Hydrotherapy

Threshold

Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board (ICB) will fund the use of hydrotherapy in place of land-based physiotherapy. It is the responsibility of the referring and treating physiotherapist to ensure compliance with this commissioning advice.

The choice of land or water-based NHS physiotherapy is at the discretion of the provider service. As outcomes for land and water-based physiotherapy are equivalent, providers will deliver either service within the agreed standard land-based physiotherapy first and follow up tariff prices.

NB: Since hydrotherapy is not considered to be an essential service, this policy applies only where local provision is available. Where local provision is not available, patients should receive land-based physiotherapy.

NOTE: Referrals will only be accepted following full physiotherapy assessment and meet the criteria of the hydrotherapy service.

Cases for Individual Funding Consideration (Patients who do not meet the policy criteria)

On a case-by-case basis, patients might be eligible for intervention, in consideration of their exceptionality. The requesting clinician must provide information to support the case for being considered an exception, by submitting an individual funding request.