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Hydrotherapy Pool

Posted By Roonster

"Hydrotherapy Pool"

About: Royal Alexandra Hospital (Paisley)

(as the patient),

Following attending physiotherapy appointments with my occupational health department following an accident at work, my progress with the physio rehabilitation was slow and it was suggested and offered to me to try Hydrotherapy. I hadn't heard of this before but decided to give it a try as the pain i was in wasn't easing.

Well, what a blessing this has turned out to be; the Hydrotherapy Pool with its super heated water( far warmer than the conventional swimming baths in council areas) allows me to be able to carry out the physiotherapy exercises needed to maintain the movement in my joints( shoulder, hip and pelvis) due to severe arthritis. Th pain relief i get following being in the pool for the next couple of days far out does any pain killer i've ever taken. It is now part of my treatment plan in dealing with severe arthritis and the subsequent pain, it is the highlight of my week to attend my scheduled Hydrotherapy session.

Hydrotherapy is vastly under advertised as a treatment for pain and arthritis and more people should be made aware of its wonderful benefits, to the persons health, both physical and their Mental health too. The staff at RAH Paisley Hydrotherapy are simply wonderful in the running of their department and Really do Care about you and your health. This department needs to remain open and indeed other hospitals need to look at this service in offering patients this type of treatment because of its beneficial effects on pain and movement of joints. Simply cant speak highly enough of Hydrotherapy pool treatment and i'm looking forward to again attending at Paisley to continue my treatment of pain and arthritis once the Covid-19 restrictions can be lifted safely. I have sorely missed my weekly session in the Hydrotherapy Pool and so has my bones and joints.

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Responses

Response from Nicole McInally, Patient Experience and Public Involvement Project Manager, PEPI, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 2 years ago
Nicole McInally
Patient Experience and Public Involvement Project Manager, PEPI,
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

Submitted on 04/06/2021 at 10:03
Published on Care Opinion at 10:03

picture of Nicole McInally

Dear Roonster

I am very sorry to hear about your accident at work but it is good to read that hydrotherapy has been such a blessing for you and allows you to carry out your exercises. Thank you for your comments regarding the staff – the staff will be pleased that their hard work and dedication is appreciated.

As you have mentioned, Hydrotherapy has been suspended during the pandemic. As it is a healthcare environment we have to follow government guidelines regarding patient and staff safety. This includes ensuring patients and staff socially distance within a hydrotherapy pool and follow personal protective equipment guidelines. Due to the humid and wet environment of hydrotherapy this has proven to be a challenging task, especially sourcing a waterproof surgical mask. We are working to address these issues with our infection control and health safety teams. While this is ongoing we are unable to give a date of when hydrotherapy will open but please be assured that once it is safe to do so hydrotherapy will reopen to provide rehabilitation.

Take Care

Alison Leiper

Interim Chief Allied Health Professional (AHP) - North Sector

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Update posted by Roonster (the patient)

Thank you Alison for your response to my comments.

I completely understand having to comply with infection control and health & safety before allowing patients back to the pool.

I hope that there can be found a solution to the waterproof surgical mask which would allow at least consideration of patients returning.

Another point I would like to introduce for discussion is the number of Hydrotherapy pools that serve the population of Greater Glasgow and Clyde. We only have 2; 1 at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary and the other at the Royal Alexandra in Paisley. I believe that there is one at Inverclyde that was operational once but not now.

Are there any plans in the future to look at increasing the number of Hydrotherapy pools to accommodate more patients being treated and gaining better access to treatment and therapy?

Response from Nicole McInally, Patient Experience and Public Involvement Project Manager, PEPI, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 2 years ago
Nicole McInally
Patient Experience and Public Involvement Project Manager, PEPI,
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

Submitted on 09/06/2021 at 14:12
Published on Care Opinion at 14:12

picture of Nicole McInally

Posted on behalf of Alison Leiper

Dear Roonster

Thanks for your response and question regarding the hydrotherapy pools. You are correct that Inverclyde did have a hydrotherapy service but the pool hasn’t been operational since 2010. Initially this was due to mechanical failures and then in 2012 there was a service redesign and the decision was made to close the Inverclyde pool. As part of this service redesign the hydrotherapy pools at Glasgow Royal Infirmary and the Royal Alexandra Hospital were modernised,staffing levels increased and the pools opened for more sessions. There is no plans to reopen the Inverclyde Hydrotherapy pool and all our efforts at the moment are focused on finding a solution so that we can remobilise the hydrotherapy service at Glasgow Royal Infirmary and the Royal Alexandra Hospital. This is a Scotland wide issue and we are collaborating with staff across other health boards to find a safe way to open all hydrotherapy services in Scotland.

Kind Regards

Alison

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