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Demand for rehabilitation support almost doubles in six months , RCOT survey finds
A survey by RCOT has found that its members have seen an 82 % increase in demand for occupational therapy-led rehabilitation services in the UK over the last six months alone .
Already overstretched , rehabilitation services have seen demand rocket over the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and are now seeing a further rapid increase in patients . This is partly due to the lack of available carers once people are discharged from hospital and the continued delay in occupational therapy interventions due to COVID-19 .
The survey , which over 550 occupational therapists working across the UK took part in , found that :
• 84 % are supporting people whose needs have become more complex due to delayed interventions arising from the pandemic .
• 82 % of respondents noted increased demand for occupational therapy-led rehabilitation over the previous six months .
• 71 % of respondents felt there were not enough occupational therapists to meet demand and 48 % experience issues recruiting for occupational therapy posts .
• 66 % of respondents reported difficulties in delivering rehabilitation services due to reduced access to facilities , suitable space and equipment .
• 50 % are supporting people affected by Long Covid .
As leaders of rehabilitation services , occupational therapists are a vital part of the solution to getting through the backlog of people needing intervention .”
Commenting on the survey , RCOT Director of Practice and Innovation , Karin Orman said : ‘ It ’ s clear from this survey that rehabilitation services across the UK are overloaded , with the vast majority of occupational therapists seeing a huge increase in demand and complexity of their caseload over the last six months alone . This simply isn ’ t sustainable and there isn ’ t a big enough workforce to currently meet demand .
‘ Across the UK , health and social care leaders need to invest more in rehabilitation services and drive the recruitment of more occupational therapists as a matter of urgency . Not in a few years but now .
‘ As leaders of rehabilitation services , occupational therapists are a vital part of the solution to getting through the backlog of people needing intervention . The maths is simple – the quicker people have access to rehabilitation services , the better their chances at getting back to doing the things they need and love to do .’
Layla Moran MP , Chair of the All- Party Parliamentary Group on Coronavirus , said : ‘ These new findings clearly show that the long-term impacts of the virus , including Long Covid , are exacerbating many of the challenges that occupational therapists are facing both in the NHS and beyond .
‘ Healthcare professionals are bearing the brunt of UK Government inaction and as long as Ministers bury their heads in the sand and refuse to address the growing Long Covid crisis , our economy and essential services will be under even greater strain . They must commit more money for research and funding , and recognise the condition as an occupational disease .’
See the key results of the survey at www . rcot . co . uk / rehabilitationworkforce-survey .
84 %
are supporting people whose needs have become more complex due to delayed interventions arising from the pandemic
71 %
of respondents felt there were not enough occupational therapists to meet demand
50 %
are supporting people affected by Long Covid
June 2022 OTnews 11