The COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing rules
have brought about a sudden change to everyone’s
lives, but for those people already in hospital in
particular, it has meant the interruption to ‘all but
essential’ hospital visiting.
Kate McGoldrick is a specialist occupational therapist on a
rehabilitation ward within Older People’s Services at the New
Victoria Hospital in Glasgow, where this has posed a challenge for
many clear reasons.
‘Increased feelings of loneliness and isolation are two of the
most obvious,’ she says, ‘but joint sessions, which we would have
with relatives of patients with physical or cognitive difficulties in
order to gauge function or to help facilitate rehabilitation, have also
been affected by the restrictions on visiting.’
However, the introduction of iPads to the hospital ward has
enabled the service to facilitate Zoom virtual visiting sessions with
patients and relatives to great effect.
‘Although we see patients aged over 65, our average patient
tends to be in their 80s or 90s, with complex medical needs
ranging from urine or chest infections, delirium and falls, through
to cancers, progressive neurological conditions and end of life
care,’ Kate explains.
‘In addition to the presenting condition, our patients often have
a range of comorbidities, which at times requires consideration
alongside the presenting complaint, such as dementia or reduced
mobility.
‘Often, our patients present with complex social needs and we
always have close liaison with relatives and carers to ensure that
our patients’ function is optimised to their potential and that safe
discharge plans are in place. Consideration is also given to any
equipment and support needs the patient may have to make safe
discharge plans possible.’
While staff would usually have face-to-face meetings with
carers and relatives on the ward when they were visiting their
loved ones, the team would also talk over the telephone and meet
as a multidisciplinary team with the patients and their families
to iron out any concerns and discuss medical and rehabilitation
progress made.
‘We would undertake home assessments, where a patient
would be taken out to their home for a short visit to assess
their mobility and function within their own environment to help
establish equipment or support needs prior to their discharge
home,’ Kate goes on.
‘Alternatively, the therapist would attend the patient’s home
without the patient to meet with their family to assess the
environment in preparation for providing moving and handling
equipment, if we were unable to take the patient out.’
Kate says that the team wanted to be resourceful when
addressing the challenges COVID-19 and social distancing
brought.
‘Occupational therapists tend to be resilient and resourceful –
problem solving is what we do best, and this challenge was no
different,’ she says. ‘We were grateful to be provided with an iPad