Orthotics

Welcome to the NHS Ayrshire and Arran Orthotic Service information page.

Our Orthotics team is provided by the equivalent of 2.7 full time clinical staff. However this is provided by 6 Orthotists. This provides a much wider range of specialist knowledge and skills than would realistically be available from a team of 2.7 staff. The team work across the 2 acute hospital sites and a number of community sites.

We have a team of 6 orthotists (inclusive of our Service Manager) working within Ayrshire and Arran with a huge range of experience including paediatrics, spinal, MSK, diabetics, neurology and computer aided scanning.

We run many multidisciplinary clinics within Ayrshire and Arran and have close links to our AHP colleagues.

We have close links with Strathclyde university and welcome orthotic students to learn in Ayrshire and Arran.

As orthotists, we assess, differentially diagnose and treat conditions, often using orthoses (externally applied braces).

What is an Orthotist?

Orthotists are Allied Health Care Professionals registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) who specialise in the assessment of the whole body for biomechanical problems and if appropriate can prescribe, measure, fit and review an Orthosis.

What do we do?

An Orthotist will assess tendons, ligaments, bones, joints, nerves and other structures and create a treatment plan in agreement with our patients in order to:

Improve your movement and strength
Help you to do more of your normal activities
Help you reduce or manage your pain
Help you to understand and manage your problem with our support

We can prescribe and supply Orthotic devices including prescription footwear, insoles, ankle foot orthoses, knee braces, wrist hand orthoses, pressure redistribution devices and spinal braces, but we can also give advice about what you can do to improve your own health and manage your condition.

Specialist clinics

We run several specialist clinics across the Orthotic service, these include:

Paediatric service

Currently, we run 2 specialist Paediatric Orthotic clinics at Ayr Hospital and Rainbow House at Ayrshire Central Hospital.

Our appointments are often attended by fellow Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) including Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists, as we work together to achieve the best rehabilitation solutions for our paediatric patients.

Diabetic service

The Orthotic team in Ayrshire and Arran have a strong working relationship with the High Risk Podiatry team and wider Diabetic team including Diabetes and Endocrinology Consultants, Vascular Consultants and Orthopaedic Consultants. We strive to offer preventative solutions to common Diabetic foot complications and are also involved in the acute management of foot wounds/infection in provision of temporary offloading and accomodative devices. We currently run clinics in both Ayr and Crosshouse.

Neurological issues/Stroke service

We have a specialist neurology clinic at Douglas Grant rehab, Ayrshire Central Hospital, where we have close links with the neuro physiotherapy team.

We often have a joint approach to treatment to ensure the best rehabilitation is achieved for our patient group.

Adult Learning Disability (ALD) service

We run 3 MDT community learning disability clinics in conjunction with the CLDT physiotherapists. These are held at North West Centre, Arrol Park and Ayrshire Central Hospital and run every 4weeks.

MSK service

We are involved in a specialist MDT (Multidisciplinary team) clinic with Orthopaedic Consultants, ESP(extended scope practitioner) Podiatrist and Orthotist. We have both virtual and face to face MDT clinics to discuss more complex patients and ensure the best outcomes are achieved for each patient.

We also routinely see MSK patients within our general clinics at Ayr, ACH and Crosshouse.

In patient service

Ward rounds are completed by the Orthotic team every day(mon-fri), we are forefront in assessing and fitting appropriate bracing for spinal fractures, bracing to limit risk of hip dislocations, acute/chronic stroke rehabiliation and Diabetic foot complications. Our referrals can be very varied and our team strives to offer appropriate and prompt Orthotic solutions to enable a safe discharge home from the acute hospital setting.

Scanning Clinics

We are very proactive and keen to use technology and have clinics using RSScan force plate analysis to allow us to see where the problematic forces are and help relieve symptoms.

We also use an M4d Scan white light scanner to capture the model of a patient and allow an orthoses to be fabricated from this. This allows for greater repeatability for future orthoses.

Telephone and video consultations

These can occasionally be used to assess or review patients.

Video consultations (Near Me) may also be used for follow up following a face to face appointment.

The link for video consultations is: https://nhsattend.vc/ayrshire/Orthotics

Face to face appointments can be arranged if a virtual appointment is not the right type of appointment for you.

Please take a note of this phone number – this is the number we will call you from: 0800 678 3393.

(It may also show as ‘No Caller ID’).

Accessing the service

The orthotics service can be accessed via GP referral, interdisciplinary referrals and self-referrals for those previously seen in orthotics.

Orthotic administration office opening times

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday from 10.15am – 12.30pm and 1.15pm – 3pm

Students

NHS Ayrshire and Arran Orthotics Service is dedicated to supporting students undertaking clinical placements.

All students work under the supervision of our specialist staff trained as clinical educators.