New physiotherapy clinic in Perivale: how to ask for support

Where can you ask for support if an adult with a learning disability struggles to sit comfortably or move around? On 16 October, West London NHS Trust announced a new weekly clinic at the Activity Resource Centre in Perivale. It opened on 8 October as part of Ealing CTPLD’s physiotherapy service.

The offer includes postural assessments, individual support plans, seating and equipment reviews, and guidance for carers. The announcement gives no appointment hours and does not advertise drop-in access. News of the opening should therefore not be treated as an invitation to arrive at any time.

A first step is to contact the CTPLD team on 020 8566 2360. Its service page says adults with a learning disability need an Ealing GP to access its health services. An address in the borough is required for the social care part of the team. Professionals can refer, and self-referrals are also welcomed. The page provides a form and the address ealingcommunity.referrals@nhs.net. These are the team’s access arrangements; eligibility for this particular clinic and an appointment need to be established with the team.

Terminology matters too. Here, learning disability means an intellectual disability, not every difficulty with learning. NHS England distinguishes it from a learning difficulty such as dyslexia. The GP register covers people of different ages, not only children. Anyone uncertain about registration should discuss it with their practice; neither this article nor the clinic announcement provides a diagnosis.

When arranging contact, explain what would make participation easier for the patient. NHS England’s examples of reasonable adjustments include longer appointments, a quieter waiting space, easy-read letters and access for wheelchair users. It also describes recording appointment information in a health and care passport. This is not about giving everyone an identical package, but about removing the barriers that a particular person faces. Raising needs before travelling gives staff an opportunity to take them into account when organising the appointment.

A separate form of support is an annual health check with a GP. The NHS says this is free for people aged 14 or over who are on their practice’s learning disability register. Someone does not need to wait until they are ill to have one. The appointment provides an opportunity to discuss health, medicines and other scheduled consultations. If no invitation has arrived, ask the practice about this option. An annual health check is not the same service as the specialist physiotherapy clinic in Perivale.

Before travelling to ARC, establish three things with the team: whether the referral has been accepted, exactly when and where the appointment will take place, and which adjustments will be needed.