Our inpatient therapy teams work with colleagues across our wards and specialties, to improve patients' mobility and recovery times, and to help  prepare them for a safe discharge from hospital.
 
Barnet Hospital inpatient physiotherapy services include:
·         medical HSEP (health services for elderly people) inpatient physiotherapy
·         neuro-physiotherapy
·         rapid emergency and acute care physiotherapy (REACTT)
·         respiratory physiotherapy.

Read more about physiotherapy on the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy website.

The inpatient trauma and orthopaedic therapy service specialises in the assessment and treatment of patients who are admitted to hospital with an orthopaedic condition. This can include traumatic injuries (spinal fractures, neck of femur fractures, upper and lower limb fractures, other musculoskeletal and soft tissue conditions), and patients undergoing planned (elective) surgery. We also receive patients who have been transferred from major trauma centres in London to continue their care locally.

The team is made up of specialist physiotherapists, occupational therapists, rotational therapists and therapy support workers. The team will work together to improve patients’ functional ability and ensure a safe discharge from hospital to the community. Much of our focus is aimed at early-stage or acute rehabilitation. 

This can include strengthening, range of movement exercises, transfer practice, gait re-education and progression of mobility, with an appropriate walking aid if required. We take a holistic approach to each individual’s needs, and you may be asked about your home environment and any hobbies you have, to help us plan your discharge from hospital and anticipate any ongoing rehabilitation needs.

Collar care clinic

Appointments usually last between 20 and 45 minutes. You will be seen by a member of the senior orthopaedic physiotherapy team, who will review your collar. 

The appointment can include any of the following:

  • assessment of muscle strength 
  • assessment of pain levels/sensations
  • checking collar fit
  • wash and replace the collar pads
  • wash, dry and check your skin
  • shave under collar
  • hair wash.

Please bring your shaver/clippers and spare set of collar pads to the appointment.

Elective orthopaedics inpatient physiotherapy

This service is offered at Chase Farm Hospital.

The inpatient elective orthopedic team at Barnet Hospital consists of physiotherapists, occupational therapists and therapy support workers. The therapy team assesses and treats patients with a wide variety of orthopaedic conditions. 

The team will assess you from the day of your surgery, throughout your hospital stay and support you with preparations for your discharge home.

The inpatient medical health services for elderly people (HSEP) therapy team provides a therapy service on the medical HSEP wards across the Barnet site (approximately 172 beds).

Our team is made up of speech and language therapists, dietitians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and therapy support workers. who assess and treat patients living with frailty. Using a patient-centred and interdisciplinary approach, we ensure that patients’ wishes are at the heart of what we deliver. Patients are empowered and encouraged to live a life which is as independent and fulfilled as possible. 

The rapid emergency and acute care therapy team is a team of physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, dieticians, and therapy support workers.

The team provides a seven-day service to Barnet Hospital’s emergency department and assessment units, to help prevent avoidable admission in people who are medically able to leave hospital but may require support, equipment, or assistance at home.

Our therapists assess and treat patients with physical and/or cognitive impairments. The team works together with doctors and nurses to assess people’s ability to carry out everyday activities, to determine whether patients are safe to be discharged from hospital or if they require additional support to manage at home.

Therapeutic intervention starts early in a patient’s hospital stay, to help maintain and improve function as well as prevent deterioration and reduce the time patients need to stay in hospital.

Therapists provide advice on falls prevention, arrange equipment or adaptions for patients’ homes, and signpost or refer patients to support services. The aim is to help people manage at home and continue their rehabilitation and recovery in their home environment. 

The respiratory and surgery team works across both inpatient (critical care and wards) and outpatient settings. Our therapy multidisciplinary team (MDT) includes physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dietitians, speech and language therapists and therapy support workers. 

As an inpatient service our therapy MDT works across critical care, respiratory, surgical, cardiology and acute medicine wards. We provide specialist assessments for patients with both acute and chronic treatment needs.

Treatment plans are developed and delivered per individual patient need, alongside advice and necessary referrals to facilitate the patient’s safe discharge out of hospital. 

The respiratory outpatient service at Barnet Hospital provides assessment and treatment of long-term respiratory conditions such as bronchiectasis and disordered breathing patterns. 

What will happen at my first outpatient appointment?

During your appointment you will be assessed by a senior respiratory physiotherapist. Treatments can include teaching airway clearance techniques, breathing strategies, and relaxation techniques. 
 
Remember to wear appropriate clothing to your appointment. You may be required to walk or climb stairs as part of your assessment. 
 

The inpatient neurological therapy service provides specialist assessment and rehabilitation to patients who are either admitted to Barnet Hospital with a neurological condition, or repatriated from our hyper acute stroke units.

We have a stroke specialist team made up of physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, dietitians and therapy support workers who are based on the 24-bed acute stroke unit, which is on Spruce ward on level 2 of the hospital.

Our inpatient neuro outlier therapy team provide specialist assessment and rehabilitation to patients with a neurological condition located across inpatient wards at Barnet Hospital, including critical care.

This can include patients with traumatic injuries (such as spinal cord injuries or acquired brain injuries), new neurological diagnoses, or a long-standing neurological condition that requires the team’s support during their stay.

Therapists provide a person-centred approach and work closely with each patient's family and loved ones.

The team support physical, cognitive, communication and/or nutrition needs, with the aim of supporting discharge to the community or an onwards referral to inpatient rehabilitation if needed.

Barnet Hospital

Enquiries: 020 8216 4720
Email: rf.therapiesbarnethospital@nhs.net 

Neurological therapy service

Tel: 020 8216 4721
Email: rf.bcf-neurotherapies@nhs.net

Chase Farm Hospital

Enquiries: 020 8375 2199

Hospital transport

0330 240 4909

Social services

Red Cross

Website: www.redcross.org.uk 
Tel: 0344 871 11 11

Age UK 

Website: www.ageuk.org.uk 
Tel: 0800 678 1602

After Trauma

Website: www.aftertrauma.org

Equipment providers

 

  • NRS covers the boroughs of Barnet, Brent, Camden Haringey – 0300 1000 253
  • Unquis covers the borough of Enfield – 020 8379 1000
  • ELMS covers the borough of Hertfordshire.

North Central London Integrated Care System

Website: nclhealthandcare.org.uk/our-working-areas/elective-orthopaedic-network/joint-school/