Editor ’ s note
Editor ’ s note
Welcome to OTnews
This issue , I ’ m excited to share some of the fabulous work members of our occupational therapy community are doing in emerging areas of practice , alongside service developments in more traditional settings .
Occupational therapists change people ’ s lives . But few GP practices have occupational therapists and this needs to change fast . RCOT has been calling for primary care to value the life-changing power of occupational therapy .
In this issue , we hear from a group of occupational therapists on the development of a new service within certain GP practices in NHS Ayrshire and Aran . Turn to pages 44-45 to read more about The Working Together Occupational Therapy service , which offers short-term input , and its successes to date .
Moving to the topic of an occupational therapist ’ s role in public health , Jessica Oglethorpe is on a learning journey to expand her practice . She reflects on her passion for this area of practice and analyses the parallels and common language between the two disciplines . See pages 20-23 .
Then we hear from Maya Caan and Emily Kenworthy , who illustrate the role of occupational therapists in an occupational health setting and look at the profession ’ s vital contribution in this area , through their differing experiences as a student and practitioner ( pages 24-27 ).
We also have a Q & A with Natalie Norman on valuing and developing our support workforce . On pages 38-39 , Natalie , an Occupational Therapy Assistant for Gateshead Council , shares her journey as a degree apprentice , in the hope of inspiring anyone wishing to progress in their careers and gain formal qualifications without having to give up work . While on pages 29-31 , support workers in Devon are celebrated for their dedication to developing inpatient service provision .
Discover how Northumbria University ’ s Affinity Project Internship , launched in early 2023 , is giving students their say on equity , diversity and belonging on pages 48-49 .
And finally , our cover story this month is from Katie Skelton , who has joined a new community-based treatment and research centre , located in Canterbury , that offers a range of non-drug therapies for Parkinson ’ s , all under one roof .
Occupational therapy is an integral part of the service , and she shares how her role is developing within this exciting new opportunity . Turn to pages 18-19 to see how she ’ s getting on .
Tracey Samuels Editor
I ’ d love to hear from you
Cover image : © nattrass 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
September 2023 OTnews 3