Physiotherapy

Our physiotherapy service has teams in the hospital and in the community, with 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 children’s 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, a 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.

Community physiotherapy

We have physiotherapy teams located across the city of Liverpool so that we can provide a high-quality service to all children and young people, regardless of where they live.

You can find out more about those services on their dedicated pages.

Aquatic physiotherapy service 

Aquatic physiotherapy, also called hydrotherapy, is the use of warm water to relieve discomfort and promote physical wellbeing. Our heated pool has different depths for different types of treatment. Using the heat and buoyancy of the water, pain can be eased and muscles relaxed to help with normal movement and function that might not be 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 used 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.

Neuro physiotherapy service

The neuro physiotherapy team have extensive experience in a range of neurological conditions and syndromes that affect muscles, balance, posture, movement, coordination, growth, development and play.

Orthopaedics service

The orthopaedics 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.

Respiratory and Chest Physiotherapy

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.

Contact Us

If you need to contact the hospital team, please call the main hospital switchboard number: 0151 228 4811 and ask to speak to the relevant team or individual within the Physiotherapy department.

You can also follow the team on Twitter – @AlderHeyOT

Useful links

Below are some links to websites that we think you and your child may find useful:

• Royal College of Occupational Therapists
• Newlife Charity
• Caudwell children