Equipment and seating
Chairs, cushions, wheelchairs and hoists reviewed for comfort, posture and pressure care.
Seating assessmentsOccupational therapy for Ashington and the coast
Private occupational therapy visits to Ashington homes, schools and workplaces, from the colliery streets of Hirst to Newbiggin-by-the-Sea and Lynemouth, with help after surgery, adaptations for older terraces and support back into work.
- Home visits from Newcastle
- Adaptations for terraced homes
- Recovery after planned surgery
- Quote agreed before visits
Request a quote
Tell us a little about what you need and we will be in touch to discuss the next steps.
Our service
Home, work and school occupational therapy from Private Occupational Therapy
Private Occupational Therapy offers Ashington residents home assessments and adaptation advice, recovery support around planned surgery, equipment and seating assessments, return to work assessments and children's therapy.
An occupational therapist drives up from Newcastle upon Tyne for each appointment, meeting people at home, in school, at work or out in the community, and using video where a visit adds little. The work runs from an initial conversation about goals to a hands-on assessment, then a written report setting out recommendations, with therapy sessions or a follow-up review arranged if needed. You can start with the enquiry form at the top of this page.
What to expect along the way
- Goals agreed with you before anything else
- A written quote ahead of any visit
- Plain-English reports you can share
- Practical recommendations to act on
- Liaison with landlords, schools or GPs with consent
Adapting colliery terraces and older homes
Ashington grew from a small hamlet into one of the largest coal-mining communities in the country, and the Ashington Coal Company laid out much of its housing in long parallel rows. In Hirst, the streets running north to south are named after trees and the avenues are numbered, and many of these terraces are still family homes. Steep internal stairs, back yards with steps, raised thresholds and compact bathrooms are common, and they can make daily life hard for someone with arthritis, a breathing condition or weakness after illness.
A home assessment from Private Occupational Therapy looks at each of these pinch points and recommends what would help, from a second stair rail and a raised toilet seat to a level-access shower or a through-floor lift. Where larger works are needed, the report can support a Disabled Facilities Grant application to Northumberland County Council. Eligibility and the order of steps can change, so check the latest guidance with the council before any building work is planned.
Planned surgery
Preparing for an operation at Wansbeck General Hospital
Wansbeck General Hospital sits on Woodhorn Lane in the north-east of Ashington, and it is one of the sites where Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust carries out planned operations. For anyone waiting for a hip or knee replacement, the weeks before surgery are a sensible time to look at the house.
A visit before the operation can check chair and bed heights, toilet and bathing arrangements and the route from the front door, so equipment is ready for the first days back. Afterwards, sessions can focus on dressing, kitchen tasks and getting out again with confidence. This private support runs alongside NHS care and does not replace therapy the hospital provides. Emergency admissions from the area go to the specialist emergency hospital in Cramlington.
Before and after surgery
- Furniture heights measured
- Toilet and bathing equipment
- A safe route in and out
- Dressing and kitchen practice
- Advice for whoever helps at home
Other services
More ways occupational therapy can help in the town
Beyond adaptations and surgery recovery, several other services are open to Ashington residents of every age.
Mental health
Structured help to rebuild routine, confidence and everyday activity during or after a difficult period.
Mental health OT
Sensory needs
Assessment for children overwhelmed by noise, touch or movement, with strategies for home and school.
Sensory integrationCare needs reports
Independent reports for solicitors, case managers and deputies dealing with injury or negligence claims.
Return to work support for employees and employers
The last deep mine in the area, at Ellington, closed in 2005, and the old Ashington Colliery site is now Wansbeck Business Park. Local jobs today are spread across light industry, retail, care, education and the hospital, and many people also travel to Blyth, Cramlington or Tyneside for work.
A vocational rehabilitation assessment looks at a specific role, whether that is manual work on an industrial estate or long shifts in a care home, and compares its demands with the person's current abilities after injury or illness. The report suggests adjustments, a graded return plan and any equipment, and it can be shared with the employer, an occupational health adviser or an insurer.
Children who need extra help with everyday skills
Families in the town and the coastal villages can arrange paediatric occupational therapy for children who find dressing, handwriting, using cutlery or joining in at playtime harder than their classmates do. Private Occupational Therapy can see a child at home and, with the school's agreement, in the classroom, so any advice for teachers rests on what actually happens during the school day.
Where a family or school is gathering evidence for additional support, the written report sets out the child's needs and practical strategies in plain language. Northumberland County Council is responsible for assessing special educational needs locally, so ask the council or the school's SENCO about the current process before applying.
Newbiggin, Lynemouth and the villages around Ashington
Visits reach beyond the town to Newbiggin-by-the-Sea on the coast, Lynemouth, Woodhorn with its former colliery (now Woodhorn Museum), North Seaton to the south and Linton and Ellington to the north. Coastal properties can bring their own challenges, such as exposed doorsteps in winter weather or steps up from the pavement. Private Occupational Therapy is based in Newcastle upon Tyne, and appointments in this corner of Northumberland can be planned together where practical. Neighbouring Morpeth is covered too, and the areas served page lists every other location.
- Hirst
- North Seaton
- Newbiggin-by-the-Sea
- Lynemouth
- Woodhorn
- Linton
- Ellington
FAQs
Common questions about visits in Ashington
Can you advise on a rented council or housing association terrace?
Yes. Recommendations for rented homes are written so they can be passed to the landlord, who normally has to agree to any fixed adaptations. For social housing, the report can support a request for works through the landlord or the council's adaptations route.
Can occupational therapy help with a long-term breathing condition?
It can help someone who gets breathless to pace daily tasks, save energy during the morning routine and set up the home so stairs and bathing take less effort. This sits alongside medical treatment from the GP and respiratory team.
Is there a clinic in Ashington I could attend instead?
There is no clinic in the town. Appointments take place at home, school or work, where the therapist can see the real situation, or by video when being in the room is not essential.
Plan a visit in town or on the coast
A few lines about who needs help and what is getting in the way is enough to begin, and the reply will explain the assessment, any report and the cost for an address in or around Ashington.