Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapists (OTs) work with people who have physical, mental and/or social problems, either from birth or as a result of accident, illness or ageing.  Their aim is to enable people to achieve as much as they can for themselves, so they get the most out of life.  When people cannot do things which are important to them – such as getting dressed, having a shower, going to work, socialising or doing a favourite hobby – an OT can help them in many ways, based on each person’s needs and lifestyle.

All OTs work very closely with physiotherapists and other members of the team involved in a patient’s care.  An OT can work with a patient on a number of issues, which may include:

  • Rehabilitation – this could include re-learning skills or tasks around the home
  • Planning for discharge from hospital – this could include recommending equipment or adaptations to the home to help a person to be more independent and safe or to help carers care for their patients more effectively
  • Advice and information on how to manage a disability, illness or injury

    We have a range of occupational therapy services in the hospital made up of specialist occupational therapy teams that will care for you during your stay.  Which team you will see will be dependent on your needs and what you are in hospital for:

    Medical occupational therapy team

  • Acute stroke occupational therapy team

  • Rheumatology occupational therapy team

    Assessment and rehabilitation occupational therapy team

    The assessment and rehabilitation unit (ARU) is where most of our elderly day patients go to when they come to hospital.  The ARU occupational therapy team assesses all our day patients and is able to refer them to other services, such as the memory team, for further support if required.  The occupational therapist works with the patient in helping them to understand their condition and can help with:

    • anxiety management
    • providing equipment (walking sticks, frames etc)
    • advice on altering everyday tasks to make them easier to do
    • giving advice on conserving energy
    • trips and falls advice
    • home hazard awareness

Find out more about the ways we work by clicking here.

Accessing the service

  • Tel: 01226 432875
  • Clinical support group
    • Brain and mental health
    • Cancer, Palliative Care, Pain and Older People
    • Cardiovascular and Lipids
    • Dermatology, MSK and Rheumatology
    • Endocrine and Diabetes
    • Laboratory investigations and Infections
    • Respiratory and Smoking
  • Clinical support area
    Care of the elderly
  • Service type
    • Care of the elderly
    • Disabilities
  • Provider
    Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
  • Telephone
    01226 432875

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