And it ’ s been no different this year . The impact of COVID-19 has been a dominant feature of many of your stories , and we have once again been able to highlight some fantastic examples of occupational therapy practice across the board .
We ’ ve covered topics as diverse as adventure-based activities , supporting the vaccination programme , malnutrition risk , universal personalised care , occupational deprivation , equality , diversity and inclusion , neurodiversity , domestic abuse and of course , Long Covid and rehabilitation . It ’ s been quite a year .
In line with RCOT ’ s health equity campaign , our final cover story for 2021 is from Hayley Baker and Gabrielle Jones , who examine some of the most prominent health inequalities encountered and addressed by occupational therapists in the Cardiff Homelessness Service .
With a vision to ‘ make homelessness a rarity ’ in Wales , the service is working to identify appropriate accommodation , helping people to access specialist mental health supporting the integration of homeless people within communities . It is a whole system approach , and you can read about some of their success stories starting on page 18 .
Still on health equity , starting on page 12 , we keep up the momentum # OTsForEquity , launched last month during Occupational Therapy Week . RCOT has created an online Ideas Platform , to collect your ideas about how we as individuals , the whole profession , the professional body , and governments can address health equity . In this article we look at the suggestions already posted , and hear from Richard Fernandez , RCOT senior policy and public affairs manager about the next steps .
Then , on pages 26 and 27 , we hear how two occupational therapists took part in an epic journey to deliver a letter to world leaders at COP26 .
Jacqueline Gordon and Sophie White , who work at Great Ormond Street Hospital patients , alongside two young people who had been patients and other healthcare professionals from varied backgrounds , cycled 540 miles from London to COP26 in Glasgow . The hope is that their story will inspire you all to ask : Where do we go from here ?
And on page 16 , our chief executive Steve Ford tells OTnews why he ’ s excited about RCOT launching a new brand , strategy and values in the new year , and how he hopes it will shape the future of the organisation and occupational therapy profession .
We will be back in the New Year with a completely refreshed look and feel , in line with this work , but in the meantime , this issue also includes our annual review , which brings you a snapshot of RCOT ’ s work and achievements over 2021 .
editor ’ s comment
If you have any feedback about this issue of OTnews , or would like to contribute a short article or feature for a future publication , please email me at : editorial @ rcot . co . uk
Tracey Samuels , Editor