Orthotics

You can contact the Orthotics Department directly on 01305 254408.​

Our answer machine is regularly monitored, so if we are unable to answer your call, please leave a message and a member of our team will get back to you.

What is orthotics?

Orthotics is a specialist field which involves the design, production and use of orthoses.

Orthoses are specially prescribed braces, splints or supports which are applied externally to any part of the body to prevent injury, correct a problem, reduce pain or improve the movement and function of your body. Orthoses are available to cover the whole body, including insoles, knee braces, spinal supports, shoulder braces, collars, and helmets. We treat people of all ages, from very young children right through the various stages of life.

Meet the team

The Orthotics Department at Dorset County Hospital provides services in Dorchester, Weymouth, and Portland (covering postcodes DT1 to DT5). It consists of:

• Nicola Green, Orthotist and Service Manager
• Matthew Wood, Orthotist
• Matt Pearson, Orthotist
• Liz Lafford, Orthotics Assistant Practitioner
• Karen Tompkins, Orthotics Administrator.

What will happen at my first appointment?

You will have been referred to our service by your GP, consultant, or other healthcare professional for an assessment. At the appointment the orthotist will need to see the affected limb or area. For example, with foot and ankle problems it is useful to come in trousers which can be easily rolled up, shorts or a skirt and a pair of trainers or sensible shoes with a lace, Velcro, or buckle fastening. For knee problems it would be useful to bring shorts. If you are being assessed for a spinal problem, you may be required to remove your shirt or top. 

You will be asked about the nature of your problem including questions such as how long it has been going on for, whether you feel it is getting worse, and what impact it has on your day-to-day life. Your orthotist will both look and feel the soft tissues and/or bones around the affected areas and assess movements at relevant joints. It is useful to bring any orthoses that you have tried previously and a typical pair of shoes that you commonly wear (this could include work shoes) to your appointment.

The orthotist will explain their findings to you, and may propose some options to you of how your concerns could be addressed. It is important to note that the choice to engage in a treatment is entirely yours, if you feel you need more information to reach the right decision, or time to think about your options, your orthotist will be happy to help you to make the choice that is right for you. Options offered to you may include:

Lifestyle changes and advice
The activities we do, the shoes we wear, our weight, and our occupation can all have significant impacts on our bodies. Sometimes, small changes can make us much more comfortable in our day-to-day life.

Your orthotist may be able to give you advice on free community-based services to help you with more broad health goals such as weight management, improving your activity level, stopping smoking, and reducing your alcohol intake.

Some issues may be significantly impact by lifestyle choices, and so the treatment plan may be advice on measures of comfort but that an orthosis is not needed.

Observation or short-trials
Sometimes the nature of your problem may not be immediately obvious. Your orthotist may need more information before they can offer a more definitive treatment plan. The first plan may be to ask you to note times when your problem is more or less noticeable, or to safely trial a device to see how it works for you.

Providing a stock orthosis
If your measurements or anatomy are within stock sizing, your orthotist may be able to address your concern through the provision of an ‘off-the-shelf’ device. Please note that whilst these devices are made by companies as a stock orthosis, many of these options will not be available on the high-street as they must be provided by a qualified professional.

The department is unable to provide devices that are routinely available and have no specific mechanical function. For example, many common foot pains may be alleviated by soft gel insoles, in which case your treatment plan may be advice on where to source these independently.

Making bespoke orthoses
Where your anatomy may be difficult to accommodate in stock devices, or a highly specific function is required for which a stock orthosis would not work, it may be necessary to design and manufacture you a custom orthosis.

To do this, we will need to gather enough information to tell the factory how your affected body part looks in shape and in function. This may involve simple measurements with a tape measure, moulding the body part in oasis foam, taking plaster casts, taking photographs and videos, or 3D scanning the affected area.

A bespoke device is not necessarily better than a stock device, but meets a different need. Your orthotist will communicate to you why one may be selected over the other.

Useful questions to think about before your first appointment

• How long has the issue been ongoing for?
• Has it got better, worse or stayed the same for a period of time?
• If you experience pain, are there things that make it better or worse?
• Is your pain affected by different styles of shoe?
• Is your pain better or worse at certain times of the day?
• Is there any other relevant medical history that your orthotist may need to know?
• What are your expectations of the outcome of your referral to us?

It may be useful to keep a simple diary in the build up to your appointment to help spot any patterns with pain and activity or footwear which could be helpful to discuss with an orthotist. This can be especially helpful with children.

When will I receive my orthosis?

Some stock devices may be provided on the day you are first seen in orthotics, if we have the right size and style available. If your device needs to be ordered in, then your orthotist should inform you of how long they expect this may take. If it is a simple device that is expected to have no issues, or something you have had before, we may be able to get your device to you quicker by asking you to collect it from one of our drop-off points.

Though a device may be ordered to trial and fit, this is not a guarantee that it will be appropriate for you to take away at that appointment. There are sometimes small adjustments that need to be made to ensure the orthosis will work appropriately, or with bespoke prescriptions the product may be sent for the orthotist to try with you before it is fully completed.

Drop offs and collections

The department may not always need to see you in order to deliver or receive orthoses, and we may ask you to use one of our drop off points. These are open during standard working hours for the hospital, and allow you to engage with us flexibly around your schedule.

Our locations are:

• Dorset County Hospital – North Wing 1 reception
• Weymouth Community Hospital – East Wing reception
• Portland Community Hospital – Main reception

If you are asked to collect goods, you will be notified by letter, email, or telephone at which site it has been sent to.

If you are asked to drop off goods, please clearly state two pieces of personal information on the device, bag, or box that you hand over so that the department can verify your identity. One of these pieces of information should be your name or hospital number. The other piece of information could be your date of birth, first line of your address, or telephone number. If this information is not included, we will not be able to identify you, and will have to wait until you contact us to proceed with your treatment.

Phone and virtual appointments

Sometimes it may be more appropriate to arrange to speak with you on the phone (for a review appointment for example). If this is the case, it will have been agreed with you beforehand, and you will receive details of an appointment. We ask that you be in a suitable environment to be able to take the call 30 minutes before and after this time.

Sometimes it may be necessary to arrange a virtual (online/video) appointment with you. In order to do this, the NHS uses a platform called Attend Anywhere which enables secure video consultations with our patients. A moveable camera is a preferable option if available, and please ensure you have enough space to safely stand and walk or to be able to show the soles of your feet to an orthotist if they ask you to do so. You will receive an information leaflet to provide details of how to access and join a video consultation.

Please ensure you have any relevant orthoses/footwear close by and that you are wearing shorts/trousers that can be rolled up if an orthotist asks to see your feet or legs.

Cancelling appointments

If you are unable to keep an appointment please ring and let us know as soon as possible on 01305 254408, so that we can re-allocate the appointment slot to someone else. We will be happy to change the appointment if the date or time does not suit you, but please give as much notice as possible.

Patient information leaflets

Access our patient information leaflets.

Frequently asked questions