Service available in:

Who we are

Orthotics is a specialist medical discipline in which external orthoses or braces/supports are designed and fitted to an individual to provide one or more of the following:

  • Correction or prevention of a physical deformity
  • Stabilisation of a joint or joints
  • Reduction of pain
  • Improvement in mobility or performance
  • Reduction in the risk of injury
  • Protection

Orthoses are used to treat many common medical conditions. They come in many shapes and sizes and may be mass produced items or made specifically for an individual.

The orthotist is responsible for the assessment and fitting of the braces and these include collars, spinal braces, knee braces, insoles and footwear.

The service is available for both adults and children who are registered with a St Helens or Knowsley GP.

Initial access is either via your GP or a St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospital consultant. Once you have been assessed and treated by the orthotics service, you will be discharged with instructions on how to re refer back into the service.  If you have been told you are able to self refer into the service, click on the self refer button and click 'self refer to our service' button on the right hand side of this page and fill in our simple online referral form.  

If you have any queries on how to refer back into the service then please call the department on 01744 415 580 for guidance.

We work closely with the specialist diabetes and rheumatology outpatient departments at St Helens hospital. 

Satellite clinics are also held in the community working alongside the physiotherapists treating paediatrics.

British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists BAPO - www.bapo.com