Physiotherapy Services Added to Primary Care in Portland

The Portland Health Department is offering physiotherapy services in primary care in the parish.

Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Sharon Lewis, speaking at the March sitting of the Portland Municipal Corporation, said that a Primary Care Physiotherapist joined the staff on January 2, 2026.

“She used the month of January to prepare the unit, which is located at the Buff Bay District Health Centre, to start offering service,” Dr. Lewis said.

“Services started on February 2 and was limited to the Buff Bay Health District. As of April 2, 2026, the services will be expanded to the Port Antonio Health Centre on scheduled dates,” she added.

Portland is now the second parish to offer this valuable service in primary care, with St. Ann being the first several years ago.

Dr. Lewis explained that this development is an outworking of the primary healthcare renewal policy and programme, which seeks to expand and improve the services provided in primary care.

She pointed out that the Port Antonio Hospital also added physiotherapy services at the end of 2025, and that service is carried out by a different officer from the one in primary care.

Patients can access the services of the Primary Care Physiotherapist through referrals by clinicians on specialised referral forms.

The physiotherapist then reviews the forms and makes the appointments for the patients.

“We are very happy about this and the other developments in primary care, as it means greater access to well-needed services by our clients. It is, therefore, expected that, over time, we will see improved health outcomes in our population,” Dr. Lewis said.