Orthotic Appointments

We will add you to our waiting list for the first available appointment. Our Maximum waiting time for an appointment is 12 weeks.

You will receive a letter asking you to “opt-in” to receive an appointment and invite you to call to arrange an appointment at a time, date and location that suit you.

New appointments can be:

• Your first time accessing the service.
• For a replacement Orthosis.
• For reassessment of a new type of Orthosis.
• Finally, for a new Orthotic appointment over 12 weeks since your last appointment

You may need to bring shorts to your appointment to allow your Orthotist to do a full biomechanical assessment and allow for casting/scanning/measuring if required.

Significantly, if you fail to attend any appointment without telling us in advance, or if you cancel at short notice (i.e. less than 24 hours) on more than two occasions, we will remove you from our list and write to your doctor. This is in line with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s ‘Did Not Attend’ and ‘Cancellation Policy’.

You access the Virtual waiting area for Near Me video appointments here.

For more help using Near Me, you can use this Easy Read guide.

Top tip: To make sure you are in the correct waiting area, use the full URL rather than a search engine, as this can lead to a different waiting area being presented as the top result.

What is Near Me?

Near Me is a video consulting service that enables people to have health and social care appointments from home or wherever is convenient. All you need is a device for making video calls like a smartphone and an internet connection. Near Me is a secure form of video consulting approved for use by the Scottish Government and NHS Scotland.

How does Near Me work?

We will send an Orthotic appointment letter with a date and time, including the website address and a link for the video clinic in your  . However, there is no need to download an App or create an account, or provide personal details such as passwords or pin numbers. We will ask the same questions if you were face to face in the clinic.

Occassionally, Near Me video consulting is not suitable for all consultations, for example,  if you need a physical examination or a procedure. Your health or social care provider can advise you on what is appropriate for you. We will send a leaflet that gives you support to get set up and start your call.

You can watch the video on how Near Me works for more information.

We will make a second appointment for you to have the Orthosis fitted. Another fitting appointment may be required to get the right fit.

Following this, your Orthotist will arrange return appointments before you leave your first appointment.

Your Orthotist may have already booked a review appointment for you before you leave your fitting appointment if they feel they need to check on your progress with what they have given you. This can be in person or by telephone.

If you are having problems within 12 weeks of your last Orthotic appointment, you can contact us to make a review appointment.

Please bring your Orthotic device to the appointment with you for review so we can see what the problem is. We won’t start any new treatment until we can check the problem with the old device.

We will not make a second review appointment if you miss one. You can re-access Orthotics through the contact details above.

This is a short 5 minute slot to either:

1. Hand Orthosis in for repair/adaption
2. Collect your repaired/adapted Orthosis.

You do not have to attend in person, a friend carer or relative can hand in or pick up your device for you.

Please Note: You will not see an Orthotist at these appointments. Your repair will be collected by an Orthotic clinical assistant who will be unable to help you with any clinical queries and if you have any, they will need to book you a future appointment to see an Orthotist.

You can arrange to see a technician from Gartnavel Orthotic Workshop which only be carried out at Gartnavel General Hospital.

This is to have an Orthosis repaired while you wait but these are limited and can only be granted if you have no spare device or alternative other than waiting for your device to be repaired.

Please Note: You will not see an Orthotist at these appointments.

You will see either a qualified Orthotist, student Orthotist (under supervision) or an Orthotic clinical assistant practitioner. We will ask questions about your problem. Everything you tell us is confidential. The physical assessment may involve the Orthotist touching the affected area, testing your movement and strength.

After your assessment, we will discuss your problem; agree goals and a treatment plan with you. We can also offer advice and exercises to allow you to manage your problem yourself.

The treatment plan may include a customised or custom made orthotic device. In order to make a device to fit you, we may need to take measurements, scans or casts.

You are free to withdraw your consent to assessment or treatment at any time. When your treatment ends, we will send a discharge letter to your General Practitioner (GP).