Physiotherapy
Physiotherapists help patients to increase their mobility, strength and balance, with both individual and group therapy. They provide support for those wishing to live independently in the community, whatever their difficulty.
Physiotherapy inpatient services
Acute physiotherapy care is provided for respiratory conditions, general surgical cases, orthopaedic surgery and obstetrics. Rehabilitation is provided for orthopaedic and neurological conditions as well as for mobility problems. Facilities for rehabilitation are particularly good with a well-equipped gym area which is purpose-built for hospital inpatients.
The Physiotherapy Service for inpatients includes appropriate physiotherapy assessment and treatment during their stay, provision of walking aids, splints and braces, education of patients and carers to assist with management at home and discharge planning to facilitate the move from hospital into the community.
Physiotherapy outpatient services
The outpatient physiotherapy department assesses and treats musculoskeletal and neurological clients upon referral by their doctor. Clients must reside within our catchment area encompassed by the postcodes: 6017-6024, 6059-6062, 6029, 6050, 6064, 6066 and 6090.
Women's health and continence management for females is provided for clients referred by their doctor within the outpatient catchment area.
Classes are conducted for outpatient clients and these include rehabilitation classes for patients for managing their knee osteoarthritis and following knee replacement surgery, antenatal and postnatal fitness classes. Antenatal education classes are also conducted on site in combination with a midwife.
The amputee outpatient services are also provided in the new therapy hub at OPH.
Day Hospital
Day Hospital provides comprehensive rehabilitation for elderly clients under the Rehabilitation and Aged Care Service. This includes a Parkinson’s Disease Clinic, a Falls Clinic and a Stroke Clinic. Services include individual and group physiotherapy treatment. Referral for Day Hospital is through the Department of Rehabilitation and Aged Care.
Domiciliary care
The RAILS team provides assessment and care within the home. For patients in hospital who need assistance to transfer safely to the home environment, referral is through hospital-based health professionals. Patients living in the community can be referred by their doctor for assistance with mobility problems.
Community falls service
Community falls specialists provide assistance, education, aids and equipment for people living in the community who are suffering falls or who are at risk of falling. Patients are direct referred by their doctor.
Work experience
The physiotherapy department takes undergraduate physiotherapy students from Curtin, Edith Cowan and Notre Dame Universities. We currently provide facilities for postgraduate physiotherapy practicums from Curtin University and from the Centre for Musculoskeletal Studies at The University of Western Australia. We provide work experience for school age students interested in physiotherapy as a profession. For information regarding work experience contact Human Resources who coordinate the work experience program on (08) 6457 8182.