Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust

• Adults over 18 years of age, registered with an Oxfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group GP.
• People with a long term neurological condition eg Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Motor Neurone Disease (MND), head injury, cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s Disease, stroke, spinal cord injury, Huntingdon’s disease, cortico-basal degeneration, or multi-system atrophy.
• People newly diagnosed with a progressive neurological condition such as multiple sclerosis or motor neurone disease.

The physiotherapist assesses the person and works with them and their family/carers to develop a personalised management plan to address their goals. The intervention may be:

• Physiotherapy management, advice and support to maximise independence in all activities of daily life.
• Exercise and education: courses for those with multiple sclerosis (MS active) and Parkinson’s disease (PD active). These are aimed at all abilities including those who are newly diagnosed with either illness.
• Spasticity and postural management to prevent secondary problems and improve comfort in bed and/or in the wheelchair.
• Soft tissue contracture management e.g. hand-splinting.
• Establish exercise/self-maintenance programmes and provision of home exercise programmes.
• Gait assessment, correction and provision of walking aids to improve gait.
• Onward referral for orthoses.
• Training carers and family members in ongoing physiotherapy/exercise/activity programmes.
• Support to access local exercise and leisure facilities e.g. ‘referral to exercise scheme’/swimming/health walks.

What are we unable to do:

• Intervention where a rapid response is required eg chest physiotherapy.
• Rehabilitation following a new neurological event eg stroke.

Our physiotherapists have extensive experience in neurology and keep up to date with evidence-based practice. We have expert knowledge and skills about:

• advanced assessment of complex neurological conditions
• prescribing exercise for neurological conditions
• managing spasticity/post Botox intervention
• managing posture and seating
• splinting and managing of soft tissue contractures
• manual handling for complex neurological problems

We make appointments to see patients in:

• Community hospitals.
• People’s own home.
• Local community facilities, e.g. gyms or day centres.
• Digital appointments

You can refer yourself (as can your carer), or your GP or another health care professional can make a referral.  Unfortunately there is usually a waiting list of approximately 12-14 weeks.

To make a referral, you can email your local physiotherapist (see our contacts tab to find out the details for your local physiotherapist).

Professionals should complete the referral form and email to PDPSreferral@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk

Abingdon

Abingdon Community Hospital
Marcham Road
Abingdon
Oxfordshire
OX14 1AG

Email:  emily.buckle@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk

Oxford City

East Oxford Health Centre
Manzil Way, Cowley
Oxford
OX4 1XD

Email:  helen.knott@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk 

Bicester

Bicester Community Hospital
Piggy Lane
Bicester
Oxfordshire
OX26 6HT

Email:  sharon.lord@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk or jenny.page@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk

Wallingford

Wallingford Community Hospital
Reading Road
Wallingford
Oxfordshire
OX10 9DU

Email:  jo.preston@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk

Witney

Witney Community Hospital
Welch Way
Witney
Oxfordshire
OX26 6JJ

Email:  suzanne.lewis@oxfordhealth.nhs.uk

PDPS Information Leaflet

As well as looking after the patient’s needs our service is here to support the patient’s carers, friends and family.  We provide advice and support to help you within your role and help promote your wellbeing. There are many charities and organisations that can support carers, friends and family in a variety of ways.  The contact details for some of these organisations are below.

Carers Oxfordshire – https://www.carersoxfordshire.org.uk

Caring for our carers –  https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk/carers/support/

Carers Online Workshops –   https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/OH-248.20-Oxon-workshop-programme-leaflet-Jan-2022.pdf

Carers UK – https://www.carersuk.org

Family and Carer Befriending dedicated phoneline  –  01865 901012 anytime (befrienders will call you back between 11am and 12pm Monday to Friday.)

Action for Carers Oxfordshire – https://livewell.oxfordshire.gov.uk/Services/2340

Be Free Young Carers –  https://www.befreeyc.org.uk

Talking Space Plus – https://www.oxfordhealth.nhs.uk/talkingspaceplus/getting-help/

MS Society – https://www.mssociety.org.uk

MS Trust – https://mstrust.org.uk/

MND Association – https://www.mndassociation.org/

Parkinson’s UK – https://www.Parkinsons.org.uk

Adult Social Care – https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/residents/social-and-health-care/adult-social-care

Telephone: 0345 050 7666

There is now an abundance of useful online resources you may wish to explore:

Equipment

There are lots of options for equipment to help you with your mobility, transfers and function.  Age UK has a substantial amount of information available online covering small equipment to housing adaptations.

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/globalassets/age-ni/documents/factsheets/fs42_disability_equipment_and_home_adaptations_fcs.pdf

If you require an assessment for equipment/adaptations to help you at home, you can self-refer to Adult Social Services and be reviewed by an Occupational Therapist.  You can refer by phone on 0345 050 7666 or online at:

Social Services https://service.oxfordshire.gov.uk/needsassessment

If you wish to rent equipment for a temporary issue the Red Cross has a rental service for wheelchairs and toileting equipment.

Red Cross https://www.redcross.org.uk/get-help

Returning Equipment

If you wish to return equipment issued to you by the service, please contact our equipment company NRS Healthcare directly on 01869 225420.  There is a sticker on the equipment providing you with all the details you should require.

Exercise

We have strong links with Generation Games at Age UK Oxfordshire.  They run a variety of classes with a blend of pre-recorded videos, online classes and hope to return to physical classes across the county.

Generation Games https://www.ageuk.org.uk/oxfordshire/our-services/generation-games/

Charitable Support & Information

We work with people with a variety of neurological conditions, each of which often has a charity with advice and information available.

Parkinson’s Disease   https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/    Oxford Branch https://oxfordparkinsons.org.uk/

Multiple Sclerosis   https://www.mssociety.org.uk/ and https://mstrust.org.uk/

Motor Neurone Disease   https://www.mndassociation.org/

Multi System Atrophy   https://www.msatrust.org.uk/

Progressive Supranuclear Palsy & Corticobasal Degeneration https://pspassociation.org.uk/

Spinal Cord Injury    https://www.spinal.co.uk/