Children and young people with motor difficulties

The following services and facilities are available at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) for children and young people with motor difficulties or mobility problems.  Please let us know whether your child has any additional needs in advance so that we can make preparations. Call the number on your admission or appointment letter to inform us.

Children with mobility problems may have difficulties with sitting, standing and walking and may be dependent on others or mobility aids to get around. Mobility problems can be regarded as a spectrum – each child will have their own difficulties ranging from mild to severe.

Many children and young people seen at GOSH have some degree of motor difficulty and services that offer support include:

Occupational therapy (OT) – The OT service at GOSH aim to enhance, enable and empower children’s participation in daily tasks by helping them adapt to the challenges they face as a result of illness, developmental impairment or disability. For further details about the service, please visit their website or call them on 020 7405 9200 extension 5439.

Physiotherapy (PT) – The PT service at GOSH sees children in the inpatient and outpatient settings often as part of wider teams which the child may be under. They advise on areas such as postural management and rehabilitation in order to optimise children’s mobility. For further details about the service, please visit their website or call them on 020 7405 9200 extension 5144.

Orthotics – The Orthotics team provide bespoke and stock orthoses (sometimes called appliances or splints) for children of all ages from a wide range of specialities from within GOSH. These include spinal braces, leg braces, insoles and specialised footwear. For further details about the service, please call them on 020 7405 9200 extension 5617.

Movement Disorders Service – This clinic is designed to benefit children with movement disorders where there are specific questions regarding diagnosis, prognosis and motor management. There is a particular emphasis on the management of spasticity and dystonia. For further details about the service, please visit their website or call them on 020 7405 9200 extension 1140.

Note: Inclusion in this list does not constitute endorsement by GOSH. For details of other support organisations, please visit the Contact a Family website or call their helpline on 0808 808 3555.

Whizz Kidz is an organisation that supports children with mobility problems (mainly wheelchair users) to reach their full potential. Visit their website or call them on 020 7233 6600.

Scope is a UK-wide organisation, originally set up to support anyone affected by cerebral palsy, but now supports people with all forms of disability. Call their helpline on 0808 800 3333 or visit their website