Occupational Therapy News OTNews March 2020 | Seite 8

NEWS
New money for primary care roles in
England Start of first contact practitioner
posts for occupational therapists
allied health professions, are now included in the scheme simply
showcases the huge effect we can and do make.’
RCOT is calling on all services to review access to occupational
therapy to make sure it is available to people when it is needed,
not just following a crisis or hospital admission. It is calling for a
proactive approach that combines early assessment, support and
advice to enable people to manage their health and wellbeing.
Karin Orman, assistant director of professional practice, is
advising occupational therapy leads and managers to develop
business plans to target the new funding.
She said: ‘Members need to look at their existing services and
consider what they are offering the local population at a primary
care level. What is the demographic need, and what are the
priorities for your local PCN?
‘From that, they can draw up a business proposal for
occupational therapy to address the need.
‘When drawing up a plan, focus on the impact for patients, the
GP practice – such as the impact on GP appointments – and the
wider health and social care economy. Outline where occupational
therapists will be recruited from.
‘And consider where existing occupational therapy expertise is
not being effectively utilised and would have greater impact within
primary care, tied to the value of early intervention for prevention.’
RCOT is scoping developments and is keen to hear from
services. Please send examples to: [e-mail]. of piloting occupational therapy in primary care to enable
patients to remain well and independent. As a profession we
are uniquely placed to address the physical and mental health
difficulties that impact on patients’ abilities to carry out their
daily occupations.
‘Through the pilot we have been able to demonstrate to GPs
the effectiveness of occupational therapy and it is great news
that occupational therapists can now be key professionals
within PCN provision.’
Occupational therapists stand to benefit from new funding for
primary care roles in England in the new GP contract.
From April 2020, primary care networks (PCNs) will be able
to recruit extra staff from six disciplines, including occupational
therapy. The average PCN will be able to take on around seven
new full-time equivalent posts through the additional roles
reimbursement scheme.
Karin Bishop, RCOT director of professional operations, said:
‘This is fantastic news for our profession and more importantly will
have a positive impact on the people who use our services. RCOT
made this a top policy priority and we have been working hard to
highlight the benefits for people who have access to occupational
therapy in their local community.
‘GP practices across England see the value that occupational
therapists bring when it comes to alleviating the pressures that
GPs face daily. The fact that we, as well as some other key
First contact practitioner posts for occupational therapists have
been announced in Leeds.
First contact practitioners work in GP practices and can be
directly accessed by patients without needing a GP referral. So
far they have been primarily focused on physiotherapists, but
the posts in Leeds were created after a successful six-month
pilot project that saw people require significantly fewer GP
appointments after an occupational therapy intervention.
Most patients only required one or two sessions, and there
was highly positive feedback from patients and GP practice
staff. The role of occupational therapists in both mental and
primary health was clearly demonstrated in the breadth of
patients who were seen, with frailty and anxiety topping the list
of reasons for primary referrals.
Dr Rob Brooks, occupational therapy course director at
Leeds Beckett University, said: ‘Leeds has been at the forefront
New collaborative centre for AHP care
excellence to launch in Coventry
8 OTnews March 2020
A new centre for care excellence for allied health professionals,
nurses and midwives has launched through a partnership
between Coventry University and University Hospitals Coventry
and Warwickshire NHS Trust.
The new centre, at University Hospital in Coventry, will be
led by four jointly-appointed professors, and aims to enhance
patient care and academic excellence through research,
practice development, education and innovation.
The centre will increase the number of research active
health staff in both organisations and will provide future clinical
academics for the professions.
Dr Rosie Kneafsey, head of school, nursing, midwifery
and health at Coventry University, said: ‘The development of
the Centre for Care Excellence provides an opportunity for
innovation and improvements in practice to be driven and
underpinned by high quality research and the generation of best
evidence.
‘The centre will provide support and inspire staff who have
new ideas and a desire to make a difference to patient care and
service delivery. We are excited by the focus on “excellence
in care” which will provide the core focus to bind together our
activities and the partnership between the two organisations.’