The Children’s Physiotherapy Service at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital provides physiotherapy to babies, children and young people in the hospital and also in the community. The Acute team offer a service for children who are In-patients, and also an Out-patient musculoskeletal service. Physiotherapists see children on the wards who require physical rehabilitation due to orthopaedic or respiratory difficulties, or neurological or rheumatology disorders. Children are seen in Children’s Out-patient Department within the hospital. The Community team offers a service in healthcare, community or educational settings or at home, depending on specific need. The Service works closely with the wider multidisciplinary team including doctors, therapists, health visitors, social workers and school staff, and as part of the Cheyne Child development team they take part in Multidisciplinary assessments and reviews. The Children’s Physiotherapy Service offers assessment and intervention for children referred with movement concerns and children are seen in clinic for assessment, and identification of individual need. Assessment findings are discussed with the parent/ carer and child and a plan agreed. The outcome of assessment may be advice only, an individual programme, access to group therapy or blocks of individual therapy depending of level of need. Further intervention and assessment for specialist equipment may be needed and onward referral to other services may be required; eg for orthotic provision of splints. Group or individual hydrotherapy sessions are available and allocated on need eg post- surgical intervention rehabilitation.
Paediatric Physiotherapy
Who to contact
- Contact Name
- Deryn Watts - Paediatric therapy lead
- Contact Position
- Paediatric therapy lead
- Telephone
- 020 3315 1615
- Website
- Childrens therapy
Where to go
- Name
- Paediatric physiotherapy department, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
- Address
-
369 Fulham Road
London
- Postcode
- SW10 9NH
Other Details
Availability
- Age Ranges
- 0 - 19 years
Local Offer

- Who is this service available to?
The Children’s Physiotherapy Service is available for children and young people: • 0-16 years for the Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Service • 0-19 years for the Community Physiotherapy Service (if in full time education) Children can access the service if they live in Hammersmith and Fulham, South Westminster or South Kensington & Chelsea. Musculo skeletal service for children is available to children with diverse difficulties including: • conditions children are born with e.g. positional talipes • acute soft tissue injuries e.g. muscle and ligament sprains • rehabilitation following orthopaedic surgery e.g. fractures • long term joint and muscle pain e.g. low back pain, anterior knee pain The Community service is available to children who present with: • delayed motor development, long term conditions with concerns about motor ability (neurological, congenital, degenerative or neuromuscular conditions) acquired injury or life threatening conditions (oncology) If the child lives out of area but has a GP within area services can be accessed within borough, but home visits are not provided. Children with identified special educational and physiotherapy needs, and attending schools in borough are offered assessment, advice and intervention in school as determined by the physiotherapist at assessment and review.
- How do you access this service?
This is a specialist service, available to children who have been individually referred to the service.
Direct referrals to the Community team are accepted from a range of professionals including GP’s and Consultants; Therapists; Health visitors; Social workers; SENCO’s and through the Cheyne Child Development Service.
Referrals to the Acute team are accepted from GP’s and Consultants
If parents have concerns they can discuss with their GP and a referral can be made if appropriate
Most initial assessments are offered within 6 weeks following receipt of referral.
- How do we ensure the quality of this service?
Physiotherapists are registered with the Chartered society of Physiotherapy and the Health and Care Professions Council, and have further training and experience of working with children.
The service reports quarterly to the commissioners on performance.
Standardised outcome measures are used and professional and national standards are followed
Questionnaires are undertaken at intervals to help monitor patient satisfaction and guide service development.