Outpatient Physiotherapy FAQs

You are welcome to bring a friend, member of your family or whanau, or support person to your appointment.

If you are unable to attend your appointment, please let us know as soon as possible (see your appointment letter for our contact phone number).

Please note: you may be discharged back to the care of your doctor (GP) if you do not attend, and have not contacted us prior to your appointment time.

Once we have received your referral, we will make contact with you to schedule your appointment.

Your Doctor or healthcare professional can refer you to the Outpatient Physiotherapy department.

It is not essential to wear a mask in department however you are more than welcome to wear a mask if you choose to.

Please note, this advice may change if alert levels change.

There is paid parking available on hospital sites. Please ensure you allow extra time to find parking before your appointment.

Yes. Waitematā District Health Board has an interpretation and translation service. This can be provided for both face to face and telehealth appointments. Please let us know if you will require an interpreter for your appointment. If you are planning to use a family member or support person to interpret at your appointment, please make sure you are asking someone you are comfortable knowing about your health concerns.

You have been referred to us for assessment and treatment.

During the assessment you will be asked questions about your current condition and medical history. This will help you and your physiotherapist, work together to decide the best course of management for your condition.

A physical examination, relevant to your condition will follow. You may be asked to remove some of your clothing so that the physiotherapist can see or examine the affected area more easily. Please wear comfortable, loose clothing (if you have a leg or lower back problem please wear shorts or a skirt) and supportive, comfortable footwear.

After your assessment, a treatment plan to help you meet your goals will be developed in consultation with you.

If, during your assessment or treatment, you feel uncomfortable with a question or request, please tell us at the time.

You are welcome to bring a support person with you. If you require an interpreter for your appointment please contact us to let us know.

There is no charge for your physiotherapy appointment if you are eligible for publicly funded health services in New Zealand. Information about eligibility for publically funded services can found on the Ministry of Health website.

If you have questions regarding your eligibility please contact our Eligibility Team.

Please bring along any important information such as a list of your current medications and/or any Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) documentation, if appropriate.

Wearing loose, comfortable clothing that allows you to move freely. Comfortable footwear is important as you may be asked to walk around or perform exercises during your appointment. If possible, please wear clothing that will allow for examination of your affected body part (for example: wear shorts if you are seeing a Physiotherapist about your knee).

Please allow up to an hour for your assessment. Assessment for pulmonary (breathing) rehabilitation and lymphoedema (swelling) may take up to 90 minutes.

Follow up treatment sessions will generally be for 30 minutes. If you are booked into a class session these usually run for 60 minutes.

If you are unable to attend your appointment, please let us know (see your appointment letter for our contact phone number).

Please note: you may be discharged back to the care of your doctor (GP) if you do not attend, and have not contacted us prior to your appointment.

This will depend on assessment findings by the physiotherapist and the goals that you set together. Some conditions can be managed with a one-off appointment, where others may require more than one session.

We do not provide an ongoing physical maintenance service.

This is a small group session where a physiotherapist will provide education and advice about your health condition.    You will not be asked to share any personal health information during the class. There will be an opportunity to ask the physiotherapist questions during or after the class. After attending the class, you will be able to contact the physiotherapy department to schedule a one-to-one appointment with the physiotherapist.

Please note: The class is considered to be a physiotherapy appointment. You may be discharged back to the care of your doctor (GP) if you do not attend, and have not contacted us prior to your appointment.