On Monday 14 October East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (ELHT) will be celebrating the second international Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) Day.
This is a day for recognising and reflecting upon the major contribution the Allied Health Professionals make to patient care and improving the quality of people’s lives across East Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen.
Alison Turner, Associate Director for AHPs, East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust said: “This has been a tremendous year for AHP’s in ELHT with many key achievements:
- Our Breast Imaging Advanced Practitioner Radiographers now deliver all biopsy results to NHS breast screening patients.
- To create a new route into the profession we have employed our first Podiatry Apprentices. Operating Department Practitioners have made a significant contribution to patient safety initiatives in theatres.
- The Vision Screening Service delivered by Orthoptists has been 'highly commended' by the British and Irish Orthoptic Society (BIOS).
- 82% of patients remained at home after a fall through our Occupational Therapists working side by side with Paramedics.
- Our Orthotists are working at national level as part of an improvement collaborative, Dietitians have developed an improved integrated service with primary care to support patients at risk of malnutrition.
- Our Physiotherapists, Speech and Language Therapists and Occupational Therapists have done fantastic work to reduce the risk of pneumonia and improve outcomes for stroke survivors and were also a key part of the ELHT Clinical Team of the year!
“We are also taking this opportunity to launch our AHP ‘Innovation Incubator’ and are inviting all AHP staff from across ELHT to put forward an innovative idea that they feel, with the right support or a small amount of funding, could make a big difference to patient care.”
There are 14 unique AHP Professions and collectively AHPs form the third largest clinical workforce in health and social care in England. They provide high quality care to patients and clients across a wide range of care pathways and in a variety of settings that include, hospitals, community, the independent and charitable sectors and schools. They work in health promotion to prevent accident or illness and are active in treatment and rehabilitation, promoting self-help and independence.
AHPs have professional titles recognised by NHS England and are protected by law. In order to use their professional titles – such as occupational therapist or speech and language therapist – each professional must be registered with the regulatory body - the Health and Care Professions Council.
Alison Turner added: “For anyone interested in a career as an AHP, we are holding an information evening where people can find out more. There will be a variety of stalls, information videos, and interactive workshops to really get a feel of what it is like to be an Allied Healthcare Professional”.
Therapists will be on hand to give information on qualifications, applying for courses and answer any questions. Come along on the 13 November 2019 5pm – 8pm to the Physiotherapy Department, Level One, Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital, Haslingden Road, Blackburn, BB2 3HH. For more information or to register your interest in attending email events@elht.nhs.uk.
More detailed information on the AHPs careers and role can be found on the Health Careers website. Including a short video from the WOW Show that gives great insight into what it is like to be an AHP.