Allied Healthcare Professionals
Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) play a pivotal role in supporting the quality of care and recovery of patients experiencing critical illness. The South West Critical Care ODN fully support the work and practices of their AHP teams, whose work strives to improve patient outcomes and journey during and following critical illness.
The four core AHP professions supported within the AHP group within the SWCCN include:
- Dietetics
- Occupational therapy
- Physiotherapy
- Speech and Language Therapy
How often do the Group meet?
Our group meets informally several times a year on TEAMs. We have open communication channels to support sharing of clinical practice and education, provide informal peer support/mentorship and collaborating on service improvement initiatives.
Meeting dates:
13th February 2025 13:30 - 14:30 on MS Teams
Agenda to follow.
Please email the chairs or swccn@uhbw.nhs.uk for more info.
There is an SLT showcase on the 15th May at 1-2:15pm:
Chair & Contact details:
Co Chairs:
James Bruce (OT) James.bruce@uhbw.nhs.uk
Ruth Wood (PT) ruth.wood@nhs.net
Danielle Milne (Dietetics) danielle.milne@nbt.nhs.uk
Vicky Weeks and Sarah Cleary (SLT)
Resources:
West Yorkshire Critical Care ODN are happy to share some invaluable rehabilitation resources which you may find useful on this page:
Critical Care Rehabilitation Educational Package
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The Intensive Care Society report on Life After Critical Illness - a guide for developing and delivering aftercare services for critically ill patients (this includes guidance on delivery of rehabilitation services, how to business case for resources to improve services alongside guidance on delivery of patient information).
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The Intensive Care Soceity AHP Professional Development Framework
ICU Rehabilitation Recovery Handbook ICU Steps
Here is the new national ICU Rehabilitaion Recovery Handbook which has been driven by Lisa Hayward at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals (including SW contributors Tom Lunn and Kate Tantam.
Please click this link for the Handbook
A user guide for Occupational Therapy Students on placement in Critical Care
A student support document has been created by OT's within our Network and includes useful guidance on for new OT Students about Patient Conditions, wellbeing as an OT Student, Learning opportunities and examples of duties within the OT role.
Please click here for full document
Here is an exerpt from the document:
The OT Role in Critical Care
The Occupational Therapist works in collaboration with the whole MDT, keeping patients at the centre of their care. They provide specialist assessments and treatments to optimise quality of life and functional independence. This includes providing physical, cognitive, psychological, and functional assessments, creating goals and devising rehabilitation plans.
Examples of what the OT will do include:
• Supporting with delirium management • Early identification of previous level of function • Stretches and bed positioning • Splinting • Seating • Early mobilisation and identifying a safe transfer method • Graded functional activities • Identifying activities of importance • Establishment of routine and sleep patterns • Functional and cognitive assessments • Treatment planning and goal setting • Recognition of emotional or behavioural changes • Education of fatigue management • Screening psychological need • Formalising upper limb rehabilitation plans • Screening neurological response levels in patients with a lower level of consciousness • Following patients up in clinic/in the community.
If you would like any further help or information, please email us.