Allied Health Department

Westmead Rehabilitation Hospital’s allied health team members have relevant experience and credentialing with the appropriate professional bodies. Our allied health team is engaged according to the hospital case mix and includes:

Physiotherapist 

The physiotherapy team provides services including but not limited to:

• Gym exercise programs
• Hydrotherapy programs
• Manual therapies
• Application of physical modalities such as Electrical Stimulation
• Discharge and home exercise programs
• Prescription of gait aids and prosthetics where appropriate
• Work Cover/CTP assessments and treatments
• Gait retraining and balance programs
• Specialised neurological programs.

Exercise Physiologist 

Through individual and group sessions, the exercise physiologist provide the following services:

• Prescription, demonstration and monitoring of relevant strength/range of motion/endurance/balance /proprioception and gait retraining exercises, cardiovascular training, falls prevention education, hydrotherapy and home exercise programs
• Chronic disease management and education
• Gym exercise programs
• Hydrotherapy programs

Occupational Therapist

 The occupational therapy team provides services including but not limited to:

• Functional disability assessments
• ADL retraining
• Gait aid prescription
• Energy conservation techniques
• Cognitive retraining
• Relaxation techniques
• Home-based exercise programs
• Home visits and equipment recommendations

Speech Pathologist 

By referral, the speech therapist provides services including but not limited to:

• Assessment and management of safe swallowing
• Assessment and management of communication including speech, language, voice and fluency difficulties
• Provision of home based programs
• Assessment of patients on texture modified diets and modified fluid consistencies as required
• Group based programs targeting specific deficits
• Parkinson’s specific programs

Dietician

By referral, the dietician provides services including but not limited to:

• Review of patient’s diet following discharge home
• Provision of therapeutic diets if required/appropriate
• Recommend assistance with meals if required
• Recommend dietary supplements if required/appropriate
• Provision of appropriate nutritional education to patient and/or carers
• Provision of education in the management of specific chronic diseases.

Clinical Psychologist 

By referral, the psychologist provides services including but not limited to:

• Individual and group education sessions with family and patient regarding illness and daily management
• Provision of therapeutic program to increase personal and social independence
• Provision of counselling to patient and their families
• Relaxation strategies
• Education about coping strategies and overall mental wellbeing.