Occupational Therapy News OTnews April 2019 | Page 10

NEWS
NEWS IN BRIEF
HUNT FOR BEST DEMENTIA PRACTICE
IN SCOTTISH AWARDS
Scotland’s Dementia Awards have opened for nominations
in their eighth year. There are six categories in the awards,
covering care homes, hospitals, community support,
education and partnership working. The awards are
delivered by Alzheimer Scotland, NHS Education for
Scotland and the Scottish Social Services Council. An
estimated 90,000 people in Scotland have dementia, a
number that is expected to double in a generation. Entries
are open until 9 June at: www.sda.alzscot.org.
UPDATED BRITISH RED CROSS HOSPITAL
DISCHARGE REPORT RELEASED
An updated version of the British Red Cross’s report on
hospital discharge has been released. It sets out the
problems that can cause delays on hospital discharge,
and sets out examples of effective multidisciplinary
working. The report is available at: www.bit.ly/2SAeV8t.
RCOT’s own reports on reducing the pressure on hospitals,
including discharge solutions, are available at: www.
cotimprovinglives.com.
ENGLAND’S AUTISM STRATEGY TO BE
EXPANDED TO CHILDREN
England’s national autism strategy will be expanded to
cover children as well as adults as part of a government
review. A call for evidence has been opened on Think
Autism’s fifth anniversary to see what is working in autism
care and what further support is needed. Members can
submit their comments to RCOT’s response by 1 May to:
[e-mail]. Details on the consultation are
available at: www.bit.ly/2HNdUTN.
INTERNATIONAL NEUROREHABILITATION
AWARDS OPEN FOR NOMINATIONS
The World Federation for NeuroRehabilitation
(WFNR) Franz Gerstenbrand Award has opened for
nominations. The award is open to everyone working in
neurorehabilitation on a project that has been completed,
produced results or published in the last 12 months,
including work with patients, research, best practice
development or the use of a new technology. There is a
£3,000 award for the winner, which can be used for a travel
bursary, professional development or a research project.
The deadline is 29 November 2019. Enter the awards at:
www.bit.ly/1L5Iz61.
10 OTnews April 2019
Make most of new primary care
networks, advises RCOT
The emergence of new networks of general practices in
England is a prime opportunity to promote occupational
therapy in primary care, RCOT is advising members.
Primary care networks (PCNs) will have expanded
neighbourhood teams which will include GPs, district nurses
and allied health professionals offering care closer to home and
helping support patients with long-term conditions. They will
cover populations of around 30,000 to 50,000 patients.
While some PCNs have been in place for years, all GP
practices are required to be in networks by this June under the
NHS Long-Term Plan. The hope is that the PCNs will be able
to make joint decisions that allow the use of a wider range of
staff than are currently deployed in primary care, with networks
receiving big funding boosts in the next few years.
However, while NHS England is covering the costs of
PCNs to hire some specified professions including clinical
pharmacists and social prescribers, there is no ringfenced
money for occupational therapy, meaning the case will need to
be made by local staff.
Karin Orman, RCOT lead professional adviser, said: ‘Moving
care from hospitals to the community is exactly what RCOT
has long been calling for – but we are not guaranteed jobs in
the new structures. With local areas building their networks
before the June deadline, this is a prime time for occupational
therapy managers and leads to make the case for
occupational therapy in primary care. With networks covering
larger populations than single practices, there is real scope to
get occupational therapy into the broadening skills mix.’
RCOT will be running a free primary care networking event
on 10 May at its London headquarters. Book by 29 April at:
www.bit.ly/2HLqDHr.
Government call to raise the profile of
social prescribing
RCOT was recently invited to a social prescribing round table,
hosted by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt
Hancock, where the focus was on how to raise the profile of
social prescribing, so that it can be better directed to those who
most need it.
The key message was that there is a collective responsibility
to address this issues, and that raising awareness and a culture
shift is vital.
Karin Bishop, RCOT Assistant Director of Practice said: ‘For
occupational therapists, understanding the benefits of enabling
social participation is second nature, but we need to make sure
everyone sees that a social prescription is a valid alternative to
medication.
‘OTs can do their bit here by reinforcing the message that
supporting people to take up leisure and social activities in their
communities can have a direct impact on health and wellbeing.’