4 November 2025

Monday, 3 November to Sunday, 9 November is Occupational Therapy (OT) Week. 

Occupational Therapists are one of the fourteen allied health professions (AHP). They support people to lead their best life by focusing on enabling them to do the things they want and need to do in their everyday lives. 

Social Media Graphic 1 Square English - OTW25.jpgFor OT Week we are highlighting the excellent work that our Occupational Therapists do across Blackpool Teaching Hospitals. 

In the acute and Clifton Hospital settings we have around 40 Occupational Therapists, covering most clinical areas, including:

  • Emergency Department

  • Clifton Rehabilitation 

  • Rheumatology

  • Critical Intensive Care.

They are often involved with assessing and addressing any functional gaps between what a patient could do prior to hospital admission and what they can do now. Interventions may include:

  • Providing ongoing therapy

  • Prescribing assistive aids and moving and handling devices

  • Giving practical education and advice

  • Assessing changes in cognition and mood

  • Signposting and marking onward referrals, and,

  • Working closely with the Transfer of Care Hub.

Amanda Heaton, a Trust Occupational Therapist, reflects on her role: 

I have been an OT for 19 years. I was attracted to OT due to its emphasis on helping people participate and perform their everyday activities in the places they want and need to do these. I enjoy the problem solving, practical and person-centred side of the profession.  

Working in the Acute Hospital setting involves meeting patients at their most vulnerable and negotiating with various stakeholders in order to expedite a safe, timely and optimal pathway that best meets that patient's functional capabilities.  

It's a dynamic and multifaceted job but someone has to do it

Some patient feedback about our Occupational Therapists can be read below:

Because they listened so well to the problems I outlined, I knew I could trust them to help us find a new normal after critical illness, listening well is an essential skill in caring profession.

 I feel safe going home now because they helped me problem solve how I would do my usual routine and gave me education and advice on the different options I had.

Thank you to our Occupational Therapists for the work that they do to support our patients.

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