Occupational Therapy News OTnews April 2019 | Page 37

ACUTE CARE FEATURE
Coker et al (2019) conducted a qualitative study
to explore how community care staff from various
specialities viewed and assessed frailty. 22 community
care staff (healthcare assistants, therapy assistants,
nurses, psychiatric nurses, OTs, physiotherapists and
social workers) from four teams across Cambridgeshire
participated in semi-structured interviews, which were
analysed thematically. Findings included that although
there was a shared narrative that frailty is a multi-faceted
and dynamic umbrella term encompassing physical and
mental health and psychological, social, environmental
and economic factors, certain specialities emphasised
particular facets of frailty. The authors identify the
need for: further exploration of the interacting nature
of components of frailty; holistic, interdisciplinary
approaches to working with frail older adults; and
interdisciplinary training on frailty and frailty tools.
Sophie Bennett and Jean Fuller, specialist frailty
occupational therapists, Frailty Team, Frailty Assessment
Unit – Lister Ward, The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS
Foundation Trust, email: [e-mail] Coker JF, Martin ME, Simpson RM, Lafortune L (2019)
Frailty: an in-depth qualitative study exploring the views
of community care staff. BMC Geriatrics, 19: 47, 1–12 doi:
10.1186/s12877-019-1069-3
There are dedicated pathways for patients with frailty
(Rapid Response, Harlington Hospice night sitters, Age UK
Take Home and Settle, H4ALL) and the team has trusted
assessor status, to enable a smooth transition from hospital
to community.
To continue strong links with the community, the
team has recently held open days on the frailty unit for
community partners to promote how the unit can support
the community, with a focus on the rapid access clinics
and procedure days, and also to form strong links between
the community and acute settings.
An aim is for the frailty team to provide further training
for the London Ambulance Service and to attend the
community huddles with community matrons and GPs to
promote joint working and increase frailty knowledge in all
areas.
In the future, the team hopes to continue to expand,
with plans for a seven-day service and hopes for a bigger
frailty unit.
Reference
Aspiring to a clinical academic career?
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Are you considering a Clinical Academic career?
Are you looking for guidance on what to do next?
Do you have questions and queries about what an HEE/
NIHR Integrated Clinical Academic Award (from Internship
through to Clinical Doctoral Research Fellowship levels) or
other similar clinical academic award, involves?
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Would you like advice and tips on what increases the
chances of an application being successful?
Would you like to network with others with similar
aspirations?
The Royal College of Occupational Therapists is hosting an event in collaboration with the National Institute for Health
Research Academic Training Advocates for Occupational Therapy. The workshop aims to demystify the requirements
associated with the HEE/NIHR Integrated Clinical Academic Programme and provide guidance for aspiring clinical academics
across the UK. The workshop will be of interest to occupational therapists considering applying in 2019/2020.
Date: Thursday 6th June 2019
Venue: The Priory Rooms, Meeting and Conference Centre, William Penn Room,
40 Bull Street, Birmingham, B4 6AF
Time: 10am – 4.30pm
Cost: Free to attend. Support may be available to assist with travel costs.
For a booking form please contact Kinza Ahmad, Research and Development Administrator: [e-mail]
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