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.

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

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/