At St John & St Elizabeth Hospital, our specialist hand therapists provide private hand therapy in London for adults and children, working closely with our consultant hand and wrist surgeons to support every stage of your recovery. You can be referred by your GP or consultant, or refer yourself directly. We accept self-pay and all major insured patients.
What is hand therapy?
Hand therapy combines specialist physiotherapy and occupational therapy techniques to treat injuries, conditions and post-surgical recovery affecting the hand, wrist and arm. Treatment is tailored to your specific issue and may include exercises, strengthening work, scar management, splinting and swelling control.
Our hand therapy service provides:
- Help with recent or long-lasting pain.
- Custom-made splints to protect an injured bone, tendon, or ligament. Splints can help prevent or improve stiffness.
- Post op care, such as cast removal, advice for wound healing and preventing infection, as well as scar treatment and reducing swelling.
- Sensory re-education – helping you feel again after a nerve injury.
- Home exercise programs to improve your movement and strength.
- Help getting back to work, sports, or hobbies.
Our hand therapists have helped many patients recover after an injury or surgery, as well as those suffering from long-term issues with their hands. If you have sustained an injury, are due to have hand surgery, or are suffering from a chronic condition that is affecting your hand(s), our therapists can help improve your function, range of motion and strength.
Who should have hand therapy?
Hand therapy may be recommended if you:
- Have sustained a fracture, tendon, nerve or joint injury to the hand, wrist or arm
- Have a tendinopathy such as tendonitis or tenosynovitis
- Have carpal tunnel syndrome or another peripheral nerve injury
- Have a chronic wrist condition, rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis affecting the hand
- Have Dupuytren’s disease or a congenital hand deformity
- Have had hand, wrist or arm surgery, such as carpal tunnel release, and need structured rehabilitation
- Have a sports injury or work-related condition affecting hand function
Most people are referred to our hand therapy service by their consultant, often following surgery. However, you can also refer yourself if you would like help after an injury or are managing a chronic hand condition. If you refer yourself, our team will triage your request and let you know whether to book directly with a hand therapist or see one of our hand and wrist consultants first.
During therapy
Depending on your issue, our hand therapists can help in a number of ways:
Exercises. These may include hand and finger exercises where you are encouraged to use your own muscle strength or where the therapist helps a stiff joint to move.
Strengthening. This may include using putties of different firmness, grippers, weights, bands and other aides, which with consistent practice will increase your hand strength.
Scar treatment. The aim of this is to reduce the visibility or any scars, as well as reduce tightness in your scar that is affecting your range of motion. This can include friction massage, taping, or using silicone putty, sleeves or sheets to help soften the scar.
Oedema (build-up of fluid) control. When fluid builds up in the body, it causes the affected area to become swollen. When this happens in your arm, wrist or hand, you will find it harder to manage everyday tasks such as typing, texting or picking up and holding items. Our hand therapists can help by prescribing compression garments and wraps, using specific massage techniques and showing you motions to incorporate into your routine.
How much does private Hand Therapy cost?
|
Hand Therapy initial appointment (60 mins) |
£165 |
|---|---|
|
Hand Therapy follow up appointment (45 mins) |
£153.75 |
How to pay for your treatment
If you’re… paying for yourself
Did you know you don’t need private medical insurance to come to St John & St Elizabeth Hospital? As a self-pay patient, you can access safe, outstanding quality health care at times to suit you.
For scans and tests, as well as to see most consultants, you’ll still need to be referred by a medical professional like your GP, but as a self-pay patient, the process is more straightforward. You won’t need authorisation from an insurance provider, and you’ll have greater choice of therapist and appointment times.
If you’re… insured
St John & St Elizabeth Hospital is approved by all major medical insurance companies. If you have a personal private health insurance policy, or your company provide it for you, you can use it to pay for your care from your initial consultation through to treatment, surgery and aftercare such as physiotherapy. Not all private health insurance plans cover the same things. It’s very important to check exactly what you are covered for with your insurance provider.
Frequently asked questions about hand therapy
St John & St Elizabeth Hospital is located in St John’s Wood (NW8), easily accessible for patients from Hampstead (NW3), Kilburn (NW6) and across North and Central London.
By Tube: St John’s Wood station (Jubilee Line) is a 5-minute walk to and from St John & St Elizabeth Hospital.
By Bus: Routes 13, 46 and 113 stop near St John’s Wood Underground Station. Routes 139 and 189 stop on Abbey Road.
By Car: Finchley Road and Kilburn High Road provide direct routes from NW3 and NW6.
A private hand therapy initial appointment at St John & St Elizabeth Hospital costs £165 for a 60-minute session. Follow-up appointments (45 minutes) cost £153.75. We accept both self-pay and insured patients; please check with your insurer before booking as prior authorisation may be required.
Most patients are referred by their consultant, often following hand or wrist surgery. However, you can also refer yourself if you have a recent injury or a chronic hand condition you would like help managing. If you refer yourself, our team will triage your request and let you know whether to book directly with a hand therapist or see one of our hand and wrist consultants first.
This varies depending on your condition. A hand therapy programme can range from a few weeks to a few months, with appointments typically every fortnight to begin with, becoming less frequent as your symptoms improve. Your therapist will give you a clearer idea of the expected timeline at your first appointment.
Hand therapy is designed to be manageable and is adapted to your pain levels and stage of recovery. Some exercises may cause mild discomfort, particularly when working on stiffness or scar tissue, but your therapist will adjust your programme if anything feels too painful. You should always tell your therapist if you are struggling so your plan can be modified.