At University Hospitals of Leicester (UHL), our physiotherapy and occupational therapy teams are dedicated to helping patients regain independence and improve physical function.
- Physiotherapists helps restore movement and function when someone is affected by injury, illness or disability.
- Occupational therapists work with individuals to improve their ability to live as independently and fully as possible, whether at home, at school, at work, or in the community.
Whether you’re recovering from surgery, managing a long-term condition, or coping with the effects of illness or injury, our experienced therapists work closely with you to develop personalised treatment plans that support your health and well-being.
Our services and specialties
The Cardio-Respiratory therapy teams provide in-patient services at all three hospitals in Leicester, and an outpatient service at Glenfield Hospital.
Physiotherapy
Respiratory physiotherapy involves helping patients who are having difficulty with their breathing. Their treatment may include advice and education on different breathing techniques, and instruction and assistance with coughing and clearing secretions from their chest. Patients might need respiratory physiotherapy after an operation i.e. heart surgery, major abdominal surgery, or due to a medical condition such as COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), asthma and cystic fibrosis. Physiotherapists also work in intensive care. Respiratory treatments take place at the patient’s bedside or within outpatients clinics.
Physiotherapy services can be used at all ages and at all stages of disease, from early diagnosis, through chronic illness, to acute episodes and care at the terminal stage. The physiotherapist’s role in patient care includes assessment, advice, education and hands-on intervention. They aim to:
- maintain or improve exercise tolerance
- improve functional abilities (i.e. carrying out daily tasks, transfers, walking and stairs)
- maintain and improve physical activity, coaching patients toward improving healthy behaviour
- reduce breathlessness and the work of breathing
- improve the efficiency of ventilation
- support weaning from mechanical ventilation and set up non-invasive mechanical ventilation
- improve knowledge and understanding
- reduce pain
- discharge support for safe transition from hospital to home
Occupational therapy
Occupational therapy “enables people to achieve health, well-being and life satisfaction through participation in occupation” (College of Occupational Therapists, 2004).
Occupational therapists aim to identify the patient’s problems and goals, and to find a solution to them. We assess the patient, identify problems, set goals, review treatment and plan for discharge. Our aim is to help patients to function as fully as possible in their chosen activities.
All assessments and activities provided by the Occupational Therapy Department are planned and customised to meet the needs and preferences of the patient.
Occupational therapy offers a variety of services:
- standardised and locally adapted functional assessments of personal and domestic daily living activities
- cognitive, perceptual assessments and treatments
- self-management techniques including teaching strategies to maintain optimum function including energy conservation, anxiety management and relaxation
- intervention that encourage social skills, address cognitive deficits and promote physical and mental health well being
- home assessments and provision of adaptive equipment
- advice and education regarding long term condition management
Occupational therapy and physiotherapy inpatient services:
Glenfield Hospital
- Cardiac adult surgery
- Adult intensive care unit & extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)
- Cardiology and coronary care unit
- Clinical decisions unit
- Thoracic surgery
- Respiratory medicine, including cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis
- Respiratory support unit
- Vascular surgery
- Renal and hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery
Find accessibility information on the AccessAble website.
Leicester Royal Infirmary
- General intensive care unit including trauma and A&E
- Respiratory medicine
- General surgery including maxillo-facial unit
Leicester General Hospital
- High dependency unit
- Urology
Physiotherapy outpatient services and clinics at the Glenfield Hospital
- Dysfunctional breathing
- Bronchiectasis
- Cystic fibrosis and other chronic pulmonary disorders
Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy (OT) service for patients across Medicine and A&E speciality focusses on preventing complications, restoring function and improving independence utilising a range of interventions.
Our inpatient therapy teams provide therapy services to wards at the Leicester Royal Infirmary and Leicester General, including to:
- Medicine
- Acute stroke
- Acute neuro
- Acute medical admissions units
- Adult emergency department
The therapy team also cover specialist units including the Brain Injury Unit (BIU), Specialist Neuro Rehabilitation Unit (SNRU) and Stroke Rehabilitation Ward at the Leicester General. The therapy services work as part of a multidisciplinary team collaborating with other healthcare professionals to provide holistic care, tailored to patient’s specific needs.
You can find accessibility information for physiotherapy department at Leicester General Hospital.
Our musculoskeletal service provides inpatient and outpatient physiotherapy at all three hospital sites, as well as local GP surgeries.
Read more on the musculoskeletal physiotherapy services webpage.
Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy services within the Oncology and Haematology areas at the Leicester Royal Infirmary, provide assessment and treatment to inpatients with having cancer treatment or have a diagnosis of cancer.
This service covers ward 39, ward 40, ward 41, bone marrow transplant unit and Teenage and young adults WARD (27A) and Oncology and Haematology assessment unit at the Leicester Royal Infirmary.
The paediatric physiotherapy service provides both inpatient and outpatient services at Leicester Royal Infirmary for children from birth up to 16 years (dependent on the complexity of the child’s needs).
Physiotherapy
- Inpatient services: The paediatric physiotherapy team assess and treat children with respiratory conditions including cystic fibrosis, primary ciliary dyskinesia, difficult asthma and bronchiectasis. We also treat children with neurological and musculoskeletal conditions in addition to treating children with cardiac conditions as part of the East Midlands Congenital Heart Centre. We provide physiotherapy cover for all of the children’s wards in addition to outpatient clinics, the emergency department and the neonatal unit. Physiotherapists assess and treat children with respiratory, neurological and musculoskeletal conditions on the wards, in clinics and also within our therapy gym. Some of our physiotherapists provide respiratory care at the child’s home depending on the child’s needs.
- Outpatient services: Our outpatient service is based at Leicester Royal Infirmary. Children are referred from consultants and General Practitioners (GPs) with a variety of conditions including musculoskeletal, pain management and respiratory conditions. Following assessment children may be treated on an individual basis or within a group setting. We have a children’s gym at the Leicester Royal Infirmary. Physiotherapists also provide assessment and treatment within outpatient clinics working alongside our Paediatric Orthopaedic Consultants.
Occupational therapy
- Inpatient services: The paediatric Occupational Therapy team works on all of the children’s wards within the Children’s Hospital including East Midlands Congenital Heart Service and the Neonatal units. Occupational Therapists assess and treat children with long term ventilation needs, neurological, musculoskeletal, and orthopaedic needs both following surgery and after trauma. We provide intervention focusing on developmental skills, rehabilitation, participation in activities of daily living, and possible equipment provision for home. Access visits to patient’s homes are sometimes completed to assess for equipment to enable discharge home.
- Outpatient services: We have a small outpatient service based at Leicester Royal Infirmary. Children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis are referred from the specialist consultant and receive intervention focusing on participation in activities of daily living, participation at home and school and upper limb splinting if required. We work closely together with our Physiotherapy colleagues both on the wards and in outpatients.
Our pelvic health service provides outpatient physiotherapy services at Leicester Royal Infirmary and Leicester General Hospital.
Read more on the pelvic health physiotherapy webpages.