Work experience information
Work experience placements at NUH are managed centrally by the Widening Participation Team, with applications submitted via the Notts Work Experience Hub. In physiotherapy, we offer four cohorts each year (April, June, September, and November). Each placement lasts two days, the first being at QMC Campus and the second at City Hospital Campus. This allows students to observe four different physiotherapy specialties. These are observational placements only.
Student Placement
NUH offers a range of physiotherapy student placements across diverse clinical areas, including musculoskeletal, respiratory, neurological, and inpatient settings.
These placements provide valuable hands-on experience within a multidisciplinary team, helping students develop clinical reasoning, practical skills, and confidence in delivering patient-centred care. Students benefit from supervision and mentorship from experienced physiotherapists while gaining insight into the variety and complexity of physiotherapy practice within an acute teaching hospital.
To find out more about some of the areas our MSK Physiotherapists work please visit the MSK Rotation Options section of our website.
MSK rotation options
Treatment Centre (QMC campus)
The Treatment Centre physiotherapy rotations offer a diverse caseload; including post-operative orthopaedics, elective hands, short stay orthopaedic unit and complex rheumatology outpatients. You will develop specialist skills with support from senior staff, work closely with OTs, supervise junior colleagues and students.
Leengate (QMC) Out-patient Gym / Emergency Department
The Gym/ED rotation involves managing acute MSK conditions from the Emergency Department, fracture, knee, and shoulder clinics. You will treat a varied caseload, receive mentoring from senior physios, and benefit from structured training focused on late-stage rehab and return to sport. You will be based in a new purpose-built gymnasium on the QMC site.
Sport and Exercise Medicine (SEM) – Queens campus Leengate
The Sport and Exercise Medicine (SEM) rotation is ideal for experienced Band 6 MSK physios looking to advance clinical reasoning across a wide range of sporting and non-sporting pathologies. Working closely with SEM Consultants and the SEM Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist, you will manage complex lower and upper limb conditions, including tendinopathies and bone stress injuries. T
Elective Orthopaedics (City campus)
The Elective Orthopaedic lower limb rotation at City campus offers a mix of inpatient and outpatient work involving patients with hip, knee, ankle, and foot surgeries. Your rehabilitation may involve both pre-operative and post-operative care. As a tertiary referral centre, NUH provides exposure to complex surgeries including joint replacements, ligament reconstructions and revision surgery.
Staff Physiotherapy Service (QMC and City)
The Staff Physiotherapy Service rotation offers the chance to assess, diagnose, and treat a wide range of acute and chronic MSK conditions through self-referral. You will enhance your clinical reasoning and communication skills while supporting NUH staff to return to or remain at work.The service is delivered across both main NUH campuses by a supportive senior MSK team.
City Gym
The Gym rotation at the City Hospital focuses on managing mainly peripheral joint and lower limb MSK conditions, including post-op rehab (e.g ACL reconstruction, knee replacement, ankle fracture). We have access to modern gym equipment to support evidence-based rehabilitation and use the space to run patient group classes. You will treat a varied caseload while gaining leadership experience by supervising junior staff and mentoring students.
MSK Outpatients - City campus and Leengate (QMC campus)
The MSK Outpatient Service at NUH offers diverse clinical experience across orthopaedics, sports medicine, and MSK oncology, focusing on surgical and conservative spinal cases, including acute and persistent pain. You will work alongside experienced clinicians and specialist ESP’s in well-equipped consultation rooms and rehab gyms, with protected CPD and regular supervision. There are opportunities to work directly in consultant spinal and ESP clinics alongside expert clinicians and to gain experience of running group exercise classes and educational sessions.
Fracture Clinic (Queens campus)
The fracture clinic rotation is a vibrant, diverse, and fast paced environment. It provides the opportunity to work closely alongside our orthopaedic medical, nursing and OT colleagues. You will develop skills in assessment and rehabilitation of acute pathologies, alongside the ability to triage referrals and transfer care to other healthcare providers.
Your working week will involve sessions directly in Fracture clinic at the Treatment Centre and at Leengate (both at QMC campus), Hand Therapy Service (Queens Campus)
The hand therapy service will provide the opportunity to work alongside expert Clinical Specialists (Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy). You will be given training and support to develop your skills in both elective and trauma hand assessment / rehabilitation. The service also includes care for those with peripheral nerve and brachial plexus injury.
Burns and Plastics (City campus)
The Band 6 Burns & Plastics rotation offers a varied caseload across burns, plastics, and hands in both inpatient and outpatient settings. You willgain experience in wound management, healing, and splint fabrication, supported by a 20-competency learning programme. Working closely with senior therapists and the MDT, you will also help supervise a rotational B5, PTAs, and students.