FUNDING from Bradford clinical commissioning groups means new help is at hand for thousands of adult physiotherapy patients needing specialist care.

It is great news for people with muscular dystrophy and other conditions where there is a gap between nerve and muscle, said Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s consultant neurologist, Dr Mark Busby.

Specialist neuro-muscular physiotherapist Eleanor Butler will be based out of St Luke's hospital but will support physio teams across West Yorkshire providing advice and care to thousands of patients, helping cut unplanned hospital admissions.


Her appointment was agreed by the the ten West Yorkshire clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) is being funded by the two in Bradford.

Dr Busby said the specialist appointment had been wanted for a very long time.

"Neuro-muscular patients are reliant on therapies as their conditions are incurable, so helping people manage their illness on a daily basis is vital to maintaining a good quality of life for as long as possible," he said.

“The addition of Eleanor to our regional team, as someone who has real specialist physiotherapist knowledge of a variety of really good therapies which will help our patients, is a real bonus and will add to the patient experiences of many across the region.”

The post started this month giving support on posture, exercise programmes, managing problems like increased weakness and overall symptom management.

Dr Andy Withers, clinical chairman of NHS Bradford Districts CCG, said: “I’m delighted that our two local CCGs – Bradford Districts and Bradford City - have been able to commission this important new service on behalf of all ten CCGs in West Yorkshire.

“We have worked closely with Dr Busby to provide this service for adults with neuro-muscular disease.

"While there had been a long-established children’s neuro-physio service, there was no equivalent for adults, so patients moving to adult services were left with little or no specialist therapy input.

“Patients told us that structured therapy support to help manage their condition, delivered by staff experienced in the care of these complex conditions, was the thing that had the greatest impact on their quality of life. The guidance and training offered by a specialist therapist to colleagues across the region will reduce unplanned hospital admissions and help many patients with neuro-muscular disease.”

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