Physio on NHS

[Pythagorous]

Hi

I have a non urgent physical ailment that I think physio may be able to help with.

Does anyone know if it is possible to get physio on the NHS?

Thanks

[Mojisola]

You can - but as it's non-urgent you may have to wait. Also it's usually limited by number of sessions rather than results.

[Crabman]

I'll move this to the Health & Beauty MoneySaving Board :)

Hi, Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: I’ve asked Board Guides to move threads if they’ll receive a better response elsewhere(please see this rule (http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=1009335#post1009335)) so this post/thread has been moved to another board, where it should get more replies. If you have any questions about this policy please email abuse@moneysavingexpert.com (abuse@moneysavingexpert.com).

[Bargain Rzl]

If you are in permanent employment with a largish company, you might find you can get free private physiotherapy through your occupational health department..

[tattycath]

I needed physio on my back and I got mine on the NHS. I had to wait about a month for my 1st appointment.

[calleyw]

Check with your Dr's surgery mine allows you to be referred for up to six session.

Other wise you are looking at about £50 a session.

Yours


Calley

[angel]

I was referred for physio on my bad back over two years ago, I'm still waiting.

[Lynxette]

It helps to be a little pushy with your GP - If they say no initially, keep pushing, and you spend ages on waiting lists which you think are unfair/unreasonable for the area (it doesn't hurt to ring up a few physio companies and ask what their waiting lists are :P), keep pushing too.

[princess]

DS 13 is having physio at the moment, following a broken bone, but also non urgent. He only waited a month, but was referred via the hospital consultant rather than the GP. He has had two sessions already, with a further one this week, which I dont think will be the last, and they have been every other week. He does have to pay (or rather I have to pay) for the bits and bobs they recommend for him to carry out his prescribed exercises, which surprised me as I had thought a child would get this sort of thing free. The sessions themselves are free obviously.

[LondonDiva]

If you think you ned physio, make a n appt with your GP.

If your GP agrees, they should refer you - the wait can be as little as a couple of weeks to a few months depending on the area.

I can say definately, that you are referred for a course of treatment rather than an absolute number of sessions. If you need 2 or 29 sessions in the physio's opinion, that's what you'll get.

Would second seeing if your work OH team would be of help.

[Mojisola]

I can say definately, that you are referred for a course of treatment rather than an absolute number of sessions. If you need 2 or 29 sessions in the physio's opinion, that's what you'll get.

This wasn't what happened with my relative. He broke his arm and had to have a cast that covered his elbow. When the cast was taken off, the elbow was rigid after no movement for six weeks. He had some physio and the elbow loosened up a bit but he still couldn't straighten it past 45degress. He was surprised to have the physio tell him that he'd had all the sessions that he could and that he would have to cope with a bent arm for the rest of his life - "You'll get used to managing like that"!

He had to pay to go privately and now has a fully functioning arm.

[calleyw]

If you think you ned physio, make a n appt with your GP.

If your GP agrees, they should refer you - the wait can be as little as a couple of weeks to a few months depending on the area.

I can say definately, that you are referred for a course of treatment rather than an absolute number of sessions. If you need 2 or 29 sessions in the physio's opinion, that's what you'll get.



Sorry I don't agree with that in your area it might be but not where I live. My husband had a stroke and was referred for 6 sessions which is what he got.

And with out being to rude it was waste of his time and energy. He was given exercises to do at home which he was doing anyway. He got his consultant to refer him again thinking he might get something better and was told it was going to be 6 session the same as before. He declined them.

I personally would say that he needs ongoing physio but he ain't getting it and his hand is still not functioning.

Yours


Calley

[LondonDiva]

Then in which case, I'd strongly reccomend that you go bnack and make a complaint.

If that's what happened in both instances, it was wrong and I'm surprised the GPs didn't say or do something about it.

[calleyw]

Then in which case, I'd strongly reccomend that you go bnack and make a complaint.

If that's what happened in both instances, it was wrong and I'm surprised the GPs didn't say or do something about it.

No it is not wrong at all that is what the PCT/surgery offers. In case I did not make it very clear these session where after he came out of re-hab in hospital.

We can keep going back to be referred but what is the point when all they do is straighten your hand out and tell you to do that as often as possible and come back in a few weeks.

Not worth my husbands time. He does not need to be told by some who is suppose to be qualified how to straighten out his hand. He needs more intensive physio than that. Our local PCT does not offer that even though we have asked for it.

Yours

Calley

[JennyW]

I was referred for physio on my bad back over two years ago, I'm still waiting.

my brother has been referred by his GP and still waiting for his 1st appointment to come through.

Whenever I've needed physio I've just paid for it. More cost effective to get treatment asap and get the problem sorted rather than wait for weeks/months giving the injury even more time to set in. There is a good physio at the gym I go to (well osteopath). 3 sessions and I was sorted because it was nipped in the bud from the start.

[Sparky67]

First thing is to see your GP and see whether they consider physio will help. Depends on where you are, but it should be available but there will be a wait depending on how urgent your treatment is.

Do you have medical insurance (eg HSA) as they will pay part of physio treatment (check your policy).

I have needed physio in the past and have always just paid privately. It was about £35 a session.

[flugellover]

For the OP - yes there is free physio on the NHS, and dependant on the urgency of your problem you may or may not have to wait to get an appointment. Sadly (IMHO) some places will limit your number of visits, although I STRONGLY dissagree with this practice, and if it was me I would DEFINATELY complain about this (if you have not written to your local NHS trust calleyw please do!) . It is ridiculous to presume that everyone with every presenting condition would be better within 6 appointments - I imagine that that approach is made by managers who are being hassled about the length of their waiting lists - and dare I say it - are not strong enough to defend the physio's personal judgement to their line managers.
As you might guess....I was a practicing physio in the NHS before moving jobs to health promotion. I loved the job, but hated the politics that restricted our practice. Physio's have the potential to do such great work, but private physio charging sky high fee's and ridiculous waiting lists on the NHS just undermine the publics confidence :(
rant over :) hope some of that was helpful :)