Orthotic Prosthetic Services Tasmania (OPST) is a state-wide service with facilities in Burnie (NWRH), Hobart (94 Davey St) and Launceston (LGH). OPST plays an important role in the treatment and rehabilitation of clients through the provision of orthotic, prosthetic and specialised seating services.

Inpatient and outpatient orthotic and prosthetic services are provided at all three facilities. Only OPST South provides a specialised seating service and offers a 24 hour on-call orthotic service for emergency spinal management.

Access to OPST is prioritised dependent upon urgency and accordingly attended to within acceptable timeframes. Clients funded through third party compensable bodies such as DVA, MAIB and Workers Compensation may also access the service.

Prosthetics

Limb prosthetics involves the clinical care and fitting of artificial limbs (prostheses) for amputees. Prosthetic services are provided immediately post-operatively as part of the early rehabilitation program for amputees. These services continue throughout the amputee’s life, usually involving the provision of several prostheses over many years. The prosthetist provides education to the patient, their family and to the rehabilitation team about all factors associated with the prosthetic prescription and wearing of the prosthesis. Publicly referred prosthetic services are funded and governed under the Tasmanian Artificial Limb Scheme (tel: 03 - 6222 7377) which is administered by OPST.

Orthotics

Orthotics is the clinical discipline which involves the assessment for, prescription and fitting of devices which apply external forces to the body for the purpose of support and alignment, reducing pain or enhancing mobility. The delivery of orthotic services occurs within the State’s three tertiary hospitals for a broad range of clinical presentations, including spinal trauma. Orthotic services are also provided for rehabilitation and ongoing care for clients with a diverse range of presentations such as cerebral palsy, stroke and sporting injuries. Orthoses may be provided for all parts of the body, ranging from custom helmets following cranial trauma, to the provision of shoulder orthoses to support a flail arm, to conditions requiring the application of knee and foot orthoses.

Specialised Seating Clinic

OPST also provides a specialised seating and wheelchair service in the southern half of the State. This interdisciplinary service, consisting of a physiotherapist, an orthotist, and an orthotic technician, involves the assessment of clients who often have complex physical impairments. Custom seating and wheelchair systems are prescribed and provided for this client group. This service is provided from 94 Davey St, Hobart.

• Outpatients are seen by appointment only.
• A referral letter must be sent through by post or fax, so that the client’s priority can be assessed and a place on the waiting list allocated.

Key people

  Contact Details

Orthotic Prosthetic Service Tasmania (OPST) - South

94 Davey Street, Hobart 7000

Phone: (03) 6222 7377

Facsimile: (03) 6222 7367

Email: opst.tas@dhhs.tas.gov.au

Orthotic Prosthetic Services Tasmania (OPST) - North

Level 2

Launceston General Hospital

Charles Street, Launceston 7250

Phone: (03) 6348 7562

Facsimile: (03) 6348 7564

Email: lgh.opst@dhhs.tas.gov.au

Orthotic Prosthetic Services Tasmania (OPST) – North West

Specialist Clinics

North West Regional Hospital

Brickport Road, Burnie 7320

Phone: (03) 6430 6941

Facsimile: (03) 6430 6688

Email: opst.nwrh@dhhs.tas.gov.au