Orthotic clinic
We are a multi-disciplinary team, providing support and treatment for children and young adults under the age of 20 who have been prescribed an orthosis after clinical assessment.
What does this service provide?
Who we are
We are a multi-disciplinary team consisting of orthotists and physiotherapists.
Multi-disciplinary team: A multi-disciplinary team (MDT) is a group of health and care staff who are members of different organisations and professions (e.g. GPs, social workers, nurses), that work together to make decisions regarding the treatment of individual patients and service users. MDTs are used in both health and care settings.
What we do
We provide patients with an orthosis, which is usually custom made and aims to prevent or resist a deformity and increase function. Each orthosis is fitted and adjusted to meet your needs.
Your orthosis is made from the cast in the John Florence Orthotic Workshop in Lewes. It is then usually ready for fitting within 7–10 days of the cast being taken.
If a minor adjustment of your orthosis is needed, this will be assessed at your appointment and again the orthosis will be sent to the John Florence workshop for the work to be carried out. It is usually then ready for re-fitting within 10 days.
We will explain the process to you at each stage of the process; please feel free to ask any questions. You will be able to contact the physiotherapist and the orthotist between appointments and we will provide you with full information on how to use one or all of your orthoses.
If you have been referred for a new orthosis, this requires wet plaster of paris being applied to the relevant area of your body, for example your foot, trunk or arm. Your personal dignity will be respected at all times. Once the plaster of paris has dried (approximately 3 minutes) the plaster is removed.
Once your orthosis has been fitted, we will probably not need to see you until the orthosis becomes too small or wears out.
Additional information
TLSO – Thoracic lumbar sacral orthosis. This is provided to improve posture or to prevent / resist the progression of a scoliosis (curvature of the spine).
KAFO – Knee ankle foot orthosis (hinged and un-hinged). This orthosis is usually provided to allow for independent walking.
DAFO – Dynamic ankle foot orthosis. A DAFO is usually prescribed when support, flexibility and comfort are required for walking and standing.
WHO – Wrist hand orthosis. A WHO is usually prescribed to provide support and resist deformity.
Appointment information
Appointment types
Appointments are face-to-face in our clinic. The casting for the orthosis is done on site at Chailey Clinical Services in our plaster room. The fitting and any adjustments can be done at Chailey or at John Florence's workshop in Lewes.
Please bring your existing orthosis to your appointment. If you are to be cast for a new one, then it is important to wear clothes which are easy to take off and put on.
If a new orthosis is being made, the appointment will be approximately 45 minutes. If an alteration or minor adjustment is needed, the appointment will be approximately 20 minutes.
Who you'll see at your appointment
You will see one of our orthotists and a senior physiotherapist, who have many years of experience in assessing and casting for orthotics.
How can I access this service?
Referrals can be made to this service by your paediatrician, GP, physiotherapist, or other healthcare professional. Each request for a new orthosis requires a new referral.
We accept referrals from any area but if your GP is located outside of Sussex we will require funding to be obtained before acceptance.
We accept urgent referrals when there is a break down or an imminent break down of your skin (pressure sore), or you are unable to function in your normal capacity due to a broken orthosis.
Sometimes tissue trauma (red areas on your skin) can result from wearing an orthosis and alterations will be dealt with at the next clinic.
Where can I access this service?
Let's get social
You can also get involved by engaging with our service's social media accounts by helping with the latest fundraisers and events.
Get the best from your NHS
If you need advice about our services, facilities or staff, or would like to make a comment, please contact Patient Advice and Liaison Services (PALS).
Contact details
You can contact PALS by the following:
Telephone: 01273 242 292Email: sc-tr.pals@nhs.net
Give feedback
Tell us what you think about our services, what we are good at, where we can improve, and what matters to you? All feedback will be shared anonymously wherever possible, but if you have any questions about this, please ask.
Share this page via:
