Do I need a referral from my GP? 

No.  Patients are able to self-refer and self-pay for their treatment without a referral from your GP or Consultant.

What payment methods do you accept?  

We accept payment by credit or debit cards or cash.  

We are registered with most insurers, but we ask that prior to arranging your physiotherapy appointment, that you check with your insurer if you are covered for treatment with us.   

If you wish to use your Private Healthcare Insurance, you must be referred to us by a GP or Orthopaedic Consultant.  Please bring your Private Insurers name, your policy number and authorisation/claim number with you on you first appointment, this will enable us to invoice your insurer on a monthly basis.

What happens during my first  physiotherapy consultation? 

On arrival, you will be asked to complete a registration & consent form which includes a short general health questionnaire.  Next we take a concise history of you reason for attending physiotherapy, this enables us to plan the next part of the consultation, the physical examination.  During the physical examination, we assess all related  joints, muscles, ligaments and nerves to reach a diagnosis.  We then form a plan of action as to how we can best enable your recovery.    Treatment and advice normally start during your first appointment.

What is treatment likely to consist of? 

Sometimes all that is required is some advice and a home exercise programme.  But the majority of the time some "hands-on" therapy is required.  This may include: massage, joint mobilisations, stretches, electrotherapy or acupuncture.

Acupuncture?  

Nicola Speirs is accredited and governed by the Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists (AACP).

Western acupuncture may be offered alongside other treatment modalities as part of your rehabilitation programme. Western acupuncture is a form of acupuncture developed from 

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) acupuncture.  It is a concept using needles inserted into the body as a means of balancing the movement and levels of "Qi" (energy life force) within the body - an imbalance of Qi leads to disease, pain or disability. 

Recent research suggests that acupuncture is effective in the treatment of low back pain, neck pain and knee osteoarthritis.