News
RCOT calls for decision-makers , service leaders and practitioners in Wales to ‘ co-operate ’ and ‘ re-imagine services ’
In April , RCOT launched its Roots of Recovery report in Wales with an informal drop-in session at the Senedd Cymru / Welsh Parliament , where Dai Davies , RCOT Professional Practice Lead – Wales , alongside RCOT members Paul Dunning , Amanda Atkinson , Cari Sawyer and Alexis Conn , were able to talk about the report and the work occupational therapists do with 22 Members of the Senedd and the Health Minister .
Politicians were given the key messages that health inequalities are unfair and unjust , particularly when poor health itself is the result of factors that can be changed , such as access to education , work , or suitable housing .
Also , that interventions to reduce health inequalities are cost effective , not just in reducing longer term health or social care costs , but also in reducing the social and community costs , such as harmful behaviour or substance misuse .
Some statistics around health inequalities in Wales that were shared at the drop-in event included :
• Health inequalities cost the Welsh NHS £ 322 million every year .
• Wales now has the worst child poverty rate of all the UK nations ( 31 %).
• One in 10 Welsh households live in insecure housing .
• Almost 60 % of adults in Wales are living with overweight or obesity , and the full social cost of obesity to Wales is around £ 3 billion a year .
• 12 % of Welsh households are at least one month behind on a bill .
• Child poverty has increased in 20 of 22 local authorities over the past five years .
‘ Integrated and co-ordinated action are central themes of Welsh legislation , but too often collaboration is still limited and patchy ,’ Dai told OTnews . ‘ Prevention and early intervention are also central themes across Welsh public policy , but too great a proportion of funding is still directed towards secondary care .
‘ Effective action to address health inequalities requires bringing Wales ’ s collective resources together in a focused , coordinated , and shared effort . The Welsh Government must bridge the gap between policy and delivery .’
He added : ‘ RCOT is calling for decisionmakers , service leaders and practitioners across all sectors in Wales to co-operate , working with their local communities , to re-imagine services in a way that will help to improve health inequalities and health outcomes for everyone .
‘ By instructing the expertise of allied health professionals at an early stage , planners and decision-makers will save time and money .’
12 %
of Welsh households are at least one month behind on a bill
Almost
60 %
of adults in Wales are living with overweight or obesity , and the full social cost of obesity to Wales is around £ 3 billion a year
Below left to right : Alexis Conn , Eluned Morgan MS , Minister for Health and Social Care , Dai Davies and Richard Fernandez
In discussions on how occupational therapy can help address health inequalities , Members of the Senned were told that organisations and services must take a collaborative approach to planning for housing , education , and health occupations ; ‘ No more silos ’ should apply to all areas across health and social care .
In addition , RCOT said occupational therapists must be at the table to provide their expertise and to advise on the best use of resources , ensuring service-users receive the best care . And that senior occupational therapists must have the scope to work with their counterparts across sectors to effectively use and combine their knowledge and resources .
June 2022 OTnews 13