Occupational Therapy News June 2020 | Page 46

FEATURE COVID-19
©GettyImages/ ARTQU
Occup
Foundat
have b
On starting to reflect on the recent CO
pandemic, and how the workforce ha
utilised to support the current situatio
I became aware of the variety of roles
occupational therapists within North West Anglia
Foundation Trust (NWAngliaFT) have, and of how
diverse roles have been used in so many different
to support both patients and staff.
Our current occupational therapy workforce at
NWAngliaFT works across acute inpatient wards,
outpatient areas, and management roles across th
different sites. We have also embarked on a journe
our first degree apprentice occupational therapist.
When the pandemic started, all clinical staff we
requested by the trust to review working patterns t
provide seven-day services.
We took the decision to temporarily change our
workforce to a rota system, extending our current
provision from 8.30am to 4.45pm, Monday to Frid
limited weekend services, partially funded, to 8am
seven days a week. Staff understood the urgency
requirements for this to be put in place.
Outpatient services were either stopped or sign
reduced and staff employed in these areas were
redeployed to the inpatient rota to support the deli
the temporary service changes.
24 OTnews June 2020