Commenting on yesterday’s Autumn Statement, Director of Practice and Innovation at the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT), Karin Orman, said:
‘Occupational therapists are essential for helping to identify and address the social, economic and environmental factors which influence people's mental and physical health. These wider determinants of health impact people’s ability to remain in or return to employment.
‘It’s good to see proposals for an occupational health framework, and we hope that occupational therapists will be included in that. Occupational therapists can provide advice and short-term rehabilitation interventions to help people stay in work, as well as being able to sign fit notes.
‘Occupational therapists can also help prevent people dropping out of work and support the long-term unemployed back into work through addressing housing challenges, mental and physical health challenges, and other complex needs.
‘We want to see a range of ways for people with ongoing health conditions to get the advice and support they need, for example, through their GP practice.
‘Of course, it’s important that if people want to work and are able to, they get the right support to do that. However, it’s important to remember that imposing sanctions on someone who is unable to work is only going to damage their physical and mental health, and ultimately place more pressure on services.’
A more detailed analysis of how the Autumn Statement will affect occupational therapists is planned.