients with non-inflammatory conditions such as:
The Rheumatology team are Jo Dimmack, Sue Kemp, and Jenny McDonald. To contact please call: 0151 252 5171
RHEUMATOLOGY: PHYSIOTHERAPY FOR INFLAMMATORY DISORDERS
Some of the inflammatory conditions may be life long and have an enormous impact on the child and adolescent as well as their family. They require a careful balance between medical management and rehabilitation.
Hypermobility is a description of joint movement. Hyper means ‘more’ and mobility means ‘movement’. Ligaments offer stability to joints and in hypermobility, ligaments are lax and joints have more flexibility. It is not an illness or disease, just the way someone is put together. It is considered a normal finding by medical professionals.
Many children who are hypermobile experience no symptoms or difficulties and being hypermobile is beneficial in a lot of sports. It is not fully understood why some children have more symptoms than others. It is believed that these problems are related to poor muscle strength, poor muscle stamina and poor control of joint movement.
Frequent symptoms may include:
This umbrella term is used to describe pain that lasts longer than the usual anticipated recovery. Examples include CRPS and widespread musculoskeletal pain.
The symptoms are varied, often including burning, sensitivity to touch, temperature change and colour change. These symptoms often lead to reluctance to move, which increases pain and leads to secondary problems of weakness, poor function and low morale.
Treatment of chronic pain involves a multidisciplinary approach. Medicines are sometimes helpful and are used in combination with physiotherapy and hydrotherapy.
The role of the physiotherapist involves an individualised program centred around pain management tools aimed at facilitating maximal function. This is often achieved through exercising and hydrotherapy, but also through advice, support and liaison.
The aim of a physiotherapy package is to help manage pain whilst decreasing its effect on daily life and the problems it causes. Methods used to achieve this include:
This refers to abnormal fatigue that is not in accordance with activity. Young people with chronic fatigue often find themselves out of school and socially isolated. Debilitating tiredness has a profound effect on a young person and their family.
The role of the physiotherapist involves detailed assessment, analysing daily routines, activity levels and sleep patterns.
The aim of management is to establish a baseline of activity achievable even on a bad day in order to implement gradual increases. The goal is to improve function, reducing the impact of debilitating fatigue via an individualised program.
Methods employed by the physiotherapist include:
Musculoskeletal physiotherapy deals with any problem related to muscles, bones, ligaments and tendons, as well asissues related to growth and development, i.e. 'growing pains'. We help to get young people's joints moving, rebuild muscle strength and confidence after anoperation or injury, and help to restore function to get children back to doing the things they enjoy.
The musculoskeletal outpatients team consists of Paul McGrath, Hayley Johnson, Dave McWilliam and a rotational member of staff. To contact the team please call switchboard on 0151 228 4811 and ask for extension 3265.
Haemophilia is a range of genetic disorders relating to abnormalities in the bodies ability to control the clotting of its blood, and this can lead to pains in joints and muscles caused by bleeds. Alder Hey has a regional centre for patients suffering from this condition covering an expansive region of North West England and Wales. Our therapists work closely with the doctors and nurses in the team and work, not only to rehabilitate problems caused by bleeds, but also to prevent them happening in the first place. We offer advice and education on the importance of keeping fit, healthy, strong and flexible to make sure that children with Haemophilia lead as normal a life as possible.
See Factor Fitness for more advice on sport and fitness with haemophilia.
We also carry out the Haemophilia Joint Health Score, an annual assessment of patients with haemophilia. This is in line with national guidelines and helps monitor for any deterioration, and highlight any concerns that may damage the patient’s joints.
For more information please contact Dave McWilliam via switchboard on 0151 228 4811 and ask for extension 3265.
Limb reconstruction is a method of helping children with congenital and acquired problems and deformities of the bones, joints and soft tissues of their arms and legs.
Alder Hey is a regional centre for limb reconstruction and has a highly specialised team of surgeons, nurses and physiotherapists who work closely together to monitor and review these patients to rehab them through the various stages of their recovery. The aim of physiotherapy in limb reconstruction is to maintain and maximise joint motion, muscle strength and to ensure that children remain as mobile as possible. This may be done on the ward (if the child is an inpatient), in our department, the gym and even the aquatic therapy pool.
For more information please contact Dave McWilliam or Hayley Johnson via switchboard on 0151 2284811 and ask for extension 3265
Burns physiotherapy specialises in restoring or keeping movement and function after a burn injury. Input is very important during the healing stages of a burn. Burns can be very uncomfortable and children can be reluctant and scared to move, which can lead to problems.
Our physiotherapist may use exercises, splints, fun activities and aquatic therapy in the rehabilitation process. Patients are seen as inpatients, outpatients and during any dressing changes until maximum potential is realised.
