Information for Patients Attending Therapy
Appointments Following Lower Limb Amputations
THIS LEAFLET IS ONLY INTENDED AS A GUIDE AND MAY NOT ANSWER ALL OF YOUR
QUESTIONS. DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT ANY OF THE THERAPISTS NAMED IN THE
CONTACTS LIST AT THE END OF THE LEAFLET IF YOU NEED ANY FURTHER INFORMATION
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1. Introduction
You have been offered an appointment to attend for rehabilitation following
your amputation. The following information covers the most frequently asked
questions about attending.
2. Questions
Where should I come to?
Your appointment will take place in
The Physiotherapy Gym,
Physiotherapy out-patient department,
Appleton Wing,
Warrington Hospital,
Lovely Lane,
Warrington WA5 1QG
Please report to the physiotherapy reception and you will be directed to
the prosthetic rehabilitation waiting area
How do I travel to the appointments?
If at all possible we recommend a relative or friend brings you and takes
you home.
Car parking is by “Pay & Display”. You will require 10p, 20p, 50p and £1
coins.
Persons displaying a valid disability permit will also need to “Pay &
Display”.
The Trust offers a range of concessions on car parking charges, for regular
patients and visitors, who attend over an extended period.
To benefit from these arrangements you must initially obtain a pay and
display ticket on your first visit. You will then need to go to the Cash Office
at the front entrance to purchase a discounted permit for the period of
your course of treatment.
If you are unable to arrange your own transport and require the
ambulance patient transport service please telephone 0800 0323240
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If you use the ambulance service please note the following: When booking you will be asked to provide your NHS number.
This is documented on your appointment letter.
 You must be ready for collection 2 hours prior to your
appointment time.
 The service aims to collect patients within 60 minutes of their
treatment finish time. This is however not always possible. It is
advisable therefore to be prepared for a full morning/ afternoon
at the hospital and to bring a drink and snack with you.
 It is advisable to arrange to travel on your own wheelchair.
 If you are unable to attend an appointment please notify the
Physiotherapist and ambulance service as soon as possible.
How often are the appointments?
Usually twice a week on a Monday and Wednesday.
At your first attendance you will be given details of subsequent
appointments.
How long is a treatment session?
Please allow 60-90 minutes
How long will I have to attend for rehabilitation?
Following assessment you will agree treatment goals and a plan with the
therapist. The therapist will then be able to give an approximate time plan for
the amount and frequency of treatment you will need.
The treatment plan will almost certainly involve you following an exercise
programme at home which will form an important part of the rehabilitation
process.
As a guide, if you are going to use an artificial (prosthetic) limb then
treatment may be up to 12 weeks.
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What do I wear?
Loose fitting trousers or tracksuit bottoms or a loose fitting skirt. You may
also find shorts necessary for some treatment sessions.
Changing facilities are available.
What do I need to bring?
Please bring a list of your present medication to your first appointment and
let us know if there are any changes to these whilst you are attending for
treatment.
Please inform your therapist if you take medication for diabetes
Exercise can cause blood sugar levels to drop and therefore we advise the
following: Take your medication as usual before attending. If you forget, inform
your therapist
 Bring a snack with you
 Bring your blood monitoring machine with you
 Always notify your therapist if you feel unwell at any time during a
treatment session
Is treatment on my own or in a group?
Your first appointment will be on your own with the therapist. This allows the
therapist to carry out a full assessment and to discuss treatment goals.
Successive treatment sessions usually take place in a group environment,
with between 2-6 patients.
Each patient is seen on an individual basis but share the same treatment area.
Please do not hesitate to speak to your therapist if you are unsure of this
arrangement.
What other facilities are available?
We provide a range of shops and facilities for patients and visitors at the
hospital. In the main entrance foyer there are a range of shops and cafes.
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3. Contacts and further information
Out-Patient Prosthetic Rehab Service
01925 662604
The therapists working in the service are:
Caroline Workman – Physiotherapist
Lucy Sloan - Occupational Therapist
Valerie Fidler - Assistant Practitioner
Tom Shaw - Senior Therapy Assistant
Other Useful Contact numbers:
Wheelchair Service
01925 251444
If you have a wheelchair supplied by the wheelchair service, you can
contact then directly about any problems, servicing or questions about
your wheelchair.
Wirral Limb Centre
0151 334 4000
This is the switchboard number – ask to be put through to the limb Centre
Warrington Home Improvement Agency (WHIA)
01925 246812
Are you having difficulty maintaining your home? WHIA can help with
repairs, trusted contractor information and garden maintenance.
Warrington Disability Partnership
01925 240064
Have a showroom where various disability products can be trialed and free
impartial advice is given. Some equipment can be bought on site.
Access to Social Services
01925 444239
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Useful websites and documents
Any website links should be recognised sources of information – NHS sites,
patient support groups, national bodies etc. Web links need to be checked
regularly to ensure they still work. They should be set out like this:
 Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust www.warringtonandhaltonhospitals.nhs.uk
The Trust’s website provides information on hospital services and a range of
patient guides that may be useful.
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4. Notes
Leaflet title
Where has the information in this leaflet has come from?
In this section you should briefly state where the information contained in this leaflet has been taken and
particularly any national bodies or websites that you used or have referenced. This is vital as it shows the
evidence behind the leaflet and that it is not just based on one person’s view or opinion.

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Our patient information reference: ##### ###### .
Authors: Add author names and department here.
Ratified: #######.
Find out more about Warrington and Halton Hospitals and the services we provide at:
www.warringtonandhaltonhospitals.nhs.uk
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Review date: #######