Commenting on new data from NHS England showing that waiting lists and emergency care demand have reached record highs, Head of Practice and Workforce at the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT), Suhailah Mohamed, said:
‘This is the result of too many short-term decisions and not enough long-term thinking. The NHS is being damaged and patients are being put at risk by decisions about the funding of healthcare services, a lack of investment in the upskilling of staff post-pandemic, and placing too many staff in crisis and emergency services, rather than community services.
‘Sadly, these statistics aren’t surprising, but better use of the occupational therapy workforce, and other allied health professionals, could provide a solution to the pinch points within our health and care systems.
‘If people are seen by occupational therapists, we can help prevent admission to hospital and, following admission, can help facilitate early discharge. Our focus on keeping people in their communities and helping them do the occupations they need and want to do means we reduce the burden on inpatient services by assessing people’s needs and directing them to the services that could help them.
‘Occupational therapists are also trained in both physical and mental health, meaning they can work across different health services to help reduce duplication. It allows us to offer holistic interventions at the point of contact with people accessing services. That’s why we’re screaming out for more occupational therapists, placed where they’re needed and can make the biggest difference.’