We provide advice and support in returning to school and sporting activities.
Joanne Moore is the specialist Physiotherapist for Burns and Plastics. She can be contacted on 0151 252 5405.
Plastic surgery involves specialist hand surgery including reconstruction and repair of tendons, arteries and nerves. Physiotherapy aims to resolve maximum movement and function following surgery and can involve splinting, exercises and functional activities.
Joanne Moore is the specialist Physiotherapist for Burns and Plastics. She can be contacted on 0151 2525405
The orthopaedic inpatient team looks after children and young people admitted to alder hey for elective orthopaedic surgery, as well as those admitted following traumatic injury. They specialise in helping children and young people to regain movement and function to enable them to go home safely.
The team consists of Joanne Moore, Rebecca Williams, Natalie Murphy, and a rotational member of staff. To contact please call 0151 252 5405.
Alder Hey is a designated Major Trauma Centre for children and is part of the North West Children’s Major Trauma Network. We have a team of Trauma Rehabilitation Co-coordinators who ensure that the children involved in a major trauma receive coordinated care throughout their rehabilitation both in hospital and the community.
The trauma co-ordinators can be contacted via email on majortrauma@alderhey.nhs.uk
Chest physiotherapy helps children to breathe more easily and helps to remove excess secretions from their lungs. We treat children with a diverse range of respiratory conditions and have extensive knowledge and skills to achieve this.
The respiratory Physiotherapy team cover several areas:
To contact any of the respiratory team please phone 0151 2525862
We see babies, children and young people on the wards, in accident and emergency and as outpatients. We develop individual chest management plans with the patient and families to help promote full recovery and reduce readmission into hospital. We work closely with the respiratory team.
We have many different skills to help us, for example:
Chest physiotherapy may be needed by babies, children or young people with:
Your physiotherapist will provide you with an information sheet.
We also help to physically rehabilitate children and young people who have had an acute admission or who have longer inpatient stays. This can be done on the ward or in our physiotherapy department where we have access to hydrotherapy and the gym. We work closely with the patients and families to develop shared goals aimed at restoring function and improving quality of life.
You can download user manuals for
What do I need to bring to my outpatient appointment?
Please bring your inhalers and Volumatic spacer to every physiotherapy appointment.
If my child has come into hospital should I bring their Airvo/ Cough assist machine/ Ventilator/ Respiratory adjunct in with them?
Yes. The equipment is specific for your child. If it has not been brought in during the hospital stay, you will be asked to go home and collect it.
If my child is admitted, do they also receive their usual stretches that they have at home?
No. For an acute hospital stay unfortunately we do not have the provision for that service. Stretches would be expected to be completed by the family/guardian/carer as required. However if your child is in hospital for a longer period of time, the neurological physiotherapy team would assess and give advice accordingly.
Should my child continue to exercise after leaving the hospital?
Yes. Exercise has many benefits and we promote active lifestyles.
Liverpool City Council's Lifestyles gyms offer one month's free membership for under 17 year-olds, and £1 for each visit afterwards.
We offer an excellent service for children and young people with asthma, breathing pattern disorder, vocal cord dysfunction and panic attacks. The service is offered through our outpatient clinics with access to the gym for indoor exercises and Springfield Park for outdoor exercises, in addition to a variety of community settings in Liverpool. We also work in collaboration with community services like Liverpool FC Foundation, Firefit, Merseyside Dance Initiative and many more. Treatments include breathing retraining, buteyko techniques, chest physiotherapy and adjuncts, exercise, saline nasal irrigation, postural work, core stability exercises, education, inhaler technique and relaxation.
This service is run by Claire Hepworth.
Our Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) is a 24 bed unit and a designated Lead Centre. We care for children from all specialties including cardiac surgery, neurology and neurosurgery, burns, trauma infections, shock and oncology.
Our unit provides all forms of therapy including High Frequency Oscillation, cardiac and respiratory ECMO, haemofiltration and Nitric Oxide, providing care for level 4 intensive care children. The Physiotherapy team provides a pivotal role in the treatment of these patients.
In addition to PICU we have a 18 bedded High Dependency Unit (HDU), a 16 bedded Cardiac ward and also cover respiratory Physiotherapy on the Burns Unit and Neonatal Ward. Our Physiotherapy team are instrumental in the set up and use of acute non- invasive ventilation and education throughout the hospital and further afield.
Our critical care physiotherapy team assesses all patients that come to PICU and HDU. We aim to help maintain clear airways whether patients are breathing independently, requiring some support or ventilated and ensure they have the means of clearing their own airways once the ventilation tube is out. Early rehabilitation is commenced whilst on PICU / HDU and will involve working with the nursing staff, parents and carers to provide passive movements, an active exercise programme and splints if required. If the child moves from Critical Care we will follow up their care on the ward, and will be involved with further rehabilitation as indicated.
