Occupational therapists work very closely with the whole of the medical team including doctors, physiotherapists, speech and language, dieticians, social workers and community services to support patients at home.

This is available with a consultant referral at Stoke Mandeville, High Wycombe and Amersham hospitals in the inpatient areas of orthopaedics, medicine, stroke and neurological treatment and general rehabilitation and in the in and outpatient areas of burns and plastics and rheumatology.

Click here for children and young people's occupational therapy service.

Medicine

Patients are referred by a consultant and then assessed for their specific individual needs and their abilities required for discharge. This includes the effect of the medical condition, role and responsibilities at home and their home environment. Various aspects may then be further assessed e.g. ability to manage personal care, make a meal/hot drink and equipment may be provided to support safety and to increase independence. Community services may be contacted to gain support and care for the short or long term.

Orthopaedics

There are trauma orthopaedic services at Stoke Mandeville – these are for treating patients who may have been in a traffic accident, fallen or had another traumatic fracture. Elective orthopaedics at High Wycombe Hospital – these are services for patients with planned admissions, e.g. total hip replacement, knee replacement or back operation.

The occupational therapist assesses patients who are referred by a consultant for their specific individual needs and their abilities required for discharge. This may include the effect of the fractures and other conditions they may have, role and responsibilities at home and their home environment. Various aspects may then be further assessed e.g. ability to manage personal care, make a meal/hot drink and equipment may be provided to support safety and to increase independence. Community services may be contacted to gain support and care for the short or long term.

Stroke and neurology

There are occupational therapy services on all hospital sites treat stroke patients. Patients are referred by a consultant and assessed for their specific individual needs and their abilities required for discharge. This includes the effect of the stroke/neurological condition which may be physical, sensory, ability to think and understand clearly or psychological and emotional effects. Role and responsibilities at home and their home environment are assessed. Goal plans are usually devised with the patients and jointly treated with the physiotherapists. Various aspects may then be further assessed e.g. ability to manage personal care, make a meal/hot drink and equipment and home visits may be provided to support safety and to increase independence. Community services may be contacted to gain support and care for the short or long term.

Acute rehabilitation

Occupational therapy services on all hospital sites treat patients on the rehabilitation wards. The patients on these wards have normally been transferred from the acute wards because they require a little more time to progress their abilities with activities to achieve a safer discharge. The occupational therapist would assess patients who are referred by a consultant for their specific individual needs and their abilities required for discharge. This includes the effect of the fracture, medical condition or other e.g. stroke, role and responsibilities at home and their home environment. The effect of a stroke/neurological condition may be physical, sensory, ability think and understand clearly or psychological and emotional. Goal plans are usually devised with the patients and jointly treated with the physiotherapist. Various aspects may then be further assessed with a physiotherapist e.g. ability to walk, transfer from one place to another, manage personal care, make a meal/hot drink and equipment may be provided to support safety and to increase independence. Community services may be contacted to gain support and care for the short or long term.

Burns and plastics and rheumatology

This service is based at Stoke Mandeville Hospital. Occupational therapists and physiotherapists work alongside each other. They would assess the patients referred by a consultant as inpatients and outpatients and the main role of the occupational therapist is to assess the restrictions caused by the burn, hand condition or general body weakness and stiffness from a rheumatology condition. They would then treat them using specially made garments and braces/splints to protect vulnerable skin, increase range movement or maintain ability. They would also give patients individualised advice and guidance on energy conservation and protecting their joints.