Our Story
Physiotherapy traces its way back to the 1940’s in the Bell family. 

Bill Bell, at the request of his cousin embarked in a career in physiotherapy. His cousin was Sister Elizabeth Kenny, who won the hearts of Americans in her then revolutionary approach to treating polio. Bill returned from Minnesota after the war and was invited to New Zealand by Sir Thomas Duncan to set up the Kenny method of treatment. From Waikato, to Silverstream and then to Wanganui the Bell family arrived, where Bill would begin work in the Duncan Hospital with the polio patients.

Bill’s sons, Bob and Bruce were inspired to take up their father’s profession. Bruce joined Bill at the Duncan Hospital and Bob set up the practice that we now call Bell Physiotherapy in 1960. Greg, Bruce’s son trained in 1994 and returned to work with all three, and so the family lifeblood of helping others continues to this day.

Today Bob and Greg continue treating people from Wanganui and surrounding districts with the same passion for caring service. 

They were joined by Rachael Gallagher in 2006. She fit in well with our team and spent four and a half years with us. She has moved on to Auckland’s big smoke, and we wish her the best with her career.

Bruce Bell	Bill Bell	Sister Elizabeth Kenny

Bill Bell, Duncan hospital,
Wanganui

Bruce Bell, Duncan hospital

Phone: 027 326 6305 | Email: bellphysiotherapy@gmail.com