Occupational therapy services to general medicine

What we do

The Occupational Therapy team for General Medicine work with adult patients who may have problems associated with Cardiac, Respiratory, Renal/Gastroenterology, Haematology or Oncology conditions.  We work very closely as a team to facilitate safe and timely discharges.

Medical Occupational Therapists are involved with:

• Carrying out functional and cognitive assessments when appropriate
• Carrying out assessments in determining the level of care the patient may require for home on discharge
• Determining whether further rehabilitation is required either within the patient’s home environment or would benefit for an inpatient rehabilitation unit
• Working with terminally ill patients and implementing appropriate intervention
• Wheelchair assessments and ordering appropriate wheelchair.  When more complex wheelchairs are required we will refer onto the Wheelchair Centre for further assessments
• Discharge planning of patients which can very often be complex
• Assessment for and the fitting of all relevant equipment where and when appropriate
• Demonstrating safe use and fitting of equipment to patients, family and carers
• Assessment for and the ordering of equipment to be delivered to a patient’s home
• Assessment for and the provision of appropriate hoists and slings
• Facilitating a lifestyle management session as part of the Pulmonary Rehabilitation group which takes place in the community
• The use of Oxygen Therapy with patients on the wards as appropriate
• Making referrals to community therapists and other professionals to follow up patients at home post-discharge

Where we are

We are a hospital based inpatient service covering 4 speciality wards of: Cardiology & Coronary Care Unit, Respiratory, Renal/Gastroenterology, Haematology/ Oncology and we also have patients who will be seen on outlying wards.