The team consists of Paul Ritson, Vanessa Compton, Laura Rimmer, Michael Mander and two rotational Physiotherapists.
There is a Cystic Fibrosis (CF) specialist team based at Alder Hey who work in conjunction with local CF teams at 11 district general hospitals across the North West, North Wales and the Isle of Man. Our specialist physiotherapists based locally at Alder Hey are Alison Pitman, Pamela McCormack and Adam Walsh.
Our role for children, young people with cystic fibrosis and their families and carers is to educate and advise them about airway clearance and exercise. We will teach you about the different techniques and equipment that can be used, then help you to manage your day to day treatment dependant on your activity level and whether or not you have any symptoms. Please see our physiotherapy booklets for babies and children with Cystic Fibrosis (links) x2
You will see a physiotherapist regularly in clinic and in addition, we can visit you at home or at an outpatient appointment in the physiotherapy department.
We introduce CF babies to exercise straight away and will encourage you to participate in a range of activities as you grow up depending on what you enjoy. This could be Swimming, jogging, horse riding, football, dance, trampolining and many more!
We are a regional CF specialist centre who participate in and run many research trials, so you may be asked if you would like to be involved. This helps us to improve CF care for people with CF around the world.
Additionally, the Cystic Fibrosis Trust is a UK charity that deals with all aspects of cystic fibrosis and can be a useful information resource.
We have an established Long Term Ventilation (LTV) team with an expanding caseload of patients within the North West region. Our service is constantly growing and developing and we currently have approximately 160 patients on LTV. About 130 children have face mask ventilation (Non-Invasive Ventilation, also known as NIV) and 30 children have tracheostomy ventilation.
The Physiotherapy LTV team consists of team leader, Amanda Reed, Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist and Specialist Physiotherapist, Meg MacDonald. We also have two Physiotherapy assistants with extended scope roles, who train patients and their families to use the ventilators and show them how to fit the different types of masks used for NIV.
As a service we review patients on the wards and high dependency unit at Alder Hey and run regular out-patient clinics. We assess children with sleep disordered breathing or obstructive sleep apnoea who often present with daytime symptoms such as tiredness and lack of concentration. NIV may help relieve these symptoms by supporting the child’s breathing when they sleep. The ventilator is a portable device which is plugged into the mains at home and sits on a bedside table. Tubing from the ventilator is then attached to a mask fitted on the child’s face.
You can view and download user manuals for:
If you are unable to find the correct team contact details in the above sections; or to contact Alison Pitman Physiotherapy Manager please call 0151 252 5102.
We have a full physiotherapy team across all specialities Monday to Friday from 8am to 4.30pm.
Monday to Friday, 4.30pm to 9pm: Respiratory physiotherapist on-call at the hospital. They will assess patients on the prearranged list who would benefit from a further respiratory treatment session. They will also respond to emergency respiratory conditions. Please bleep 115 during these hours.
Monday to Friday, 9pm to 8am: Physiotherapist on-call from home. They can be contacted via switchboard from medical registrars or above, PICU nursing staff or HDU nursing staff. The on-call physiotherapist will ask a series of questions and will respond appropriately according to the on-call guidelines. It is designed for patients who would deteriorate without respiratory physiotherapy input. The physiotherapist will attend within 45 minutes of the call.
Every ward and clinical area should have a copy on the on-call guidelines.
Weekends: Two physiotherapists on-call for urgent respiratory patients within the hospital. They assess patients on a pre-arranged list decided by the respiratory physiotherapist. They will also respond to new respiratory referrals. Please bleep 115 for critical care, and 235 for the wards and A&E.
Please make a referral via Meditech including the reason the referral, patient diagnosis, clinical details and which speciality of physiotherapy you require.
We do not accept referrals for suction or suction training. Please ask the nursing staff for this. If you would like a group refresher teaching session on NP suction please contact Claire Saw on bleep 235 to arrange a time and date.
We are an integrated clinical teaching hospital for physiotherapists at Liverpool University. We offer clinical placements in the second and third year of training in respiratory medicals, critical care, neurology, orthopaedics, hydrotherapy, outpatients and rheumatology/chronic fatigue.
Working hours for undergraduates will be 8am/8.30am to 4pm/4.30pm. Please contact us for further information and reception staff will put you in contact with the relevant clinical educator.
We also offer elective placements during the summer period. Please contact Paul Ritson for further information via physiotherapy reception.
Alder Hey Children's Charity
