Welcome to OTnews
This year marks a big year for Pride . It has been 50 years since the first Pride in the UK in 1972 . Much progress has been made and much more still needs to come . We have changed the ‘ O ’ in our logo on the cover this month to show solidarity with our LGBTQIA + members , staff and people everywhere .
The flag we ’ ve used is the most recent inclusive Pride flag , showcasing the diversity and expanse of the LGBTQIA + community (
www . rcot . co . uk / news / rcot-celebrates-pride-month ). And in this issue , Thomas Williams talks about being ‘ passionate ’ about improving the lives of people affected by dementia who identify as LGBTQ +.
A founding member and ex-chair of the volunteer-led LGBTQ + Dementia Advisory Group , he highlights the group ’ s aims and reflects on a recent twopart webinar to raise awareness of the intersection of LGBTQ + identities and dementia . Turn to page 24 to find out more about how to get involved .
Elsewhere this month , I talk to Teresa Blunt and Gemma Dorer , professional lead occupational therapists with Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust , about the innovative use of winter pressures funding to establish occupational therapy-led Home First teams on the acute mental health wards .
The money was used to provide additional occupational therapy input to each of the later life wards , giving the teams capacity for up to four weeks of postdischarge occupational therapy intervention for later life clients and their carers , to support earlier and safer discharge . Turn to page 16 to see how they got the project off the ground and what they have learned along the way .
We also hear from Hattie Stevens and Helen Rostron , both primary care network occupational therapists working in Somerset . The county has taken the opportunity to secure funding for occupational therapists in primary care using the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme , which was designed to expand the primary care work force and enable more proactive , personalised and integrated health and social care . Starting on page 20 , they talk about their ‘ exciting and unique ’ role .
We hope you enjoy this month ’ s issue and don ’ t forget , if you want to contribute to a future issue , please get in touch .
I ’ d love to hear from you
Cover image : Ridofranz via Getty Images
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
June 2022 OTnews 3