Musculoskeletal (MSK) physiotherapy
The outpatient MSK physiotherapy team at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital provides specialist musculoskeletal physiotherapy to anyone over the age of 16.
Musculoskeletal conditions affect bones and joints, as well as soft tissues such as muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves and other associated tissues. These can range from minor injuries to longer-term conditions.
Referrals
We offer outpatient physiotherapy appointments to adults who are referred by a consultant within the Trust. We do not usually have a pathway for referrals directly from GPs, although there are local MSK physiotherapy services within the NHS that you can access via your GP. You can review your GP practice’s guidance or discuss this with your healthcare provider.
Our team
Our MSK physiotherapy service’s clinical lead is Trak Lowry, and the service is delivered by:
- Physiotherapists: these clinicians have a wide breadth of knowledge and clinical experience.
- Advanced Physiotherapy Practitioners (APPs): these clinicians are highly specialised physiotherapists who run clinics alongside hospital consultants. This role was previously known as an Extended Scope Physiotherapist (ESP).
- Therapy assistants: they support our clinicians in running classes, carrying out tests and assessments and keeping the department running.
Appointments
We offer face-to-face appointments. Our department runs to specific appointment time slots, so it is important to be ready at your scheduled time to avoid delays and missed appointments.
If you do not attend without prior notice or are repeatedly late, you may be discharged from our service back to your referring clinician.
Please dress appropriately for the area of the body to be assessed. For example, for knee problems, bring shorts. For shoulder problems, wear a vest.
- Initial consultations, your first appointment with us, typically take 25–40 minutes.
- Follow-up consultations, any appointments after your first, typically take 25 minutes.
Waiting times
We endeavour to see you as soon as appropriate for your condition. Shortly after you are referred by a consultant, a clinician in our team will review your case and triage you for our waiting list.
- Urgent referrals are seen as soon as possible, usually within weeks, depending on the condition. This includes people with recent fractures, injuries or surgery.
- Routine referrals will be placed on our waiting list, and our administration staff will contact you to offer an appointment as soon as one becomes available. This typically includes chronic, or ongoing, conditions.
Contact information
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital
Therapies Department
Lower Ground Floor, Lift Bank A
T: 020 3315 8404
E: chelwest.therapies@nhs.net
Opening times:
- Mon: 8am–6pm
- Tue: 8am–6pm
- Wed: 8am–6pm
- Thu: 8am–6pm
- Fri: 8am–5pm