Occupational Therapy - Eastern services
Occupational therapy provides practical support to empower people to aid their recovery and to overcome barriers preventing them from doing the activities (or occupations) that matter to them. This could be essential day-to-day tasks such as self-care, for example preparing a meal, work or leisure. This support increases people's independence, safety and satisfaction in all aspects of life.
Patients may have cognitive, physical or psychological impairments.
More about us
Our Occupational Therapists (OTs) support patients through a combination of assessment, rehabilitation, education and advice to help people maximise their independence and resume their daily living.
Our OT teams work across inpatient and outpatient areas and provide:
- Specialist assessments which identify where patients need support to enable them to carry out personal and domestic activities.
- Equipment and adaptive techniques.
- Cognitive and perceptual assessment in relation to functional tasks.
- Rehabilitation programmes including goal setting.
- Education and support.
- Signposting and referral onto other services where indicated.
We have specialist teams working across the following areas:
Respiratory and acute medicine
We support functional abilities to manage acute, chronic and life-limiting conditions for patients with sudden onset respiratory infections, deterioration with renal or liver disease, patients with cardiac conditions, which affects their ability to manage independently.
Healthcare for older people
We offer help with dementia support and complex discharge planning.
Oncology
We support ward-based assessments and outpatient therapy as part of living with and beyond cancer, as well as enhanced supportive care.
Neurology and stroke
We support rehabilitation of arm deficits and cognitive assessment and therapy to reduce the impact of these difficulties on social participation. These services are based across our acute wards for patients with head injuries or long term conditions. Those requiring longer term intensive rehabilitation are supported at the Mardon Centre.
Hand therapy
We provide specialised assessment and treatment of patients individually or in groups for patients who have had surgery, a traumatic injury (such as a tendon cut by a knife), or who have a chronic rheumatology or a pain condition.
Trauma and orthopaedics
We provide assessment and rehabilitation to a variety of patients, admitted to hospital because of a traumatic accident (for example road traffic accident or a fall) or those undergoing planned surgery (elective). The therapy team works closely with specialists across the hospital to promote independence and early discharge.
Surgery
We provide home assessment and advice on any additional care that might be required following surgical intervention across a number of ward teams.
Pain Management Rehabilitation Team
We work with people who have persistent pain to help their understanding of the pain. We also share and offer advice on a range of self-management strategies to help people to work towards their goals.
Treatments
Within our outpatient department, we have hand therapy and pain management services - both of which have occupational therapists based in the team.
The hand service includes upper limb treatment, including splinting and scar management. We also run group sessions to maximise rehabilitation.
The pain management team work with people who have persistent pain.
We offer a range of treatment options including individual and/ or group based programmes.
Meet the team
Occupational Therapists work as a key part of the hospital multi-disciplinary team across many specialities.
The acute occupational team is part of the acute therapy service, managed by Ros Wade (Head of Acute Therapies). It is operationally managed by Hannah Jacks, Head of Acute Occupational Therapy.
Our Community Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy team is integrated with social care and community nursing.
Each specialist area has a clinical lead, supported by specialist team leads, rotational junior staff and skilled unregistered staff to provide the range of interventions patients require. We also support students on placement from university.
OTs employed by the RD&E see people who are medically unwell, people with long term conditions and those who have had surgery. OTs employed by other services see people with mental health illnesses and learning disabilities, children and people needing major adaptations to their home.
Where to find us
RD&E Wonford, Barrack Rd, Exeter EX2 5DW
Our inpatient occupational therapists are based in the therapy department, Level 0 Area J; we work across all ward areas at Wonford Hospital and at Mardon.
We also work in the following areas:
- Our pain management team is based at RD&E Heavitree, Gladstone Rd, Exeter EX1 2ED.
- The plastics rehabilitation team are in the Rehabilitation Department in Area J, level 0, in Wonford Hospital.
- The orthopaedic and rheumatology hand therapy team are in Princess Elizabeth Orthopaedic Centre (South) Level 0, on the main Wonford Hospital site.
Our Community Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy team works across Exeter, East and Mid Devon in individual’s homes as well as in community hospitals.
Useful websites
Information for healthcare professionals
Weekend staff: contact available via Trust switchboard 01392 411611.
For medical team, bleep 911
For trauma and orthopaedics, bleep 917
For neurology team, bleep 128