Cancer rehabilitation attempts to maximise patient's ability to function, to promote their independence and to help them adapt to their condition.

Working closely with our Social Work colleagues, the Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy team seeks to give a first class service to patients with palliative care needs in the following settings:

• Hospice Inpatient
• Day Care patient
  
• Outpatients
  
• Patient's own home
  

• Hospice consultants and doctors
• Hospice Nursing staff
  
• General Practitioners
  
• Community Macmillan Nurses
  
• District Nurses
• Social Workers
  
• Other AHP's
  
• Other trusts/hospitals
  e.g. Royal Bolton Hospital,
  Christie Hospital, Hope Hospital etc.

• Restoration of function, where possible for debilitated patients.
• Assessment for suitable mobility equipment at each stage of disease.
• Wheelchair assessment and provision.
• Provision of appliances e.g. collars, splints.
• Respiratory care/breathlessness strategies.
• Relaxation.
• Teaching appropriate excercise programmes.
• Lymphoedema management and advice.
• Pallation of symptoms e.g. TENS, Massage, heat.
• Teaching patients suitable moving and handling techniques and/or resting positions.
• Passive Movement.

• Initial assessment of physical, psycological and social function and identification of areas of dysfunction.
• Functional assessment of transfers, personal care and domestic activities.
• Home environment assessment to determine suitability of clients accomodation.
• Wheelchair assessment and provision including pressure relief.
• Education re energy. conservation/managing breathlessness
• Provision of equipment and liaison with Social Services re adaptations.
• Relaxation training.
• Splinting to improve function and provide support.