Occupational Therapy Week 2021 – which takes place 1-7 November – will see the launch of a new health equity campaign #OTsFor Equity.
The Covid pandemic has increased public awareness of health inequalities and highlighted the relationship and impact of poverty, deprivation, employment and housing on health and mortality. In the course of their work, occupational therapists see health inequalities every day and are uniquely placed to understand the challenges people face in their everyday lives, home environments and work or education.
As we recover and rebuild from the pandemic, NHS Lanarkshire occupational therapists have celebrated some of the amazing work they have been doing to address health equity. Some of the examples are listed below:
- NHS Lanarkshire primary care occupational therapy team has enhanced access to early occupational therapy support in GP practices;
- South Lanarkshire Council occupational therapists have been working with housing planners to shape the design of new care facilities and housing in St Joseph’s, Blantyre;
- NHS Lanarkshire children and young people’s occupational therapy team has enhanced access to information and support through digital and social media developments;
- Mental health, addictions and learning disability occupational therapists have become more trauma informed and focusing on environments, relationships, wellbeing and work.
Janice McClymont, head of profession, occupational therapy services, said: “Health equity is all our business and is one of the priorities for the occupational therapy profession in 2022.
“As the UK recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic, it is increasingly evident that people who have been disadvantaged by social and economic factors have been hit hardest. Occupational therapists can reduce the impact of existing inequalities on people’s health outcomes and life expectancies by increasing their ability to access and participate in meaningful and productive occupations across their lifespan.
“Now more than ever, this is the time for occupational therapists to utilise their unique expertise in mental and physical health and their understanding of environmental and social factors to offer innovative public health solutions and enable people to live life to their fullest potential.”
For further information please email janice.mcclymont@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk
