Choice Case Studies Database

Ankylosing Spondylitis

The patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis used to attend the National Hospital for rheumatic diseases in Bath at considerable expense to local commissioners. However, we now offer a programme for people with this condition here in East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust Physiotherapy Department, working closely with our Consultant Rheumatologist Dr Sam Panthakalam.

We would be able to send you the programme if this would be helpful.


Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES)

The main programme in the South of England for this service, which is provided for people with neurological conditions, is at Odstock Hospital, Salisbury, where there is a high level of expertise. I now have a member of staff who has undergone the Odstock training and developed expertise in this area and also a second member of staff with training. We are in negotiation with the Commissioners (although due to all the reorganisation changes with the PCT, our progress has been slow in obtaining funding for a full programme. However, we have a number of patients now benefiting from the service, the equipment for which was funded by the Friends of Eastbourne Hospital. If funding is made available more fully on a permanent basis, we could offer our programme as a choice for patient. This would prevent them having to travel out of area.

As with the Ankylosing Spondylitis programme, I would be able to send you details of our service.