Our Department of Orthotics helps to treat and rehabilitate patients by providing orthoses to aid movement, correct deformity and relieve discomfort. It is one of the largest in-house Orthotics departments in the UK.

We also aim to offer a continuing programme of maintenance, repair, reassessment and review of need once an orthosis has been supplied. Orthotics may be made to measure or off the shelf.

Comprehensive, personalised advice is given to every patient who accesses the service.
 

What is an Orthosis?

An Orthosis is a device applied externally to any part of the body to support, correct, prevent or compensate for a skeletal deformity or weakness. It may also be applied to assist, allow or restrict movement of any part of the body. Orthoses today often perform a combination of these functions for example:

• Supporting:  an unstable joint like an injured knee
• Correcting:  such a skeletal deformity such as a spinal scoliosis with a Boston Brace
• Compensating:  for a leg length discrepancy with a shoe raise
• Assisting:  a muscular weakness
• Permitting:  a range of motion brace for a post operative patient to enable rehabilitation
• Restricting:  an abnormal movement such as an ankle with a ligament injury

We commonly prescribe corrective insoles, shoe adaptations, footwear and bracing for the lower limb (legs and feet), upper limb (arms and hands) and the spine.

What is an Orthotist?

An Orthotist is a clinician who is required to be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and is a professional with a degree qualification in Prosthetics and Orthotics. They assess, measure and provide a range of orthoses, braces and specialist footwear to aid movement, correct deformity and relieve discomfort. They will formulate a prescription to suit a patient’s specific needs working in conjunction with other health professionals such as doctors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists.

If you are interested on how to become an Orthotist, or want to learn more please read here: Health careers website, the I see the difference campaign or visit the university websites: University of Salford, Manchester;  University of Strathclyde, Glasgow and Prosthetics and Orthotics - Keele University

There is also the option to train through an apprenticeship at Derby University to become either a orthotist/prosthetist or a technician.

• Prosthetics and Orthotics Degree Apprenticeship - Apprenticeships courses - University of Derby 
• Level 3 Prosthetic and Orthotic Technician Apprenticeship - Apprenticeships courses - University of Derby

As a department we are happy to support work experience placements.

Referrals

For your first appointment you will need to be referred by your hospital consultant. There are specific guidelines for Shropshire GP access, please contact us for further details on 01691 404442.

Once you are registered with the Department of Orthotics you yourself can request an appointment for a review of your orthosis requirements (self-referral).

You should be referred to the Department of Orthotics within the hospital in which you saw your hospital consultant for example, RJAH, Royal Shrewsbury Hospital or Princess Royal Hospital.

Once your referral has been accepted, it will be triaged by the Principal Orthotist based on clinical need and allocated to either the routine or urgent waiting list.