Physiotherapy in the Emergency Department

Patients treated in the Emergency Department will often have injuries where their joints and muscles are too swollen and painful to diagnose accurately.

The Emergency Department Physiotherapy Service therefore provides a clinic which aims to see patients 10-14 days later, when their symptoms have reduced and musculoskeletal experts can conduct a more thorough assessment.

The department provides specialist assessment, advice, reassurance and appropriate exercises as needed for patients with joint and muscle injuries, including soft tissue injuries and/or simple fractures to:

• The spine
• Shoulders
• Elbows
• Hands/fingers
• Hips/pelvis
• Knees
• Ankles/feet 

The physiotherapist can refer patients to orthopaedic clinics, request an x-ray and refer a patient for further physiotherapy - either at the Great Western Hospital or to one of other centres (e.g. Chippenham Community Hospital) as appropriate.