Musculoskeletal (MSK) Physiotherapy and Rehab Service
This service provides assessment, diagnosis and treatment of adult musculoskeletal conditions at a range of locations across West Sussex.
What does this service provide?
Who we are
We are a team of physiotherapy, osteopathy and occupational therapy clinicians who specialise in providing rehabilitation for people with musculoskeletal conditions.
What we do
We provide assessment, treatment, education, advice and management strategies for patients referred with conditions or symptoms associated with the musculoskeletal system. These can be as a result of disease, aging, injury or acquired disability.
Our focus is on you, your lifestyle, and your goals. As well as trying to help resolve your current issue we also provide long-term management and care for ongoing conditions. We will work together with your clinician to understand who you are as a person and what your hopes and goals are. We aim to support individuals to lead active and meaningful lives.
It is likely you will be guided through an exercise rehabilitation program. Research shows that exercise rehabilitation can greatly help you to improve your general, physical and mental health and reduce reliance on medication. It can also help you to improve levels of mobility, restore confidence in your body, reduce time spent off work and greatly improve the quality of your life.
Our clinicians are not trained medical prescribers and are not able to prescribe medication. Most of our clinicians are not trained to give you feedback on medical tests requested by GPs such as blood tests and are not able to request medical imaging such as X-rays and MRI scans. These types of tests are only necessary in a very small number of patients. We are trained to identify situations where it is necessary and provide referrals to other specialties for these. Decisions will always be discussed with you during your appointment.
We do not offer forms of electrical therapy such as ultrasound therapy or laser therapy. This is because medical research has shown them to be of little to no benefit in most circumstances
Hydrotherapy
Our hydrotherapy pool is used Monday to Friday providing aquatic physiotherapy services for the MSK department. Prior to any hydrotherapy appointments all patients undergo a full physiotherapy assessment before being referred. Home exercise programs are also prescribed to compliment hydrotherapy treatments. All sessions are directed by a clinician and physiotherapy assistants. Sometimes patients will progress back on to dry land treatments or continue onto the gym. Other patients may be invited to attend our open sessions to maintain and work on their progress independently for a further twelve weeks after discharge.
Patients who particularly benefit from aquatic therapy include anyone struggling to exercise effectively on land and patients who are non-weight bearing or partial-weight bearing and after surgery or trauma.
The pool temperature is kept at 35 celsius and the warmth of the water provides a comforting environment that relaxes muscles and helps reduce pain. This can be particularly beneficial for arthritis and rheumatology conditions.
Gym facilities
The physiotherapy service at Bognor War Memorial Hospital is extremely proud to have one of the best gym facilities in the county. Through local funding, the gym now provides a wide variety of state-of-the-art equipment that helps our patients with their rehabilitation. The gym is used to provide a wide range of exercise classes, along with one-to-one physiotherapist and personal trainer led sessions. This modern hospital-based gym helps patients to gain confidence with using gym facilities and allows many to carry on to using gyms in the community.
Pelvic Health Physiotherapy (PHP)
The PHP service treats a variety of conditions including bladder and bowel incontinence, prolapse and pelvic pain. Incontinence can happen at any age and although more common in women it also affects men. Although it is common, it is not normal, and it shouldn’t be something that you feel you must put up with as most people with incontinence can be helped by physiotherapy. There are many causes of incontinence and your specialist physiotherapist can talk these through with you and together you can decide on the best treatment options.
We treat women after childbirth tears and gynaecology surgery and men after prostate surgery. We also specialise in the treatment of pain and sexual dysfunction in relation to pelvic floor dysfunction. The Pelvic Obstetric and Gynaecological Physiotherapy (POGP) team also specialise in the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions both during pregnancy and immediately postnatally.
Back in Control (BIC) programme
The BIC programme is a six-session course which provides you with tips and skills to better manage your back pain. This approach to managing back pain is well-researched and has been found to be amongst the most effective ways of treating such persistent pain. This is an opportunity to make positive changes in your life and take back control. Please watch this video about our Back in Control programme.
Appointment information
We offer telephone, video and face-to-face appointments. The majority of muscle and joint problems can be effectively managed with support through a telephone or online appointment. Many of our patients also prefer this type of appointment due to the convenience and satisfaction of receiving care in a timely fashion.
You will meet with a clinician who is best able to deal with your condition. Please allow about 30 minutes for your appointment (this may be longer or shorter depending on your clinical need). During the consultation you will be able to discuss your history and symptoms and the clinician will assess your condition.
You will get a chance to talk about different options for treatment and receive information to help you manage your condition. The clinician will explain any medical treatments available, including risks and benefits.
If you agree, medical students or other trainee clinicians or colleagues may observe in the consultation as part of their training or supervision. The clinician will ask your permission for this to happen first.
You will be able to discuss with the clinician what will happen next, which may be one or a combination, of the following things:
- you may be discharged from the service
- you may be offered a follow-up appointment, either on the telephone or face-to-face
- you may be referred to another service if different advice or treatment is required
Whatever happens, you will receive advice on how best to look after yourself and manage your condition. If you have any other questions, please let us know by contacting 01243 623 548 and our team will be pleased to help you.
How can I access this service?
Musculoskeletal problems such as neck pain, back pain, muscle strains, ligament strains and arthritis are appropriate for this service.
If you have been suffering from the problem for over six weeks, you can self-refer. However, if you need urgent treatment and/or are in serious pain please visit your GP or an Urgent Treatment Centre or Accident and Emergency department.
You can download the form which can be completed at home on your computer and then emailed to the
Please note we prefer to receive referrals via email.
The form can also be printed and when completed can be sent to the following address:
Physiotherapy Central Bookings Office,
Bognor Regis War Memorial Hospital,
Physiotherapy Department,
Shripney Road,
Bognor Regis,
PO22 9PP
If you do not have access to a printer, the form is also available in a paper version from your GP or the hospital.
Please include as much information as possible about your problem/s. Also please include any other medical conditions that may affect you, even if they don’t specifically relate to the problem you are referring for.
Each referral received by the physiotherapy service is individually evaluated to decide whether the patient can be effectively managed with a telephone or online appointment or whether their condition is deemed urgent and will need a clinic appointment. All referrals are screened by experienced physiotherapists and, depending on the information provided, you may be offered an assessment over the telephone or face-to-face.
While you are waiting for an appointment, please visit our self-help page for information about looking after yourself before being seen.
Unfortunately, self-referral is not open to patients with neurological conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's, Stroke and respiratory conditions. For treatment of these conditions, you will need to be referred by your GP and to the appropriate physiotherapy service. We do provide for disabilities and special needs as well as interpreters; please provide information on your self-referral.
Where can I access this service?
Services in the coastal region cover Bognor Regis, Chichester, Midhurst, Pulborough, Selsey and Witterings through Sussex Community Foundation Trust.
For more information on the northern region services this is provided through Sussex MSK Partnership Central which cover Crawley, Henfield, Horsham and Haywards Heath.
Opening hours
Our clinics open at various times from 8:30am to 5:00pm. Please contact your local clinic for exact opening times.
Contact details
Please refer to the CSIMS contact us section for telephone and contact details for all locations regarding appointments, active referral queries and any other queries.
Coastal region locations
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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
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