Physiotherapy FAQs

"My treatment at James (centre) was excellent with a caring staff who made me feel comfortable.…

read more

Physiotherapy FAQs

What physiotherapy services are provided at St. Luke’s Hospital?

Physiotherapy services are available to both in and out-patients attending St. Luke’s Hospital with a problem related to their cancer or its treatment.

How do I access physiotherapy services at St. Luke’s Hospital?

If you require physiotherapy a doctor from St. Luke's Hospital must complete a physiotherapy referral from and send it to the physiotherapy department.

This is to ensure that the problem you have is one that will benefit from physiotherapy.

If you feel you need Physiotherapy, and have not yet been referred, mention it to your Doctor the next time you see them.

How long will I have to wait for my first appointment?

The actual appointment waiting time may vary from a few days to a few weeks depending on the nature your condition and department workloads.

What should I do if I need to cancel my appointment?

If you need to cancel or change your physiotherapy appointment, do try to give at least 24 hours notice, so that we can offer that time to another patient, and give you a more suitable appointment time.

You can contact us by telephone on  01 – 4065032 or 01-4065031. An answering machine operates when we are out of the department and outside of working hours. Please clearly leave your name, a contact number and a message.

What if I am late for my appointment?

If you are running late for your appointment please try to call us on telephone No:  01 – 4065032 or 01-4065031. When late for your physiotherapy appointment we will try to spend as much treatment time with you as possible. However, your appointment time may unfortunately have to be cut short, cancelled or rearranged.

What should I wear?

Wear comfortable, loose fitting clothes.  You may be asked to remove some clothing so that the physiotherapist can examine you.

If you are being treated for a lower back or leg problem it may be helpful to bring a pair shorts for the purpose of assessment and exercise.

Do I need to bring anything else to my physiotherapy appointment?

If a Physiotherapist has previously given you a list of exercises, bring it with you, along with a list of any medications you are taking.

How many treatment sessions will I need?

At your first appointment the physiotherapist will assess you and advise you on how many treatments you may need.

How long will my appointment last?

Appointments normally last between 3/4 hour and 1 hour.

What should I do on arrival?

Check in at the Physiotherapy Reception desk, and then please take a seat outside the department until your physiotherapist is ready to see you.

If your physiotherapist has not met you by 5 minutes into your appointment time, please knock on the department door and another member of staff if present may by able to contact your physiotherapist.

Useful websites:

Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists (ISCP) website www.iscp.ie

Chartered Society of Physiotherapists (CSP) U.K. website www.csp.org.uk

ISCP and Irish Cancer Society (ICS) Publications: (Click on Adobe attachments to open)

10 things you should know about Cancer and Exercise

Reduce your risk of Cancer Booklet

Move more to fight Cancer leaflet