The video service which gives Hartlepool babies physio treatment during lockdown

Karen Roach with the physiotherapy doll.

North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust has brought in the Attend Anywhere video consultation service. It’s a system where patients can see and speak to their clinician as they receive assessments and reviews while they are at home.

But for the parents of children who need physiotherapy, how can a therapist explain a complex procedure for them to work on with their child? This is where the low tech comes in.

Isobel Mason, from Billingham, is the mother-in-law of Trust Senior Clinical Professional Fiona Hardie.

She is a keen needle crafter and made five simple dolls, complete with sewn joints. The physiotherapist uses the doll to demonstrate the exercises which the patient can replicate with their child under their guidance.

Clinical Specialist Paediatric Physiotherapist Karen Roach uses the dolls in her regular Attend Anywhere sessions with her clients.

Karen said: “Usually we work with children in their own homes. They respond better in their own surroundings but of course we have to limit that now. Even visiting while wearing PPE isn’t ideal because babies and children take a lot from facial cues. Wearing a mask limits our effectiveness.

“Attend Anywhere allows us to see our patients and provide the correct input for their care and the dolls are great for demonstration purposes. We can see and speak to the parents and their children. It works really well.

“Once the pandemic is over, we’ll still use the Attend Anywhere, perhaps for every other session. While it’ll never replace therapist-to-patient contact permanently, it’s definitely a massive help during this difficult time.”

Abby and Dan Hodgson have a one-year-old daughter Edie who had a difficult birth and needs regular physiotherapy to ensure her physical development.

They use the service and Abby said; “It gives us the reassurance that someone is checking on her and showing us how to move forward with the next exercise for her which we’ve found really helpful.”

To find out more, visit: https://www.nth.nhs.uk/patients-visitors/video-consultation/

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