Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapy image occupational_therapy

Home » Services » Occupational Therapy

Our Occupational Therapy (OT) service runs across all three hospital sites, covering both inpatient and outpatient areas.

An Occupational Therapist can identify problem areas you may have in everyday life, such as dressing or getting to the shops, and will help you to work out practical solutions.

  • Our Occupational Therapy service

    By using different techniques, changing your environment and using new equipment, an Occupational Therapist can help you regain or improve your independence.

    Our service offers an enthusiastic workforce who strives for the best and most appropriate outcome for their patients. Whether that’s getting them to their own home with complex equipment and a package of care, or working with them to get the best outcome following a change in health, functional ability or a condition.

    We offer good evidence-based practical advice which is clearly appreciated by our patients and their carers. We work across all age groups at both inpatient and outpatient levels.

    We have access to standard and specialist equipment, including wheelchairs, to assist patients in their recovery and independence. In many cases we deliver and fit equipment at short notice to enhance the patient’s discharge from the acute hospital setting.

    There are a number of Occupational Therapy departments within the Alexandra, Kidderminster and Worcestershire Royal Hospitals. When necessary, we do visits to patients' homes to facilitate discharge from hospital. However, we are not community based and therefore do not get involved in major adaptations to home environments but can sign post or refer on to community services when necessary.

    OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY DEPARTMENTS & CONTACT DETAILS

    Occupational Therapy Manager – Telephone: 01905 760624

    Worcestershire Royal Hospital:

    Medicine & Surgery: 01905 760667
    Trauma & Orthopaedics: 01905 760170
    Outpatients, Aconbury West: 01905 760683
    Highfield Rheumatology Out-Patients: 01905 760462

    Alexandra Hospital: 01527 512146

    Kidderminster Hospital: 01562 826348 Working Hours: 08:30-16:30 Monday-Friday and on Bank Holidays excluding Christmas Day.

  • Services we support

    Our Occupational Therapy service works with the following departments in our hospitals to ensure patients receive the best possible treatment.

    Children's services

    Children are seen within the speciality of the referrer. Most referrals come via the trauma team or neurology.

    Intensive Care

    Patients are seen as part of the rehabilitation pathway. This involves a comprehensive assessment and intervention is provided to meet a patient’s physical, cognitive and psychological difficulties as a result of a complex illness and critical care admission. We work closely with the Multi-disciplinary team and continue to treat patients when they are stepped down onto other wards to continue with their rehabilitation and discharge planning.  

    Medicine and surgery

    This service provides care to any inpatient under the speciality. We ensure that patients are able to continue their recovery and cope at home after discharge. We recommend further rehabilitation if a patient is unable to return home immediately.

    Palliative care

    The emphasis for our service in this speciality is to assist patients and carers to provide care in accordance with the patient’s wishes. This frequently involves setting up the home environment to receive the patient home, so that they can be cared for in their home setting.  This is often carried out at very short notice so patients can return home quickly.

    Stroke

    Patients are seen very early after a stroke, with an emphasis on positioning, mobility, cognition problems and regaining self-care skills. We also refer on to the longer term stroke rehabilitation teams around the county, they continue this work after a patient is discharged from the acute hospital.

    Neuro-Rehabilitation

    Patients with a new Neurological diagnosis or change in their Neurological condition are assessed with a Neuro-Rehabilitation Physiotherapist. We work closely with Physiotherapists to provide rehabilitation to enable the patient to return home or to a rehabilitation service and refer onto community services as required.

    Trauma and orthopaedics

    We provide a service covering all inpatient areas to ensure patients are able to return home safely to continue their recovery, or to a rehabilitation service, after elective surgery or a traumatic injury. This covers anything from total hip replacements, through to fractures and head injuries. 

    Vascular

    Patients are seen within the vascular unit and again assessed and prepared for return home to continue their recovery, or onto rehabilitation. Our work here may involve minor adaptations to the patient’s home to enable discharge following surgery such as limb amputation.

    Frailty

    Occupational Therapists working in Frailty are part of a skilled Multi-Disciplinary Team. We provide Patient-Centred assessments with the aim to return people to their home environment as quickly and safely as possible.

    Using the Bournemouth Criteria we recognise that seemingly small events, such as falls can have a huge impact on a person’s wellbeing and ability to cope with the routines of daily life.

    Our goal is to rehabilitate patients in order to avoid lengthy hospital stays as these can lead to deconditioning. In order to better facilitate the return home we are developing close links with our community colleagues.

  • Clinics and specialties

    We provide a range of outpatient Occupational Therapy services to support you in your recovery.

    You can access any of the following services following a referral from your consultant or GP.

    Cardiac rehabilitation

    We provide input into the cardiac rehabilitation programme run by the cardiac nurses countywide. This involves patient education, relaxation and stress relief advice, as well as assisting with the exercise classes.

    Driving

    We provide a driver screening assessment available via both GPs and consultants to assess patients’ cognitive abilities. We use a standardised assessment called the Rookwood Driver Screening Assessment. We can then go on to organise in-car assessments using the patient’s own vehicle, or in-car assessment using cars with adaptations, both of which can be assessed within Worcester.

