SAM ROWLANDS, Member of the Welsh Parliament for North Wales, has been learning more about occupational therapy at Deeside Community Hospital.
Mr Rowlands recently met with members of the Flintshire Primary and Community Care and Early Intervention team to see at first-hand how occupational therapists are supporting people’s health and improving their quality of life.
He said: “I was delighted to have the opportunity to catch up with the Community Care and Early Intervention Team in Flintshire and discuss the work their occupational therapists do.
“Occupational therapists support people throughout our communities with a range of issues, and play an important role supporting our Welsh NHS and social car providers.”
During the visit, the MS met with the Primary Care OT service and the inpatient OT team to learn about the innovative approaches being used to support participation in daily life, before heading on a home visit to look at equipment needs and breathlessness management strategies.
During the visit, Sam met with the Primary Care OT service and the inpatient OT team to learn about the innovative approaches being used to support participation in daily life, before heading on a home visit to look at equipment needs and breathlessness management strategies.
He also heard from staff about the challenges and opportunities facing the profession with the service running pilot projects including a shift towards proactive occupational therapy and saw how occupational therapy works in a community hospital setting.
Abby Hewitt, Flintshire Primary and Community Care and Early Intervention Service Team Lead, said: “It was a pleasure to have Sam join the service for a day and highlight the vital contribution occupational therapists make when they provide the right support at the right time.
“Opportunities like this allow us to showcase how occupational therapists are working in primary care, delivering early, evidence-based interventions and the positive impact these services have on people’s everyday lives.”
Occupational therapists work across health, social care, education and private practice with adults and children of all ages who have a wide range of conditions, helping them overcome challenges completing everyday tasks or activities.
They look at relationships between everyday activities – occupations – alongside the challenges and environment. Then, they create a plan of goals and adjustments targeted at achieving a specific set of activities. The plan is practical, realistic and personal. That could mean helping someone overcome challenges learning at school, going to work, playing sport or simply doing the dishes.
To find out more about what an occupational therapist does, or to find a registered occupational therapist, visit The Royal College of Occupational Therapists website.
