Katie Bruce charts the journey of a new children ’ s occupational therapy trauma team through its first year .
Giving life back
Katie Bruce charts the journey of a new children ’ s occupational therapy trauma team through its first year .
T he Chief Medical Officer ’ s report in Scotland , Saving lives , giving life back ( 2017 ), set out the plan for a National Trauma Network to drive forward improvement in trauma care , supported through standards for trauma care and key performance indicators .
The South East Regional Network component of the Scottish Trauma Network has two Major Trauma Centres , which provide specialist major trauma care to both adults and children .
Following a major or moderate medical trauma it is recognised that rehabilitation is essential for children and young people to address the physical and psychosocial needs resulting from their injuries and experiences , and is a key component outlined within the standards for the creation of the major trauma service ( Scottish Trauma Network 2017 ).
Without such input children and young people are less likely to achieve their full potential and achieve their maximum levels of function .
The National Implementation Plan ( Scottish Trauma Network 2013 ) highlights that children and young people who sustain major or moderate trauma have better medium and long-term functional outcomes if they receive prompt input from a specialist multidisciplinary team .
In addition to supporting the physical rehabilitation and the impact this has on the child and young person ’ s ability to participate in everyday activities , it is recognised that these children , and their families , are at significant risk or experiencing medium to long-term psychological distress .
Those who sustain an acquired brain injury are also at risk of additional problems with cognitive
function , social functioning and behaviour , which in turn may impact on their ability to engage in the rehabilitation process .
Service delivery
In 2021 , a dedicated Major Trauma Service was created within children ’ s services and an Advanced Occupational Therapy Practitioner , Band 6 Occupational Therapist and Occupational Therapy Assistant Practitioner were appointed . The Major Trauma Service was launched on 30 August 2021 , where the unit went live with relevant pathways and documentation . An enhanced pathway was developed , including early assessment and intervention , rehabilitation , discharge planning and evaluation .
The occupational therapy team identified a vision by compiling a driver diagram , with an aim and key change ideas ; the aim being that , by September 2022 , the Trauma Occupational Therapy service would evidence progress in relation to timely access to service , delivering on the ambitions of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child , and the Scottish Trauma Network key performance indicators .
Key change ideas Identified
First , documentation was reviewed and adapted to collate information from initial triage . A new triage and assessment sheet was produced , which could hold the key information gained .
A spreadsheet was developed to collect data for cases seen in occupational therapy , including whether there was a request for assistance , or input was identified by the occupational therapist screening the medical case record .
42 OTnews June 2023