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Welsh Government announces £ 5 million to improve access to community-based care
RCOT has welcomed the Welsh Government ’ s announcement last month that it will invest £ 5 million to increase the number of allied health professionals ( AHPs ) and improve access to community-based care .
The funding , which will be made available from April 2023 , will increase the number of community based AHPs and support workers in the NHS . An increase to the number of AHPs in the community , including occupational therapists , will enable people to recover at home with rehabilitation and spend less time in a hospital bed , leading to improved health outcomes for services users and reduce the pressure on hospital services .
Boosting the presence of occupational therapists in the community will also improve the independence and confidence of those receiving care .
While this is a welcome first step , RCOT will continue to argue for increased staffing levels to meet demand . We want to ensure that everyone who would benefit from rehabilitation receives it and that occupational therapy within rehabilitation services are fully staffed and resourced .
Effective , timely and well-resourced rehabilitation services , with occupational therapists located where they can make the most impact , can reduce the burden on acute care and ultimately allow for a greater number of people to be supported in their own communities .
Dai Davies , Professional Practice Lead Wales said : ‘ We welcome the Welsh Government ’ s commitment to strengthening community-based services and its intention to see people live at home independently for as long as possible . Boosting the staffing levels of AHPs and occupational therapists in the community will make a substantial contribution towards this goal .
‘ Demand for AHP services in the community is continuing to rise and this investment is a timely intervention . Occupational therapists can deliver rehabilitation services in the community and reduce the pressure on acute care .
‘ By continuing on this path , we hope the NHS and social care in Wales can deliver a reformed and more effective primary care workforce by ensuring access to occupational therapy and other AHPs is available for everyone who needs one .’
Mental health services to be boosted by £ 150 million government funding
Anyone experiencing a mental health emergency will benefit from more tailored emergency care and support in the community through specialised mental health ambulances , more crisis services and improved healthbased places of safety , it was announced on 23 January .
A £ 150 million investment up to April 2025 will better support people experiencing – or at risk of experiencing – mental health crises to receive care and support in more appropriate settings outside of A & E , helping to ease pressures facing the NHS .
The government recognises that ‘ patients presenting with mental health problems are twice as likely to spend 12 hours or more in emergency departments than other patients ’. It added : ‘ While some of these patients will be in A & E for urgent medical care , we know that often they would be better treated elsewhere ’.
The funding will allow for the procurement of up to 100 new mental health ambulances , which will take specialist staff directly to patients to deliver support on scene or transfer them to the most appropriate place for care .
It will also fund 150 new projects centred on supporting the provision of mental health crisis response and urgent mental health care .
The new projects include over 30 schemes providing crisis cafés , crisis houses and other similar safe spaces , as well as over 20 new or improved health-based places of safety , which provide a safe space for people detained by the police . Improvements to NHS 111 and crisis phone lines will also be rolled out .
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak , said : ‘ People in mental health crisis deserve compassionate care in a safe and appropriate setting . Too often , they end up in A & E when they should be receiving specialist treatment elsewhere . This important funding will make sure they get the help they need , while easing pressures on emergency departments and freeing up staff time – which is a huge priority for the government this winter .’
We welcome the Welsh Government ’ s commitment to strengthening communitybased services and its intention to see people live at home independently for as long as possible .”
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February 2023 OTnews 9