Occupational Therapy News OTnews May 2020

COVID-19 NEWS Occupational therapists included in government’s auto-visa extension scheme Overseas occupational therapists will have an automatic one- year extension to their visas, after a change in government rules following lobbying by RCOT. The government’s auto-visa extension covers key overseas allied health professionals who come to work in the UK, in the NHS, social care or the private sector. Julia Scott, RCOT chief executive, said: ‘Around 3,000 occupational therapists come from overseas, so for many of them this will be reassuring news that they will not have the added concern about their right to stay in the UK at this time. ‘Whilst this is good news, the impact from the COVID-19 pandemic will be an ongoing challenge for us all over the next couple of years in particular, with many needing to access rehabilitation and requiring regular support from the NHS. Therefore, 12 months will not ensure a sufficient workforce to meet the rehabilitation needs of the UK population affected by the pandemic, as well as meeting the needs of people with other conditions. ‘We would therefore encourage the government to look at expanding this scheme in order to demonstrate the high value and esteem we hold for overseas NHS workers by allowing them an additional visa renewal and longer extension, in recognition of the life-saving work they are undertaking.’ Overseas workers are currently classified as workers that come to the UK from non-European Economic Area (EEA) countries. From December 2020, this is expected to be expanded to also include those from EEA countries. 12 months VISA EXTENSION FOR OVERSEAS OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS Occupational therapy student dials up the support on placement A final-year occupational therapy student who conquered recovery after a life- changing accident is helping keep his placement in action during COVID-19. Andy Jay – originally from Hertfordshire and now living in Leighton Buzzard – is a final year occupational therapy student at the University of Northampton. Andy had previously worked Andy Jay as a communications engineer for 18 years, but was involved in a road traffic accident in 2015, that left him with a broken leg, shattered elbow, broken forearm, six broken ribs, fractures to multiple vertebrate and many more internal injuries. Says Andy: ‘Because of this, I had two strokes and spent a week in a coma, but when I came to and noticed the great care I was receiving, I instantly knew I wanted to work for the NHS.’ Andy’s recovery helped him see which health career was the right fit. Following the coma, he spent a further five months in hospital before returning home to begin post-hospital support. Says Andy: ’Coming home was a whole upheaval; going from being able-bodied to having a disability was hard to come to terms with. Also, prior to the accident I had been the main breadwinner, so losing my role and identity within the family was also very hard. ‘Thankfully I had an occupational therapist who got to know me and my family and helped us to accept life had changed and to get back to doing our daily activities, which is what occupational therapy is all about. This gave me my lightbulb moment about where I saw myself working in health.’ Now nearing the completion of his studies, Andy’s final year clinical placement has been at The Reach for Health Centre, a charitable organisation based in Daventry. The centre provides physical and mental health rehabilitation for people who, like Andy, have had a major, life- altering health trauma such as a stroke. The COVID-19 pandemic has meant the centre has closed its physical doors to clients, but Andy had an idea to merge his passion for occupational therapy with his telephony skills to help him continue his placement and ensure Reach for Health could keep providing a service. He says: ‘I’ve set up an automated telehealth hotline for them that directs calls to myself and other occupational therapy students. We assist callers to identify the difficulties they are experiencing and work with them to find the right solutions to improve their wellbeing. It’s working very well and is a brilliant feeling to do this for everyone; I just wanted to help out and make sure this important service keeps going.’ The centre is now delivering phone-based assistance and advice whether they previously visited the centre or not. The centre has also put together 12 exercise plans designed to keep people active and also tailored to individuals who may have disabilities. OTnews May 2020 9

Occupational Therapy News OTnews May 2020 | Page 9