Occupational Therapy News OTnews October 2019 | Page 13

NEWS Scottish primary care in spotlight as RCOT hears from 40 members and gives evidence to parliament RCOT is calling for a paradigm shift in Scotland to make the patient ‘the expert in their own condition’, as part of a Scottish Parliament enquiry into the future of primary care. The health and sport committee is running the enquiry to address the rising and changing needs of the ageing population. RCOT gave evidence alongside other allied health professions body representatives. Alison Keir, RCOT policy officer for Scotland, said: ‘In order to improve primary care there needs to be a fundamental move to person-centred care, focusing on what is important to the individual, and it was good the committee heard how allied health professionals can make that happen. ‘We told the committee about where our members can have the most impact and where there is most demand from primary care – helping frail, older people who are at high risk of needing increased levels of support; supporting those who are off work or need support to stay in work; and working with people with mental health issues or long-term conditions. ‘To help us better support those people we are calling for self-referral to be made widely available and greater access to occupational therapy-led assessments and interventions, more investment in community and rehabilitation services, and greater use of technology to make it easier for people to access services. And underpinning all of these calls is the need for a paradigm shift to ensure the patient is the expert in their own condition.’ The committee will continue to take evidence, with the health secretary due to attend on 5 November. Wales’s Integrated Care Fund ‘not reaching full potential’ Better evidence is needed about how Wales’s Integrated Care Fund improves outcomes for service users, according to a Welsh Audit Office report. Many occupational therapists are employed in services funded by the Fund, which since 2014 has aimed to enable integrated working between social services, health, housing and the third sector and independent providers. The report found integration was going well between social care and health services, but that three-quarters of project leads found there were challenges in mainstreaming their work. Read the report at: www.bit.do/Wales-ICF-audit. Alison Keir gives evidence in the Scottish Parliament RCOT also met with 40 occupational therapists at a special primary care event in Dunfermline during August. Karin Orman, RCOT assistant director – professional practice, said: ‘The large turnout reflects how important the drive to have more occupational therapists working in primary care is. ‘Members heard about the work of Connie Smith in Ayrshire and Arran and Shonaid McCabe in GP practices in Lanarkshire, as well as hearing from Jan Beattie, the AHP advisor for primary care at the Scottish government. ‘Jan asked occupational therapists to ensure that when measuring the effectiveness of our services in primary care that we consider the patient experience, GP practice experience and the impact of wider systems, and these will be key points we think about as we continue to push for more occupational therapists in primary care.’ RCOT is keen to hear from any services in Scotland that are currently working within primary care or planning new services. Please email: [email protected]. RCOT deploys Northern Ireland manifesto in council conversations RCOT’s Northern Ireland manifesto was put to use in September with the Mid Ulster Council environment committee, after being invited to talk by a councillor about occupational therapists and how they support people in their area. The manifesto was drawn up for this year’s local council elections and the session gave a chance to reiterate calls for manifesto actions such as having an occupational therapist in GP surgeries, a dedicated specialist occupational therapist housing post and support for people who wish to remain in, return to or obtain work. RCOT also called on local government to commission and structure services to enable occupational therapists to take a community-wide approach, including a strategic role in councils support accessibility and inclusion; and for recognition of the role of occupational therapists in ensuring people remain within their communities, allowing them to play an active role in life. Read the manifesto at: www.rcot.co.uk/files/northern-ireland- manifesto-2019. OTnews October 2019 13