Pros And Cons Of Occupational Therapy In The UK

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Annual number of occupational therapists in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2010 to 2021 according to statista.

This problem is highlighted in a recent Guardian story, which also discusses how it can negatively affect patient health. According to national statistics, occupational therapists make up just 2% of the workforce in adult social services. It emphasises that despite this modest number, occupational therapists oversee 40% of referrals, underscoring their significance to the country's healthcare system. Due to budget limitations, many local authorities have had to limit their access to these crucial services, which has increased patient wait times and left many open occupational therapy positions. The number of occupational therapies …show more content…

We make up 2% of the workforce, and we accept 40% of referrals, so the numbers speak for themselves." There are worries that as the population ages, the demand for occupational therapists will increase but that there will not be a workforce available to help people in this way. It is possible that a lack of occupational therapy services will result in a far more serious public health problem because regaining independence after an illness or accident can have a significant impact on a person's physical and mental …show more content…

They warn that efforts to deal with the Covid treatment backlog may be in danger if the staffing gap is not quickly resolved. To resolve the workforce crisis, they believe politicians and health leaders must:

Keep in mind every occupation. To get back on its feet, the contributions provided by allied health professionals (AHPs), such as occupational therapists and others, are required. Although focusing on GP and nurse headline numbers is acceptable, doing so would prevent you from making a more educated decision.

Recruiting and patient care that is future-proof. This entails determining the areas of the workforce that will have the most influence on future health and social care demands, such as community-based health, and conducting recruitment in such areas. Where they can assist ease the burden on services and enhance patient care, occupational therapists and other AHPs should be given the authority to write