Appointments

Hand therapy

How to get an appointment

Your GP or hospital specialist can refer you.

Changing or cancelling your appointment

Email: [email protected]

You can also change or cancel your appointment via the MyChart App.

Please let us know at least 24 hours before your appointment if you need to reschedule. This allows us to see another patient instead.

If you do not attend without telling us, we may discharge you back to your GP.

Before your appointment

Your appointment can be:

Please be aware that if you are late, we may not be able to see you on the day.

We'll send you a text message to fill in your digital assessment form.

Before your face-to-face appointment

Please bring:

  • a list of medicines you are taking
  • any information about hospital treatment you have already received

We'll let you know if there is anything else you need to bring before your appointment. 

Before your video appointment

You'll get a letter or email and text message with the date and time of your video appointment. 

It will include a link Microsoft Teams. For more information, please see our video appointments page.

Please log into the system 10 minutes before your appointment.

You'll need your exercise plans and, if possible, access to your email inbox.

If you've had surgery, we may ask you to remove wound dressings and do new movements or exercises. This can sometimes lead to you feeling unwell, light headed or dizzy. We would advise you have a friend or a relative there with you.

Make sure you are in a quiet, private place with a good internet connection. You'll need some space as we may ask you to do some movements.

If you are not in a suitable place (travelling, driving or in a public space) we'll need to reschedule your appointment.

Before your phone appointment

Please make sure we have your correct phone number. You'll be given a date and time, and the call will be from an unknown number. 

If you can, please use a hands-free phone. This allows you to move without having to hold your phone to your ear and you can do exercises with both hands.

We'll try to call you at the time of your appointment, but we may call up to 30 minutes before or after your appointment time.

During your appointment

At your first appointment we'll ask you to complete a digital assessment form.

Your first appointment will usually last 45 minutes to 1 hour. You’ll see an occupational therapist or a physiotherapist.  

If you have had surgery, please tell the therapist how you are feeling at the start of the consultation. 

We are a teaching hospital and students might be involved in your care. Please let us know if you're not comfortable with this. It will not affect your care.

During a video or phone consultation, we can do most things that you would do if you had a face to face appointment. This includes giving advice, exercises or referral to a different service.

Follow-up appointments may be scheduled with:

  • a therapist
  • an assistant
  • a technical instructor

We'll ask you to complete assessment forms at:

  • 6 weeks
  • 3 months
  • 6 months

We'll send you a text message when you have a new form to fill in.

Please complete all your assessment forms. This allows us to review your progress during and after treatment.

You and your team will be able to see how your answers change over time and how you're responding to treatment.

After your appointment

You may need to attend therapy for at least 3 months. We'll give you leaflets and instructions for treatment. We'll also give you a name and contact phone number to contact if you have any questions or problems.

Speak to a GP if:

  • you're feeling unwell
  • you have any new injuries
  • severe pain is disturbing your sleep

Booking a follow-up appointment

If it's available for you, we'll ask if you want to be added to our list for patient initiated follow-up (PIFU) appointments.

This lets you to decide if you need to see us again for a follow-up appointment. You can do this for up to 6 months after you've been discharged from our service.

You should contact us if you're symptoms come back or get worse.

When you contact us about a follow-up appointment, you'll be assessed by a member of our team. We'll offer an appointment as appropriate.

Book a follow-up appointment with us if:

  • your pain is not improving in the time expected, as discussed in consultation
  • you have a flare up of symptoms and your treatments not working
  • you need more advice about exercises you were given or your activities and goals are not being achieved
  • you need to discuss other options for treatment such as injections or onward referrals

Last updated: January 2024

Do you have any comments or concerns about your care?

Contact our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)

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