Day Rehabilitation is suitable for individuals who do not require inpatient nursing care and who are experiencing functional deficit caused by a range of conditions including post orthopaedic surgeries, musculoskeletal conditions such as fractures, trauma or injuries and some acute conditions including post acute and Long COVID.

Each individually tailored Day Rehabilitation program requires participation for a defined amount of time per appointment as recommended by our rehabilitation physician and approved by your health fund. Each appointment must include at least three forms of therapy being physiotherapy, hydrotherapy and an education session with either an occupational therapist or exercise physiologist. Speech therapist and dietitian available if required.

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 specific, individualised programs aimed at achieving the highest level of physical functioning for each patient. At the first session, the physiotherapist will conduct a thorough assessment to identify problem areas and to develop goals aimed at addressing these. This assessment forms the basis of the treatment program that will include manual (hands-on) therapy and exercises to improve muscle strength, joint range, balance and posture.

Patients are supervised at all times and regular reviews take place allowing the program to be modified as progress is made.

Hydrotherapy

Our pool is heated to between 31°C – 33.4°C and is located on the ground floor of the Hospital. Patients that develop symptoms indicative of a urinary tract infection or who have an area of broken skin may be unable to participate in hydrotherapy. Please let staff know if this is the case.

Day Patient Nursing Care

Our Enrolled Nurse is an integral part of the Day Rehabilitation team whose role includes wound management, pressure injury screening, management and education.

Occupational Therapy

Our occupational therapists work with patients to achieve maximum functional independence which allows participation in the everyday activities that are meaningful to them. Interventions may include adapting the environment, modifying the task or teaching new skills to complete the activity. Our occupational therapists can also address the issue of a safe return-to-work by liaising with the workplace to formulate a suitable return-to-work plan.

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.

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.