Medical, Surgical & Rehabilitation

This aspect of our service looks after patients that have needed to be admitted for hospital level care but that have not required surgery. These patients may have been experiencing breathing difficulties like pneumonia or COPD, mobility problems associated from frailty or falls, or patients with several comorbidities resulting from their inability to care for themselves. We are involved in ensuring patients have a safe discharge from hospital.

Our team will see patients who have undergone either abdominal or vascular surgery on the island or transferred from off-island centres following heart and lung surgery. Where possible the team will provide preoperative care and support patients in their recovery through to their discharge. These patients are likely to require assistance with their breathing, airway clearance and regaining their mobility and previous level of function.

Some patients may require rehabilitation as they take longer to recover from their general or orthopaedic surgery, or from their medical illness. These patients will usually be transferred to Le Marchant ward for more intensive physiotherapy to optimise their function before returning home.

Our service also provides respiratory care to patients in the community, whether this is a continuation of their in-patient care or via a referral from palliative care, the respiratory nurses, their GP or the Medical Specialist Group. These patients may be seen at home, as an out-patient or as part of a class ie. Pulmonary or Cardiac rehab.

Our team also supports patients out in the community, either within their home environment or in class-based exercise groups.

Respiratory Out-Patients

Following a referral from Respiratory consultant or Clinical nurse specialist, patients can receive physiotherapy care for their respiratory condition. Respiratory physiotherapy can provide support at all stages of their disease. We offer support, advice and education for patients as well as hands-on treatment. Patients can be seen within the hospital in outpatient clinics or in their own home depending on the patient’s circumstances.

Pulmonary and Cardiac Rehabilitation

Classes and individualised exercise prescription are provided by a Specialist Respiratory Physiotherapist. Cardiac Rehabilitation is also supported by the Advanced Cardiac Rehabilitation practitioner. The wider multi-disciplinary team contributes to the education sessions ensuring patients receive a holistic approach to the management of their condition. These evidenced based classes are effective in improving exercise capacity and knowledge for clients that have lung or heart disease. Both these classes are based at Beau Sejour Leisure Centre.

Falls and Balance Rehabilitation

The team also supports patients in the community that are experiencing poor balance and falls. The physiotherapist may see patients to assess and support the patient with exercises and advise on falls prevention either with as part of a fall’s pathway with the doctor, occupational therapist and nursing team, or directly with the physiotherapist alone. Depending on the patient’s ability three different level balance groups are available to patients within the hospital setting.

Reablement and Rapid Response

Our team also provides physiotherapy to these community teams;

Rapid Response Team; this a service that helps to prevent hospital admissions by providing patients with more care in their home environment during a period of acute illness.

Reablement; this is a therapy-based service supporting patients back to their normal level of function in their own homes, promoting an early discharge from hospital. Patients may also access this service following an episode of illness requiring the Rapid Response Team.