Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this blog are entirely our own and not necessarily those of our employer or any other occupational therapist.

Sunday, 8 March 2015

Occupational Therapy in the Media

This week's tv schedule showed two  prime time programmes engaging with Occupational Therapists.

The Great British Bake Off for Comic Relief showed a very small - but perfectly formed - piece on a small area of the work of  occupational therapists at Combat Stress, David Murtagh, Lead Occupational Therapist  was featured with service users who bake cakes as part of their therapy.

Watch the episode here: bbc.in/1NjLhsf     (only available in the Uk until end of March 2015).

 ‪#‎DIYSOS‬  was next with a programme explained as:  
"After 20 years serving his country, royal engineer and paratrooper Mo Morris was given a medical discharge due to prolonged and continuous damage to his knees. He has been left struggling to walk unaided, and suffers near-constant pain.
He is trapped in his home, which is totally unsuitable to his needs, but help is at hand - Nick Knowles and the DIY SOS team rally the troops of the local community and together they adapt the house, give Mo back his independence and take the pressure off the whole family"

Watch the episode here: .//bbc.in/1BefTFq (only available in the UK)

These two programme follow hot on the heels of the recent Guardian supplement in January of this year that indicated the value of and role to play for occupational therapists in the crtical challenges currently facing the NHS and social care system.

What never fails to amuse me is the instant excitement I feel whenever OT is mentioned or demonstrated in the media in a congruent and contemporaneous way. I am heartened to see that this seems to be happening more and more these days - maybe slowly but surely our work is being recognised.

Do you have any other examples to share?

2 comments:

Michelle Elliott said...

Robert McCrum author of Rediscovering Life After Stroke, a book that describes his experiences of rehabilitation from a stroke which left him paralysed down his left side, has helped to produce a radio programme that promotes some of the benefits of continuous rehabilitation. Delightfully occupational therapy gets a mention twice!

Having read his book a few months ago I was saddened to read that during his initial recovery 20 years ago that his experiences with his occupational therapist had been negative. So, it is wonderful to hear him talking about occupational therapy so positively during the programme.

It’s well worth a listen.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b054pmgy

Angela Hook said...

Hi Michelle - thanks for sharing this - I'll definitely go take a listen.
Angela