Physiotherapy at Westmead Hospital

Referrals & appointments

Referral to inpatient physiotherapy services

Urgent inpatient cases are screened daily by physiotherapy staff for intervention needs.

Referral to outpatient physiotherapy services

Criteria for referral

1. All patients must have a written medical referral requesting physiotherapy treatment
2. Patients must be 15 years of age or over, younger patients are seen at Westmead Children's Hospital
3. If patients do not have a Medicare card (e.g. if they are an overseas visitor) a fee will be charged
4. If the patient lives outside the Hills, Holroyd, and Parramatta LGAs and there is no suitable provider in your area, the following referrals will be accepted:
• for hydrotherapy or a specific exercise group
• for amputee rehabilitation
• from any of the university clinics at Westmead Hospital (e.g. fracture clinic or plastics registrars clinic)
• by an outside source for a specialist physiotherapy service.
5. Patients covered by workers compensation, third party, or private insurance companies are encouraged to seek treatment privately, unless they have been referred for or by:
• hydrotherapy or a specific exercise group
• pelvic floor or continence training
• amputee rehabilitation.

How to refer your patient

Fax: (02) 8890 7102
or
Mail to: Physiotherapy Department
Level 1 E Block
Westmead Hospital
PO Box 533
Wentworthville NSW 2145

Important information about appointments

• The patient’s referral is triaged and put onto a wait list. Patients are contacted once an appointment becomes available
• Allow up to one hour for their initial appointment
• Patients may be seen by a student who is supervised by an educator. Please allow up to 1.5 hours for the initial assessment
• Immediate treatment cannot be guaranteed for chronic conditions. The patient may be referred to a group exercise class for ongoing management
• Communication with the referring doctor may be made during the course of the treatment if required
• Patients who do not attend their treatment without making contact with the physiotherapy department may be discharged from the department. The referring doctor will be informed of this.