“Helping people regain a sense of control” – the impact of Weldmar’s Allied Health Professionals
14th October 2024
< BACK TO NEWSToday, Monday 14th October, is AHP (Allied Health Professionals) Day.
There are fourteen AHP professions, and physiotherapists and occupational therapists are integral members of our team at Weldmar. Other AHP roles include dieticians, paramedics, osteopaths, and music and art therapists. Collectively, this group constitutes over a third of the UK’s healthcare workforce.
What does each AHP profession do?
Our physiotherapists are dedicated to enhancing a person’s physical abilities, promoting wellbeing, and empowering individuals to live as independently as possible.
Our occupational therapists primarily focus on enabling people to achieve maximum independence in daily tasks and providing guidance to caregivers on the most effective ways to support their loved ones.
Meet the amazing individuals who provide this invaluable element of Weldmar services:
Jane
Jane has been a part of our AHP team for just over ten years, and is a Specialist Occupational Therapist. Currently, Jane is also leading our MND Service. She says: “It’s a privilege to be involved with the people who let us into their lives, at at time when they are dealing with so much.
“They may have experienced difficulties with daily tasks, and when you struggle like that, it’s constant reminder of what is happening to them. I can help people adapt, whether that’s doing those tasks using different techniques, or perhaps by using assistive equipment or technology. What we can do is help them regain a sense of control.”
Hannah
A Specialist Occupational Therapist at Weldmar, Hannah has been part of our team since January 2024.
She says: “In my role, I think that even the small things that I do can make a big difference to people. Alongside the work of our doctors and nurses, it really does make a valuable difference to people at home, and also here at the Inpatient Unit. I find it very rewarding.”
Al
Joining Weldmar in April of this year, Al is just about to end a fixed term contract with our AHP team as a Physiotherapist. He says: “Being in a palliative care environment has given me more focus on trying to meet the patient’s wishes, however left field they might be. The significant difference working for a hospice is the amount of time that you have to spend with patients. As a physiotherapist in the NHS, you’ll be doing lots of different tasks but at Weldmar you can concentrate on the therapy.”
“If something upsetting happens, which it does, you know you’re in an environment where it’s okay to go for a walk in the gardens and have a cry, if you need to. We have a very supportive team here.”
Clare
Clare, as well as being a Specialist Physiotherapist, also leads our Allied Health Professionals team. She says: “The difference that we make can be very varied for people in the last year of life. We’re very much about enabling people to live the best life. We’re part of a multi-disciplinary team at Weldmar, which has an holistic approach to care.
“We’ll look at many different things including mobility and accessibility, pain management, and breathlessness. What we can do has a value at different times in an individual’s journey, across their last year of life – not just towards the end.”
Sophie
Sophie is Weldmar’s Allied Health Professional Assistant Practitioner. This role supports the physiotherapists and occupational therapists with patients who are at home and at our Inpatient Unit. One of Sophie’s tasks is to co-ordinate those patients who are being discharged from the Inpatient Unit and returning home. She will assess their situation and ensure they have what they need.
“I really enjoy it,” says Sophie. “It’s a great team to work with and it’s really good to be able to work out in the community, but also at the Inpatient Unit alongside our nurses and doctors. It’s satisfying to be able to give people a sense of independence, so they can continue living at home as they want to, for as long as possible.”