The Orthotics Service

Orthotics is a service that provides devices called orthoses (also called braces and splints). These are given to help to prevent, correct or accommodate a deformity and/or improve function. This can be as a result of an injury, disorder or due to the way our bodies alter as we get older.

Orthoses fall into one of the following groups:

Shoes and insoles
Calipers and splints
Knee braces
Back supports
Wrist braces
Support hosiery
Collars
Hip supports
Shoulder supports
Ankle supports

Orthotists are autonomous registered Allied Health Practitioners who provide static and gait analysis to utilise engineering solutions for patients and adults with problems of the neuro, muscular and skeletal systems. They are extensively trained at undergraduate level in mechanics, bio-mechanics, and material science along with anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology.

Their degree qualifications make them competent to design and provide orthoses that modify the structural or functional characteristics of the patient’s neuro-muscular and skeletal systems enabling patients to mobilise, eliminate gait deviations, reduce falls, reduce pain, prevent and facilitate healing of ulcers. Whilst they often work as autonomous practitioners they increasingly often form part of multidisciplinary teams such as within the diabetic foot team or neuro-rehabilitation team.

For further information please contact the service.

Who to contact

Contact Name: Dr N Eddison
Contact Position: Orthotics Service Manager
Telephone: 01902 694082
E-mail: N.Eddison@nhs.net
Website: The Orthotics Service Webpage

Where to go

Name: New Cross Hospital
Address: Orthotics Department Location A28
Wednesfield Road
Wolverhampton
West Midlands
Postcode: WV10 0QP

Time / Date Details

When is it on: 8:30am to 16:30pm
Time of day: Morning
Afternoon
Session Information: Monday to Friday excluding bank holidays

Other Details

Availability

Referral required

Yes

Referral Details

The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust orthotics service currently accepts direct G.P referrals. The Cannock Chase service also currently accepts referrals from South Staffordshire and Stoke partnership community physiotherapists. We accept referrals from RWHT consultants and therapists. We don’t accept referrals from consultants/staff from other Trusts.

Referrals received from Primary Care, Secondary and Tertiary sources will remain valid for as long as orthotic treatment is required for the presenting condition the referrer has requested. This prevents the need for long term users to repeatedly have to access their referrer for a repeat referral. All referrers will receive an orthotic outcome letter once the episode of care is completed, the letter will stipulate whether the patient will continue to be reviewed by the orthotics service and what the outcome of the assessment is.

When the product has worn out, no longer gives adequate support, or the patient’s condition has developed and the item is no longer suitable, then the patient will be re-measured and the orthosis replaced. Products will be replaced one for one, within the allowances set out on this website.

If the patient’s condition has changed significantly (advanced or improved) and the orthosis originally prescribed no longer fulfils the patient’s requirements, then the Orthotist is obliged to re-assess and prescribe an alternative Orthosis within their scope of practice. This does not require a new referral for the same clinical presentation or condition.

Elapsed Referrals

If an established patient presents with a new condition or disease, then the Orthotist is obliged to contact the patient’s General Practitione and/or referrer to request a new referral for an orthotic assessment, onward referral, or medical review.

Patients who no longer require an Orthosis for a functional, clinical or biomechanical reason, the Orthotist will request the patient to cease use and will discharge the patient.

Patients cannot request a repeat orthosis without a review appointment if they have not been reviewed by our service within the last 12 months.

Self Referrals

New patients who have not accessed the service cannot request assessment without a referral from a suitable clinical source. We therefore do not accept self-referrals by patients wishing to access the service for the first time.

We do accept established patients self-referring for the same condition they have originally been referred for.

Orthotic Treatment not provided by Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust orthotic Services

Functional Electrical Stimulation
Walking aids, buggies, wheelchairs and assistive devices
New emerging products that do not have sufficient clinical trial data or evidence
Lycra garments Assessments

Discharge form the service

Exceptions:Patients under 18 years of age will only be discharged after failing to attend two consecutive appointments. On failing to attend the first appointment a letter will be sent to the parents/guardian advising of a failed attendance and asking the parents/guardian to contact orthotics to arrange another appointment. On failing to attend two consecutive appointments the patient will be discharged and a letter will be sent to the parents/guardian, their referrer and their G.P advising of the discharge status.

All patients who fail to attend an appointment for fitting of non-returnable goods will be offered one more appointment. A letter will be sent to the patient and their referrer advising of a failed attendance and asking the patient to contact the department to arrange another appointment
The department operates a discharge policy. Patients who fail to attend their appointment and fail to inform the department beforehand will be discharged from the service. A letter will be sent to the patient, their referrer and their G.P informing them of the discharge status.

To access the orthotics service again the patient will require a new referral.