Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy can help you with practical tasks if you:

• are getting older
• are physically disabled
• are recovering from an illness or operation
• have learning disabilities
• have mental health problems

If you’ve been referred to Occupational Therapy, we’ll either invite you in for an assessment, or we’ll visit you in hospital, at home, at school or at your workplace. During this first appointment we’ll discuss the problems you’re having, your living situation and all the activities you find difficult in daily life. These activities could include things like:

• getting dressed
• preparing food
• getting around your home

Together we’ll identify your needs and goals, and find practical solutions to help you to live as independently as possible. This might include things like:

• using specialist equipment or assistive technology
• adapting your home or working environment
• practicing and regaining old skills and activities
• learning to do activities differently

If you’re an inpatient on a surgical, orthopaedic or elderly care ward, we’ll do an assessment with you during your hospital stay. We work closely with your consultant, doctors, nursing staff, physiotherapist, social workers and community teams to rehabilitate you and regain your independence.

We’ll work with you to make sure your hospital stay is as short as possible and that when you leave, you do so safely and with the right support in place for you at home.

If you’re under the care of a consultant rheumatologist, you’ll see a specialist rheumatology occupational therapist. We can help you with:

• specialist splints to reduce pain and improve and maintain hand function
• education sessions for people with inflammatory arthritis
• assessment and advice to assist with daily living activities

If you’ve had a stroke or have a neurological condition e.g. a brain injury or multiple sclerosis (MS), you’ll be assessed and rehabilitated by our team. We’ll work closely with your consultant, doctor and nurses to support you, your family and carers after you’ve been discharged from hospital.

Depending on your circumstances, we nay work alongside other community based services such as physiotherapy to support you on an ongoing basis.

If you’ve had a mild to moderate stroke, we’ll work alongside your hospital team to provide intensive support and rehabilitation in your home to enable you to leave hospital earlier.

If you need a wheelchair for more than 6 months, you’ll be referred to us for an assessment by your GP, district nurse, occupational therapist or physiotherapist. If you’re a wheelchair user or caring for a wheelchair user who is already known to our service, you can get in touch with us directly.

Our wheelchair services are based at the Disablement Services Centre at the Cumberland Infirmary.

Wheelchair assessments consider:

• your height and weight
• your primary diagnosis, prognosis and any secondary disabilities
• your level of functional ability
• how often you’ll need to use the wheelchair
• where you’ll be using it
• your lifestyle
• postural and pressure management issues
• your carer's needs

We offer assessment for:

• lightweight manual wheelchairs
• occupant controlled indoor powered wheelchairs
• occupant controlled indoor-outdoor powered wheelchairs
• attendant controlled outdoor powered wheelchairs
• pressure relief cushions
• specialist seating

Cumberland Infirmary

Rehabilitation Department
Lower ground floor

01228 814445

West Cumberland Hospital

Level 2
M Block

01946 523626