    Hand injury/surgery

    Patients can be referred via consultants and GPs for hand splinting, education and hand therapy aiding recovery after an injury.

    Head injury therapy service (HITS)

    This service offers contact to head injury patients who attended A&E at the Alexandra or Worcestershire Royal or the minor injuries unit at Kidderminster.

    The patients are initially contacted by telephone and any residual symptoms are discussed and support is provided to manage symptoms. The Occupational Therapists can also seek advice from consultants, recommend patients visit their GP or provide an appointment with an Occupational Therapist. An Occupational Therapist can support with returning to full activity levels, including work, which can involve cognitive assessment and treatment.

    Neurology

    This service provides assessment and intervention for patients who have difficulties with functional tasks and cognitive symptoms as a result of a Neurological diagnosis. This can involve support with returning to driving, improving cognitive skills, upper limb function and upper limb splinting.

    We often assist the community teams if patients have issues returning to work. We also assess driving, using the Rookwood Driver Screening Assessment and/or in-car assessment, as described above.

    Intensive Care Follow Up Clinic

    Patients who had been admitted onto Intensive Care are reviewed in a follow up clinic. We work with a Physiotherapist, critical care consultant and specialist nurses to review a patient’s progress and provide advice and intervention to meet any on-going needs that are having an impact on functional ability, and support with returning to work, driving and leisure activities.

    Falls clinic

    Patients over the age of 65 who have a history of current and unexplained falls are referred by GP’s and other Health Professionals to the falls clinic. Patients are provided with a comprehensive Multi-disciplinary assessment with a Consultant, Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist and Nurse to identify the factors contributing to falls. Patients are provided with advice and equipment to help reduce the risk of falls and are often visited at home following the clinic for an assessment of their home environment.

    Pre-operative elective orthopaedics

    We run pre-operative patient clinics where patients awaiting surgery are seen and assessed when they visit the pre-operative nurses. We provide practical assessment and advice and reinforce any post-operative precautions. The patients are then provided with any equipment they will require at home to enhance recovery upon discharge. This is all completed before they are admitted.

    We also work with nurses and physiotherapists to provide input into the patient joint school. This is an educational group session for patients that provides information about surgery, post-operative precautions and allows patients to learn about the impact surgery can have on daily life.

    Rheumatology

    More information is available for our Rheumatology Service

  • Occupational therapy information leaflets
  • Equipment returns

    If you have been loaned an item of equipment by an Occupational Therapist please ensure that you return it promptly when you no longer require it. 

    Details of where the equipment has come from and who to contact to arrange a return can be found on the label on the equipment itself and also on the information leaflet which was provided when the equipment was issued. 

    The contact details are also listed below:

    • Worcestershire Community Equipment Service - 01527 869104
    • Warwickshire Community Equipment Service - 03333 218986
    • Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust owned equipment 
      If you have been issued with hospital owned equipment on a short term basis to facilitate your hospital discharge (for example wheelchairs and baby monitors) please contact the Occupational Therapy assistants to arrange a return.
      • Alexandra Hospital – 01527 512146
      • Kidderminster Hospital and Treatment Centre – 01562 826348
      • Worcestershire Royal Hospital – 01905 760462
  • Useful contact details

    British Red Cross

    Telephone: 01905 450400

    https://www.redcross.org.uk/get-help/get-support-at-home##

     

    Age UK Herefordshire & Worcestershire

    Telephone: 0800 008 6077

    https://www.ageuk.org.uk/herefordshireandworcestershire/

     

    Stroke Association

    Telephone: 01527 903716

    https://www.stroke.org.uk/finding-support/clubs-and-groups/worcestershire-stroke-recovery-service

     

    Redditch & Bromsgrove Council Lifelines

    Telephone: 01527 534060

    http://www.housingcare.org/service/ser-info-663-redditch-lifelin.aspx

     

    Community Occupational Therapy (Worcester, Droitwich, Pershore, Evesham)

    Telephone: 01905 681637 (Available 09:30-12:30 Monday – Friday)

     

    Community Occupational Therapy (Redditch & Bromsgrove)

    Telephone: 01527 488016 (Available 09:30-12:30 Monday – Friday)

     

    Community Occupational Therapy (Wyre Forest)

    Telephone: 01562 513265 (Available 09:30-12:30 Monday – Friday)

     

  • Deb's experiences with brain injury, surgery and recovery

    Deb has been working with our Occupational Therapy team on her recovery following surgeries for her brain aneurysm. 

    From intense feelings of fear and death to feeling fortunate and proud, these videos are a glimpse as-to how life changing Deb's experiences have been for her since being diagnosed with a brain injury, surviving brain surgeries and progressing with her recovery. 

    Follow Deb's journey on YouTube.

    Commitment to wellbeing and returning to work

    Where I am in my recovery

    My team, family and professionals

  • Social media

    Follow our Occupational Therapy team on Twitter @WAHT_OT

    Like our Occupational Therapy team on Facebook @worcsacuteOT