What Is Day Rehabilitation?
Day Rehabilitation at Wolper is for people who don’t need inpatient nursing care but are experiencing functional deficits from a range of conditions. It gives you access to the same specialist, multidisciplinary care as our inpatient programs, without an overnight stay, at our Woollahra hospital in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
Who This Is For
Day Rehabilitation is suitable for people recovering from post-orthopaedic surgery, musculoskeletal conditions such as fractures, trauma or injuries, and some acute conditions, including post-acute presentations and Long COVID.
Each individually tailored program requires a defined amount of time per appointment, recommended by our rehabilitation physician and approved by your health fund. Every appointment includes at least three forms of therapy: physiotherapy, hydrotherapy and an education session with an occupational therapist or exercise physiologist. Speech therapy and dietitian support are available if required.
Why Choose Wolper for Day Rehabilitation
Our hydrotherapy pool is heated to between 31°C and 33.4°C, warm enough to make movement easier and less painful while you rebuild strength and confidence. Every appointment includes a minimum of three forms of therapy, led by a rehabilitation specialist and multidisciplinary team, so your recovery is coordinated rather than fragmented.
Patients will be treated by a highly experienced team that includes:
- A rehabilitation specialist (member of the Australasian Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine)
- Physiotherapists
- Occupational therapists
- Exercise physiologists
- Nursing and wound care staff
- Other allied health staff as required
What to bring
- Loose fitting clothes
- Swimsuit and towel for hydrotherapy
- Supportive shoes
- Medicare card
- Private health fund card
- X-rays and/or scans
As Wolper maintains a kosher food regime, we ask that you bring no food into the Hospital. The only exception is whole fresh fruit, which has not been cut.
Hours of operation
- Monday – Friday: 7:30am to 4:30pm
How to book
For all bookings please contact Day Rehabilitation administration staff on:
If an appointment needs to be rescheduled, cancelled or if the patient is running late they should contact Day Rehabilitation administration staff on 02 8324 2261.
Physiotherapists
Our physiotherapists design individualised programs aimed at achieving the highest level of physical functioning for each patient. At your first session, they’ll carry out a thorough assessment to identify problem areas and set goals, which form the basis of a treatment program combining manual therapy with exercises to improve muscle strength, joint range, balance and posture.
You’ll be supervised throughout, with regular reviews so your program can be adjusted as you progress.
Hydrotherapy
Our hydrotherapy pool is heated to between 31°C and 33.4°C and located on the ground floor of the hospital. If you develop symptoms of a urinary tract infection, or have an area of broken skin, you may be unable to take part in hydrotherapy sessions, so please let staff know if this applies to you.
Day Patient Nursing Care
Our Enrolled Nurse is an integral part of the Day Rehabilitation team, responsible for wound management, pressure injury screening, management and education.
Occupational Therapy
Our occupational therapists work with you to achieve maximum functional independence, so you can take part in the everyday activities that matter to you. This might mean adapting your environment, modifying a task, or teaching new skills. Our occupational therapists can also help plan a safe return to work, liaising directly with your workplace.
Patients should take their prescribed pain medication prior to their appointments. We are unable to dispense any medication to Day Rehabilitation patients. This includes analgesics such as paracetamol.
Patients are requested to arrive 15 minutes prior to their initial appointment time to ensure they have adequate time to complete the necessary paperwork. During the first session, their photo will be taken as part of our patient identification process to ensure our therapists are always providing the right treatment to the right person.
The treating physiotherapist will review progress regularly and may, in consultation with the patient, make a request to extend their Day Rehabilitation program. The physiotherapist will make a written request based on progress towards pre-defined treatment goals. The request will be considered by the multidisciplinary team including the rehabilitation specialist, senior physiotherapist, nurse and occupational therapist. The decision will be based on the patient’s progress towards their goals with either the physiotherapist or administration staff informing the patient of the outcome.
Upon discharge from Day Rehabilitation the treating physiotherapist will send a letter to the patient’s surgeon (if applicable), general practitioner and any other health professional requested. The physiotherapist will discuss options for continued rehabilitation if necessary. These may include ongoing exercise classes via Wolper’s MoveWell program, private physiotherapy, an exercise group, or pilates. Patients may also receive an independent home exercise program upon discharge.
Medical referral is by the patient’s GP or specialist only. Patients will be assessed by our rehabilitation specialist at their first session at Wolper Day Rehabilitation.
Day Rehabilitation comes under the Rehabilitation portion of hospital cover and therefore, if eligible, the health fund will usually cover 100% of the costs involved. Some health funds charge a once off excess or co-payment if there have been no other hospital admissions that year. Prior to starting Day Rehabilitation our accounts department will clarify any potential charges.
Patients may also attend Day Rehabilitation under the following arrangements:
- Self funding
- Department of Veterans Affairs
- WorkCover
- Comprehensive Third Party
For patients who are unable to get to Wolper unassisted, we have a range of transport options including community transport and private transport services. Wolper offers a limited transport service for patients living in the Eastern Suburbs. This is a criteria-based service and there is a small fee for this service. To find out about eligibility for this service, please call Day Rehabilitation administration staff on 02 8324 2261.
Free parking is available in the Hospital car park as well as in the surrounding streets.
The Hospital is easily accessible by bus (route 200) and train (Edgecliff and Bondi Junction railway stations).
- Train to Edgecliff station, with a 10/15 minute walk up Ocean Street and left into Trelawney Street.
- Bus 200 runs up Ocean St from Edgecliff train station (dropping you at the corner of Trelawney Street).
- Train to Bondi Junction – Bus 389 will drop you off on the corner of Ocean and Queen Streets with a 5 minute walk to the Hospital.
- Bus 389 runs from Elizabeth Street in the City to Queen Street. Wolper is a 5 minute walk from here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Referral is by your GP or specialist only. You’ll be assessed by our rehabilitation specialist at your first session.
Day Rehabilitation is covered under the rehabilitation portion of hospital cover, so eligible patients usually have 100% of costs covered by their health fund, though some funds apply a one-off excess. Our accounts team will confirm any charges before you start.
Free parking is available on-site, and Wolper is easily accessible by bus (route 200) and train via Edgecliff or Bondi Junction stations.
Yes, if your treating physiotherapist recommends it based on your progress. Any extension is reviewed by the multidisciplinary team before a decision is made.
Programs are tailored to the patient and will include at least three forms of therapy being physiotherapy, hydrotherapy and an education session with either an occupational therapist or exercise physiologist.
