How we can help

Private children’s physiotherapy may be necessary if you are finding it difficult to obtain an NHS referral to physiotherapy from your GP, or if there appears to be a long waiting time for NHS physiotherapy. We are happy to support and work in conjunction with our NHS colleagues should this be appropriate, and we can provide short ‘bursts’ of private physiotherapy rehabilitation in between NHS sessions, in order to maximise the rehabilitation outcome.

Following assessment and/or physiotherapy treatment undertaken privately, a report detailing the assessment findings and any treatment may be directed to your child’s GP or Consultant Paediatrician, should this be required. Please note, there may be a charge for this service. Our Specialist Physiotherapists can also advise to whom your child needs to be referred, should they require further assessment or treatment under another healthcare professional or Specialist Consultant.

Physiotherapy rehabilitation may be ‘land-based’, from one of our clinic locations, your home, or your child’s school/nursery; within a pool environment if ‘hydrotherapy’ is a more suitable option; or may incorporate both types of physiotherapy treatment approaches.

Both land-based physiotherapy and hydrotherapy treatment for children encourage normal movement patterns through specific activities, integration of play, and ‘hands-on’ techniques to support the rehabilitation and development process. Stretches, joint mobilisation techniques, postural re-education, core strengthening, task-specific and functional strengthening work, and home exercise programmes (to include home therapy and associated advice) are commonly used methods of physiotherapy treatment. As far as possible, we encourage parents and carers to take an active role in the rehabilitation process, not only to involve them fully at all stages, but also to enable physiotherapy rehabilitation to be an activity that can be continued on a daily basis.

We also have strong referral links with private Paediatric Podiatrists/Orthotists with whom we work closely. Therefore, we can, if needed, refer your child privately to podiatry/orthotics for assessment, and if appropriate, organise a joint assessment session with them if a co-management approach is necessary.

Yorkshire Children’s Physiotherapy is covered by all the major Private Health Insurance Companies, including BUPA and AXA Health, through its parent company, PEAK Physiotherapy Limited. We are also registered with all the major reimbursement schemes (such as Simply Health), so your Physiotherapist can issue you with a receipt for each physiotherapy session if you are able to claim back any costs of treatment.

Paediatric physiotherapy encompasses a multitude of different conditions and injuries ranging from fractures, orthopaedic rehabilitation and sports injuries (including dance injuries), to complex neurological conditions and traumatic brain injuries.

Paediatric medicine is a highly specialised field, very different to that of an adult. A child’s body is constantly changing, stretching, and adapting to new growth, with specific healing rates and stages of development, all of which affect the type and level of treatment and management approach that is appropriate. As such, it is important that any child requiring physiotherapy rehabilitation and management, has this provided by an experienced Physiotherapist working specifically within the field of Paediatric Physiotherapy.

The required level of physiotherapy input is different for every child and for every presenting condition. For example, your child may require a short-term physiotherapy programme due to an injury or post-operative rehabilitation after surgery; or they may need longer-term specialist rehabilitation for the management of genetic, neurological, or orthopaedic conditions, such as cerebral palsy, hereditary spastic paraplegia, neurological delay, Perthes disease, or congenital hip dislocation. 

Alternatively, your child may have difficulties processing sensory information or co-ordinating their movements, and may be struggling to integrate with their peers or progress at school. Certain underlying conditions are not always identified by health professionals or teachers, and may appear subtly at first; though as a parent, you may feel that your child is not behaving the way they should for their age and have your concerns that something is not quite right.

The early development of a baby and young toddler can be fast changing, and certain ‘milestones’ must be met in order for your child to develop normally. Developmental issues may be minor or more profound, therefore it is important to make sure that every effort is made to support a child’s normal development.

Physiotherapy assessment and screening of your child for signs of developmental delay can be extremely useful should you feel that your child is not reaching their milestones as expected, or if they are displaying difficulties with movement and/or co-ordination. Early intervention is vital, and your Physiotherapist can provide you and your child with a suitable rehabilitation programme, including home exercises, and if necessary, suggest onward referral to other appropriate healthcare professionals.

It is important to point out that children develop at different rates to one another, and therefore some developmental issues do not always indicate significant problems, only a slower development of certain movements and functional activities. Our dedicated specialist physiotherapy team can screen your child and assess their developmental status, either to formulate an appropriate management programme with specific exercises if necessary, or simply to reassure you that everything is normal if no developmental issues are found.

It is never too early to seek advice about your child’s development. Early intervention can be crucial in preventing the development of future problems, as well as helping to curb any unnecessary worry for parents.

For more information as to what to look for developmentally with your child, please read the section on developmental delay under conditions treated.