Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapy is the treatment of physical and
psychiatric conditions through specific activities to help people
reach their maximum level of function and independence.
The Occupational Therapy service consists of a team of 30
covering inpatients and outpatients from paediatrics to the care of
the elderly services. We work within specialist teams - each lead
by a Team Leader or Clinical Specialist.
Referrals received from consultants, GP's (open access service)
and contracts in place with private agencies and individual nursing
homes. Full service available, including provision of a specialist
splinting service, scar/oedema management, functional
rehabilitation, home management, and workshop activities.
Our Guiding Principles
To maximise the contribution of the Countess of Chester Hospital
amongst the community it serves, by providing the highest possible
quality of clinical services.
To serve patients and their relatives as individuals under the
Patients Charter, with a particular emphasis upon achieving the
highest ethical standards, including rights to confidentiality,
information and personal dignity.
To enable staff to give of their best, recognising the
importance of good communications and ensuring that they are fairly
regarded, and recognising the importance of non-pay conditions of
service.
To provide our Hospital services in a safe and attractive
environment whilst continuing to operate as a centre of
excellence.
To secure a sound financial base upon which to provide clinical
services by ensuring that income matches expenditure at all
times.
Continuing Professional Development
All occupational therapy staff are expected to practise
according to the Professional College of Occupational Therapists
code of ethics and also take a monthly session specifically
focusing on continuing professional development.
The department in the past two years has carried out the
following audits.
- Falls prevention
- Bathing assessments
- Cognition and treatment
- In-patient referrals
- Referral criteria
The use of evidence has led us to develop:
- Protocols for out-patients who are referred with specific
osteoarthritic changes
- Protocols for each type of hip replacement carried out in
COCH
All specialist teams strive for evidence-based treatments and
hold regular training sessions and journal clubs.
The department has a clear supervision structure, which involves
all staff members.
Developments
The inpatient service is now operating a purely electronic
recording system, using the Hospital 's Meditech system. It
includes all Occupational therapy intervention and equipment and
taxi ordering. Hospital staff refer to OT through the system for a
timely response.
The department is aiming for outpatient and paediatric
occupational therapy services to have an electronic record in the
next 12 months.
Occupational Therapy in Cheshire West now has a joint
organisational rotation for basic and senior 2 grades. Basic grade
rotation includes: acute physical, rehabilitative physical -
inpatients and community. Senior 2 rotation includes acute
inpatients, rehabilitation inpatients and community. There are 2
senior rotations - medical and neurology.
Inpatient Services
Medical
Staffing: Team Leader, Senior II, basic grade and assistant - We
cover 8 medical wards, medical assessment unit and coronary care
unit. These are a mix of acute general, elderly medicine, neurology
and rheumatology.
Surgery
Staffing: Team Leader, Senior II, basic grade and technical
instructor - We cover 5 acute surgical wards. The team provides
intensive input to amputees carrying out pre and post operative
intervention, cover on HDU, ITU and plastic surgery, as well as
general surgery. Treatment programmes are continued on discharge
from our artificial limb appliance clinic.
Rapid Response
Staffing: Senior II - This service commenced in 1994 accepting
referrals for rapid intervention from accident and emergency and
the community. Our Hospital team carry out all Accident and
Emergency referrals whilst our community colleagues see GP
referrals. The service has now extended to weekends and evenings,
and all staff are involved in the on-call rota.
Orthopaedics
Staffing: Team Leader, Senior OT, basic grade and Occupational
Therapy Helper - The service covers two acute orthopaedic wards for
trauma and elective cases and an intermediate care orthopaedic
scheme. The Occupational Therapists provide a comprehensive
pre-operative group for total hip replacement cases. Occupational
Therapy also provides a service to the local Grosvenor Nuffield
Hospital.
Neurology
Staffing: Team Leader, Senior II, basic grade and Technical
Instructor - The neurological team covers all neurological patients
within the inpatient area although the majority of work is within
the acute stroke area. The team has developed a care pathway and
has a weekly joint agency multi disciplinary team meeting to
monitor rehabilitation development of patients.
Also covered: Paediatrics, Gynaecology, A & E and Discharge
Liaison, and other specialities as requested.
Outpatient Services
The outpatient service includes referrals from Rheumatology
Consultants, Hand Surgeons, GP's and private sector. The team
consists of Technical Instructors, Senior II, Team Leader and a
Clinical Specialist.
Hand Therapy
The Occupational Therapy department offers a rehabilitation
service to patients who have suffered upper limb trauma and
elective surgery. The service offers a specialised splinting
service, functional assessment and rehabilitation, scar/oedema
management including pressure garment provision and work assessment
/ work hardening programmes.
Rheumatology
Occupational Therapists in Rheumatology work in a multi
disciplinary team with Physiotherapists and Nurses. Patients can be
seen at home or work environments if necessary. Inpatients are also
referred as necessary. The Therapists work within Consultant led
clinics and Nurse/ Therapy clinics.
Day Hospital for Elderly
Staffing: Team Leader, Senior II and Helper - This is a unit
providing assessment, monitoring and rehabilitation for 15 Patients
daily.
OPRA (Older Persons Rapid Assessment Clinic)
This clinic provides a rapid multi disciplinary assessment led
by a Consultant in care of the elderly. GP's can refer and receive
completed intervention within one week.
Falls
An 8-week programme led by an Occupational Therapist,
Physiotherapist and Nurse. Health topics related to falls are
discussed together with a rehabilitation programme.
Rehabilitation Workshop
The department has a small rehabilitation workshop, which offers
five sessions a week for patients with a wide range of conditions
including upper limb and neurological conditions. The workshop aims
to improve patient's function and psychological well being through
purposeful activity.
Paediatrics
Staffing: Clinical Specialist and three Senior Occupational
Therapists - This service is provided to special school attenders,
child development centre, and outpatients including special needs
in mainstream schools. The paediatric service includes intervention
to two special schools, child development centre, and a
comprehensive outpatient service between ages 0 to 16.
A service review was carried out in 2003 whereby the service
adapted its practice to ensure a higher degree of efficiency and
quality.