Conference Raises Occupational Therapy's Profile
27 June 2011
An occupational therapist at work.
Occupational therapists across the East Midlands region are making a stand to ensure their profession remains firmly in the spotlight amid current proposed health policy changes.
The Coalition Government's plans for NHS reform in England are currently in the headlines - the NHS Future Forum recently having its say on the plans as the debate continues at a national level. The policy principles would give GPs, senior nurses, occupational therapists and other healthcare managers a greater say in the way healthcare services are commissioned and distributed in their local neighbourhoods.
Dozens of health service local commissioners and key representatives from the occupational therapy profession attended the East Midlands Lead Occupational Therapists (EMLOT) conference at the University of Derby's Kedleston Road site last Tuesday.
Keen to promote the profession within a changing healthcare landscape, the event focussed on the implications for allied health professionals around the Government White Paper 'Liberating the NHS'.
It also sought to identify the working relationships with GP commissioners and understand the implications of new systems of workforce planning for occupational therapy.
Jen Lewis-Smith, Head of Occupational Therapy at the University of Derby, said: "We were delighted to be able to host this conference at a critical time for the occupational therapy profession. We need to be able to equip occupational therapists for the future, whatever it may hold. This is an environment where no-one else will be advocating for the profession and those in society who need our services.
"The Occupational Therapist looks to improve a patient's whole quality of life, not just a condition or ailment. The changes an OT introduces for a patient improves their performance in fulfilling the roles and responsibilities in life - it is important this vital role is championed."
Sue Griffiths, Head of Occupational Therapy at Northampton University and coordinator of EMLOT, introduced the context of the day and outlined some of the unique selling points of occupational therapy. There were keynote speeches from Shelagh Morris, Allied Health Professions Officer, from the Department of Health and Peggy Frost, Head of Professional Practice, from the College of Occupational Therapists.
Shelagh set the scene for the current landscape in the health and social care sector and highlighted some potential future directions, while Peggy Frost discussed the tension between the unique selling point of occupational therapy and the provision of multi-disciplinary team service provision.
Tracey Carstairs also presented at the conference on Workforce Planning and Commissioning for pre and post-registration professional education for Occupational Therapists. Tracey works for the East Midlands Strategic Health Authority who are currently key purchasers of occupational therapy related education.
Three GP Consortia presented how clinical commissioning will work in their respective areas: Nene Commissioning in Northamptonshire, West Leicestershire GPCC and Principia in Nottinghamshire. The event provided a valuable networking opportunity for OT managers to exchange best practice and there are plans to launch a network site for members.
In 2008, the University of Derby celebrated 60 years of occupational therapy at the University with a special visit from Princess Anne. Occupational Therapy Education began in Derby in 1948 when local demand enabled the first Derby School of Occupational Therapy to be founded on Ward 9 of the then Derby Royal Infirmary by Miss Iris Fitchett.
It is one of the longest established programmes in the world and one of the largest providers of Occupational Therapy education in the United Kingdom. It is the only Occupational Therapy School ever to have been set up inside the National Health Service.
Derby now has a national and international reputation for Occupational Therapy education and until the regionalisation of Occupational Therapy education in the late 1990s was one of only a handful of training establishments in the United Kingdom where Occupational Therapists could receive their professional education. Graduates of the Derby programmes work across the world and many return to further their professional education at Derby.
Mrs Lewis-Smith said: "As well as highlighting the current issues, it was also an opportunity to promote the value of our graduates and our students to delegates to find out how they can best help in the current climate."
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For more information contact Deputy Head of Corporate Relations Simon Redfern on 01332 591942 or 07748 920038 or email s.redfern@derby.ac.uk
