Already a Patient / FAQs

Appointments

If you have booked online, you can follow the original link to cancel your appointment.

Alternatively, please contact our Admin team on 01493 809977 (Monday to Sunday, 7am – 8pm).

We understand that plans can change at short notice, but if you’re unable to attend, please try to let us know as soon as possible. The more notice you can give, the better — it helps us offer the slot to another patient who may be waiting to be seen.

The Community Neurology service is separate to the consultant-led Neurology service at the hospital. Therefore, any concerns or queries about consultant neurologist appointments should be directed to the relevant neurology secretaries.

Neurology Department, James Paget University Hospital

Neurology Department, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital

PIFU

If you have been placed on our PIFU system by your clinician, it means that the decision to make another appointment has been given over to you. In other words, you won’t have another appointment unless you choose to book it.

If you choose not to book another appointment with our service, you will be discharged at the end of the agreed period.

You have been placed on PIFU because you and your clinician have agreed that this is appropriate for the current stage of your rehabilitation. You may have been encouraged to continue with your exercises or lifestyle changes. Hopefully, you should feel that you have been given the knowledge and confidence to self-manage your condition in the longer term.

You can contact us at any point during your PIFU period, however you must contact us before the end of the agreed period. You can contact us in any of the normal ways:

Phone: 01493 809977

Email: NEUROLOGYSERVICES@ecchcic.nhs.uk

If contacting us, please state you are on the PIFU list with the Community Neurology service, as this helps us to identify you more quickly in our system.

If we have not heard from you by the end of the agreed period, you will be discharged from our service.

If you feel you may benefit from further physiotherapy or occupational therapy, you must contact us before the agreed end of your PIFU period.

A message will be passed to your therapist to contact you to discuss your situation or an appointment will be made directly.

If your agreed PIFU period has expired and you need further input, you will need another referral into our service. You can do this without needing to see your GP here

Exercises

If you cannot find the exercises you have been given as part of your rehabilitation programme, please call us on 01493 809977 (Monday-Sunday, 7am-8pm) or email NEUROLOGYSERVICES@ecchcic.nhs.uk

If you are having issues with your exercises, email neurologyservices@ecchcic.nhs.uk or call 01493 809977 (Mon-Sun 7am-8pm).

If your exercises are too difficult, or causing you discomfort during or after completing them, consider the following…

Try reducing the effort (how hard you’re trying) or how many times you are completing the exercise. Sometimes adjusting how far you move when exercising can help. Remember, pain isn’t always a sign of harm. However, if your body really isn’t happy with what you’re doing, you should always listen to this. Speak to your therapist, who can give you more advice about adapting your exercises.

This is a good sign, as it hopefully means you are getting better and stronger! If you don’t feel your exercises are challenging you enough, it might be a good time to consider a change. You can speak your clinician about how to progress your exercise programme.

We understand that everyone’s circumstances are different. For an exercise programme to be effective, it needs to be something you can continue long term, as part of your normal routine. Your therapist can help you by adapting your exercises to suit you. If it’s an option, you might also consider attending a local gym or community group to exercise alongside others. See our Keeping Active section for more information.

It’s completely normal if you’re struggling with motivation at times - you’re definitely not alone! The following tips might help:

  • Try setting small goals and celebrating your progress along the way.
  • Make your exercises part of your daily routine, for example – doing your exercises before lunch, whilst waiting for the kettle to boil, or at another time to suit you.
  • Putting on your favourite music can make it more enjoyable.
  • Mix in other types of activity you enjoy, like walking, swimming, or gentle yoga.
  • Getting support from friends, family or carers can make a big difference; they may be able to do the exercises with you.
  • Remember, every bit of effort helps and the team is always here to cheer you on!