Occupational Therapy Services - Belfast City Hospital Site

What is Occupational Therapy? “Occupational Therapy is the assessment and treatment of physical and psychiatric conditions using specific, purposeful activity to prevent disability and promote independent function in all aspects of daily life.” NHS Careers http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk Occupational Therapists work with people of all ages who have a physical and/or mental health problem, either from birth or as a result of accident, illness or ageing. The aim of Occupational Therapy is to restore the maximum degree of independence and help such individuals to carry out the activities that they need to do or are important to them in order to lead healthy and fulfilling lives. Irrespective of the particular setting in which they work, occupational therapists work closely with other health professionals and are concerned with how an injury or illness affects an individual’s ability to carry out everyday activities. Occupational therapists help such individuals to become as independent as possible despite their difficulties, by involving the patient in a structured programme of activity to overcome disability. The activity selected will relate to the individual’s personal, social, cultural and economic needs in addition to the environmental factors which govern his/her life. The work is very varied and can involve: • Teaching a patient different techniques for getting washed and dressed • Helping people to learn new ways of doing things e.g. energy conservation techniques and stress management • Enabling someone to develop social skills, self confidence and positive coping strategies, areas which may be affected by mental ill health • Assisting an ageing couple to care for one another in their own home • Making a splint to reduce deformities and increase hand function • Use of computer technology to improve upper limb function • Assessing and treating memory and perceptual difficulties • Assessment for and provision of equipment • Training in alternative techniques and use of devices to increase independence • Advice to patients and carers • Completing a home assessment prior to discharge to ensure that required equipment and adaptations are in place

Location & Contact details: On the Belfast City Hospital site occupational therapy staff are based in four different locations which include:

Tower Block – service is provided to: - Accident & Emergency - Acute Medical & Respiratory Wards - Surgical Wards including vascular, urology, gynae and breast care unit - Cardiology Inpatients - Stroke Unit and Elderly Care Rehabilitation Ward - Renal Inpatients - Rheumatology Outpatients - Pulmonary Rehabilitation Programme - NI Regional Muscle Clinic/Neurology Outpatients - Falls Prevention Initiatives - Pain Management Programme - Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Service Contact Details:- Telephone 028 90263519 (direct line) or Hospital Switchboard 028 90329241 ext: 2277/2519

Elderly Care Unit - service is provided to: - Inpatients - Falls Clinic and Falls Class - Elderly Care Day Hospital - Memory Rehabilitation Programme Contact Details: - Telephone 028 90329241 ext: 2771

Northern Ireland Cancer Centre - service is provided to: - Oncology Inpatients - Haematology Inpatients – located on level 10 in Tower Block - Oncology & Haematology Outpatients - Oncology & haematology patients attending the ‘Bridgewater’ Day Hospital Contact details: - Telephone 028 90699211 (direct line)

Windsor House (Mental Health Unit) - staff in this department provide a service to: - Inpatients - Outpatients - South Belfast Day Hospital - Job Clinic Contact Details: - Telephone 208 90329241 Ext: 2714

• In all areas staff are actively involved in a variety of quality and governance activities including CPD, clinical audit and preceptorship programmes. • OT staff on BCH site are also actively involved in College of Occupational Therapists activities including OT Specialist Sections and the N.I. Board of the College of Occupational Therapists. In addition staff also represent the profession on a number of regional working groups including oncology, stroke and cardiology. • Professional Practice Education is provided for OT Students in all locations. • All Band 5 (Basic Grade) OT and OT Assistant posts are rotational, each rotation being 6 months • For further information on occupational Therapy go to the College of Occupational Therapy website: www.cot.co.uk or for information on Occupational Therapy as a career go to: www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/details/default.aspx?Id=284 The e-mail address for all the Occupational Therapy Department is: occupationalbch.therapy@belfasttrust.hscni.net v1.2