Crystal Selley-West

Crystal studied Occupational Therapy at Canterbury Christ Church University, qualifying in 2006.

Crystal’s career began with a series of junior rotations at East Surrey Hospital and Crawley Hospital. During this formative period, she gained invaluable experience across various medical specialities. Her rotations included working in medical, oncology, neurology, and orthopaedic departments. She honed her skills in both elective and trauma orthopaedics, as well as in managing care for amputees. This diverse exposure provided Crystal with a robust foundation in handling complex medical cases and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to deliver comprehensive patient care.

Crystal’s quest for professional growth led her to the Royal Hospital for Neurodisability in London. Here, she further expanded her expertise in neurorehabilitation for patients with complex conditions. This experience was pivotal in shaping her appreciation of the importance of individually tailored rehabilitation strategies to enhance patient recovery and quality of life.

She returned to East Surrey Hospital where she progressed to be a Lead Occupational Therapist for the Orthopaedic and Surgical specialities.  In this role, she was responsible for overseeing a team of therapists, as well as working clinically, to develop treatment protocols, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality care to patients undergoing orthopaedic and surgical interventions.

In January 2021, Crystal embarked on a new chapter in her career by joining the Facial Palsy Team at the Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust working alongside a multi-disciplinary team of Plastic Surgeons, Oculo-plastic Surgeons, and Psychological Therapists as a Specialist Facial Therapist, treating patients of all ages following onset of facial palsy to maximise their recovery.

Crystal’s treatment approaches are comprehensive and patient-centred.  They will include a thorough assessment of muscle function and facial movements, individually tailored home management programmes, evidence based treatment strategies including neuromuscular re-education, relaxation, soft-tissue mobilisation and biofeedback, as appropriate.