Former RCOT President and dementia champion , Baroness Sally Greengross OBE , passes away aged 86
Baroness Sally Greengross OBE , former President of the Royal College of Occupational Therapists , sadly passed away on 23 June , aged 86 .
Baroness Greengross was Director General of Age Concern England from 1987 until 2000 , where she established many innovative programmes , including the Employment Forum on Age , and was also responsible for building Age Concern Enterprises into a multi-million-pound business .
She was also a crossbench ( independent ) member of the House of Lords , former Chief Executive of the International Longevity Centre UK , and a Commissioner for the Equality and Human Rights Commission .
As RCOT ’ s President , a position she held for four years from 2008 to 2012 , she undertook much ‘ behind the scenes ’ influencing on our behalf in the House of Lords .
Her role in championing equality for disabled people and reaffirming the importance of the role that occupational therapy plays in providing care for disabled people was greatly appreciated .
Her ability to ‘ fly the flag ’ for our profession , promoting its value in contributing to the health and wellbeing of people with long-term neurological conditions , also helped to raise our profile .
Among other prestigious positions , Baroness Greengross was also Chair of the Advisory Groups for the English Longitudinal Study on Ageing and the New Dynamics of Ageing , Patron of Beginnings , an initiative to encourage the employment of people with disabilities , President of the Pensions Policy Institute and Honorary Vice President of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health .
Occupational therapists now able to certify ‘ fit notes ’
The UK government has announced that anyone needing fit notes after Friday 1 July 2022 will be able to get them legally certified by an occupational therapist . This will apply in Scotland , Wales and England .
Previously , only doctors , through a fit note , could legally certify whether someone needed help returning or was unable to return to work . Under the new legislation , occupational therapists – along with physiotherapists , nurses and pharmacists – will also be able to legally certify fit notes .
This is something RCOT has long been lobbying the government for . The new legislation recognises the valuable role occupational therapists and other allied health professionals have to play in providing health and work advice , and supporting people to remain in work where possible .
The changes will have a positive impact on health services across the UK . People who have health and work problems will now be able to get more detailed , tailored advice . Furthermore , waiting times and demand for doctors will be reduced , allowing them to focus on other medical matters .
Commenting on the upcoming changes , RCOT Director of Practice and Innovation Karin Orman said : ‘ By joining forces and being bold and progressive , RCOT has opened this new opportunity for occupational therapists . Workers and employers are crying out for more help to support people with health problems to stay in work . Join us to see how you can lead the way .’ See also page 21 of this issue .
By joining forces and being bold and progressive , RCOT has opened this new opportunity for occupational therapists . Workers and employers are crying out for more help to support people with health problems to stay in work . Join us to see how you can lead the way .”
6 OTnews July 2022