A specialised sports clinic is being launched in a hospital in Cheam to help patients get a quicker diagnosis and course of treatment.

Spire St Anthony’s Hospital will have leading sports medicine specialists and injury consultants working in the clinic.

Head of physiotherapy at Spire St Anthony’s, Charlotte Summers, said: “We know that fast diagnosis and recovery is what people want.

“An early diagnosis and referral to an orthopaedic surgeon means that athletes start post-operative rehabilitation sooner, ultimately decreasing the length of time away from their sport.

“Physiotherapy and individualised rehabilitation programmes are key to a full recovery from sports injuries and orthopaedic surgery.

“It is really important you regain full strength through your whole body, target any reduction in balance and body awareness whilst ensuring that your exercise programme is adapted to prepare your body to return to your specific sporting activity.”

To avoid long waits in A&E a 30 minute consultation can be booked with a sports physiotherapist with no GP referral required.

Mr Kumar Kunasingam, a foot and ankle orthopaedic surgeon, added: “The benefit of this new clinic is its unique access. No patient will wait weeks or months to be seen, instead a more pleasant and peaceful review will be undertaken at an appointment to see a focused specialist who will help diagnose, reassure and start immediate management.

“There will be no need to visit A&E for an unfortunately predictable long wait, and no initial treatment followed by a later review. A specialist physiotherapist or consultant orthopaedic surgeon will make a full diagnosis or initiate and predict accurately a course of treatment.

“This wonderful niche resource aims to start your recovery right from first contact! Having been on both sides of this fence we have aimed to trim the fat and get patients fixed fast."

To book an appointment with a sports physiotherapist at Spire St Anthony’s Hospital you can call 0208 335 4646.

The hospital has recently had an open day after opening their £30 million theatre complex.