Orthotics Clinic – Walkergate Park

This leaflet provides information for people who have been referred to the Orthotics Clinic at Walkergate Park, Centre for Neurological Rehabilitation and Neuro-Psychiatry.

Your appointment card gives the date and time of your appointment. If you are unable to attend the appointment please contact the Outpatient Reception on telephone number 0191 287 5100, 24 hours in advance if possible. An alternative appointment will be arranged.

An orthosis is a medical device that is used to prevent or correct deformity and/or improve function. Your physiotherapist has referred you for an assessment to see if an orthosis may help with your rehabilitation.

Orthoses can include:
• Calipers
• Splints
• Insoles
• Knee supports
• Footwear/adaptations to footwear

You will be assessed by a Multi-disciplinary team including:
• A Physiotherapist
• An Orthotist
• A Podiatrist

The assessment will tell us if an orthosis would be helpful to you and may involve:
• observing you walking
• trying on appliances
• casting for bespoke orthotics
• ordering orthotics to try

Your appointment may last up to 30 minutes.

If the therapist feels you would benefit from an orthosis it may be possible to provide you with this on the day. Full care instructions and advice will be given for any orthosis supplied at your appointment.

Some orthoses can be provided on the day, others need to be specially made or ordered for you. These items will be provided at a follow up appointment.

We may also arrange a review appointment to make sure everything is all right with your orthosis.

If you have any problems with your orthosis please contact the department as soon as possible on telephone number
0191 287 5100.

If your orthosis causes any pain, skin break down or red marks on your skin that do not disappear after 30 minutes, stop wearing and contact the department for advice/an urgent appointment.

If you want to make a comment, suggestion, compliment or complaint you can:
• talk to the people directly involved in your care
• ask a member of staff for a feedback form, or complete a form on the Trust website www.cntw.nhs.uk (click on the ‘Contact Us’ tab)
• telephone the Complaints Department 0191 245 6672
• email [email protected] Please note that information sent to the Trust via email is sent at your own risk
• We are always looking at ways to improve services. Your feedback allows us to monitor the quality of our services and act upon issues that you bring to our attention.
You can provide feedback in the following ways:
– the quickest way for you to do this is to complete our short online survey at
www.cntw.nhs.uk/poy
– complete a Points of You survey, available from staff

Further information about the content, reference sources or production of this leaflet can be obtained from the Patient Information Centre. If you would like to tell us what you think about this leaflet please get in touch.

This information can be made available in a range of formats on request (eg Braille, audio, larger print, easy read, BSL or other languages). Please contact the Patient Information Centre Tel: 0191 246 7288

Published by the Patient Information Centre
2021 Copyright, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
Ref, PIC/122/0721 July 2021 V5
www.cntw.nhs.uk Tel: 0191 246 7288
Review date 2024