Physiotherapists help with children’s movement skills and physical mobility with the aim of improving their independence and function.
In Brighton & Hove there are two physiotherapy services working with children and young people in the city.
This web page is about the service based at Seaside View Child Development Centre. We are part of the Integrated Child Development and Disability Service. We generally treat children with complex needs and/or developmental difficulties.
The other is based at the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital and provides in-patient care, as well as out-patient management of respiratory, musculo-skeletal and rheumatological conditions.
Who can use the physiotherapy service based at Seaside View?
At the Seaside View Child Development Centre the physiotherapists treat a wide range of conditions including:
- Developmental delay
- Neurological or neuromuscular disorders eg Cerebal Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy
- Congenital syndromes and metabolic diseases eg Down syndrome, Rett Syndrome
- Co-ordination difficulties
How is the children's physiotherapy service delivered?
Treatment is always based on an individual assessment of a child’s needs and may include an individual treatment programme, advice, provision of orthotics or a combination of these.
Physiotherapy treatment programmes may be delivered a number of different ways:
- Direct work with a physiotherapist – for example where the treatment requires the specialist skills or techniques of a physiotherapist to achieve a particular outcome, or to enable a period of ongoing assessment or to introduce and demonstrate a series of specific exercises and activities
- Programmes of exercises and activities to be carried out with parent/carers or in school
- Training the wider workforce to deliver these programmes (eg teachers or teaching assistants)
Though the majority of physiotherapy services are located at Seaside View, the child development and disability physiotherapy service may also visit community settings such as schools, nurseries or homes.
How do you get referred for physiotherapy at Seaside View?
Contact your GP or health visitor and they will discuss any concerns you have. If your child is at school, you could discuss your concerns with the SENCO. All referrals for our service go to the Seaside View Child Development Centre referrals panel and are assigned to the appropriate professional. Your GP or health visitor can also make a referral to the physiotherapy team at the Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital.
We aim to see all urgent referrals within 4 weeks and non-urgent referrals within 18 weeks. Referrals for more detailed assessments including other teams (multi-disciplinary clinic assessments) may take significantly longer, although not always.
Working with parent carers
We recognise the importance of working in partnership with children’s parents and carers to maximise a child’s physical abilities and independence.
Read more about children's physiotherapy in the Child Development and Disability Service's Physiotherapy for Children leaflet (PDF 279kb)
How to contact us
Seaside View Child Development Centre
Edburton Building
Brighton General Hospital
Elm Grove
Brighton BN2 3EW
Tel: 01273 265763
Email: SC-Tr.BGH-seasideview@nhs.net
Opening Hours: Mon – Fri 8.30am – 4.30pm
Accessibility at Seaside View