Occupational Therapy

Unfortunately you cannot self-refer into our services, referrals are accepted from medical and nursing staff or other allied health professionals within the hospital. 

If you are at home and not receiving hospital care but wish to see an occupational therapist please contact your GP for further advice (or see other information on this website about community occupational therapy).

We are based in ‘The Occupational Therapy Department’ on level 1 of the Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital and in the ‘Rehabilitation Unit’ Level 2 in Burnley General Teaching Hospital (area 7 above the main reception).

General Enquiries: 01254 734119

Email: Occupational.Therapy@elht.nhs.uk

Occupational Therapy Service

Royal Blackburn Hospital                                                                      

Haslingden Rd

Blackburn                                                                                    

BB2 3HH                                                                                              

We work Monday to Friday between the hours of 8am to 5pm.  We also run a limited weekend service for patients who are priority cases.

Team Leader: Phil Owen - 01254 734495

This team covers the emergency department, the medical assessment unit and the urgent care centre at the Royal Blackburn Hospital. 

The key role of the OT in the emergency team is to assess the patient for safe return / discharge to their home environment and to avoid any unnecessary admissions to hospital.  The service considers issues such as how the individual was coping prior to coming to hospital and how they will manage if discharged home.  We try to help problem solve any issues that arise following our initial assessment. We have close links with community services.

Web links: 

Age UK:            www.ageuk.org

Acute Hospital Services for In-Patients at Royal Blackburn and Burnley General Hospitals

Team Leaders: Diane Jones (Acute Medical) 01254 733770 and Michelle Ely (Orthopaedics and Surgery) 01254 732150.

The Occupational Therapy (OT) in-patient teams cover the following areas of work:

• Orthopaedics, Vascular and General Surgery (Blackburn Royal Hospital and Burnley General Hospital) 
• Acute Medical wards (Blackburn Royal Hospital)

The service works in partnership with the service user (patient, carer), the multi-disciplinary team (MDT), Community Occupational Therapists, Social Services, voluntary organisations & other community agencies.

Occupational therapists (OTs) are concerned with the everyday activities that fill our daily lives e.g. walking, climbing the stairs, ability to get off a bed, chair or toilet, washing, dressing, feeding, making meals etc.  Occupational therapists will look at how these activities may have been affected by the person’s current medical condition whether this is a physical problem or it relates to a problem with memory or concentration. 

• Referrals for Occupational Therapy are received from consultants, medical and nursing staff on the wards.  We aim to see in-patients within one working day of receiving the referral. 
• Wherever possible patients are actively involved in deciding on their treatment goals and a personalised Occupational Therapy programme is then planned following the assessment/s.  This programme is regularly reviewed to make sure that the joint goals identified are being achieved.

The treatment programme will vary depending on the patient’s reason for being in hospital. 

• A key role of the OT is to give education and advice to the patient, their carers and other professionals relating to their condition, treatment programme and any equipment etc which has been recommended. 
• Home visits – in some cases before being discharged from hospital the OT may decide to carry out a home visit to see how the person is able to manage in their own home or see if the home or any furniture etc. needs to be adapted in any way to help the person live as independently as possible.  This might include providing blocks to raise chairs or bed or providing a frame around the toilet to help with getting up and down.
• Property visits – on some occasions we may visit a patient’s home (with their approval) without taking them with us, prior to them being discharged home and would meet up with a relative or carer at the property for example if the person was a new wheelchair user.  This type of visit may help when planning a hospital discharge.
• Some patients will know when they are coming into hospital as it is planned surgery, such as a hip or knee replacement.  In these circumstances an occupational therapist will contact patients over the phone before they are admitted to hospital to educate them about how to cope after their operation and to discuss if they will need any equipment to help them.  In some cases they may visit the patient at home prior to them coming into hospital.

Team Leader: Christine Parkinson (01254) 732153

A stroke is a condition in which the flow of blood in the brain is interrupted by a blood clot or bleed (haemorrhage). This prevents oxygen and nutrients reaching part of the brain, which damages the brain tissue.

Individuals who have had a stroke experience a range of symptoms including physical disabilities, problems with memory, concentration, planning and perception.

These make it difficult for them to complete everyday tasks and activities, such as washing, dressing, cooking, walking, driving, working and taking part in hobbies.

Occupational therapists help patients to overcome these practical difficulties and aim to improve independence and quality of life. 

During occupational therapy interventions patients may practice tasks, develop skills, relearn new ways of doing things and become more confident performing their daily activities.

The occupational therapist may recommend specialist equipment, adaptations to home environments and other support services that make completing tasks easier and maximise an individual’s independence and safety when they return home.

The occupational therapists carry out assessments initially with patients whilst on the acute stroke unit or acute medical ward (at Royal Blackburn Hospital), some patients return home from here however other patients transfer to Pendle Community Hospital where occupational therapy continues.

Web links:

The Stroke Association:             www.stroke.org.uk

Different Strokes:                      www.differentstrokes.co.uk

Clinical Lead: Judith Wood (01254) 734119

The Hand Therapy Team receives referrals from consultants for individuals who have suffered an injury or who have had surgery to their hand.  They treat conditions such as tendon repairs, hand and wrist fractures, soft tissue sprains and dupuytrens disease to name a few. We have clinics on the Royal Blackburn and Burnley General Hospital sites.

Hand Therapy is the application of specialised knowledge and skills in the assessment and treatment of the upper limb. The goal of therapy is to prevent deterioration and restore maximum function to the hand.  Hand Therapy is for patients who have been affected by trauma, disease, repetitive motion disorders and progressive conditions affecting the joints, tendons and nerves.

Hand therapists are Occupational Therapists or Physiotherapists who, through advanced study, specialise in rehabilitating patients with conditions affecting the hand and upper limb. 

A hand therapy assessment may include reviewing the wound and scar condition, swelling (oedema), range of movement, strength, hand function, sensibility (how your skin perceives or recognises touch and  temperature) and pain.

We also consider the psychological, emotional, employment and social implications of every injury.  Where possible, treatment will always be tailored to the individual’s unique set of circumstances.

Hand therapy treatment may include wound management, scar management, oedema control, pain control, sensory re-education, exercises to increase range of movement and strengthening of the hand. In our treatment we use computerised activities, patient education, training and equipment for activities of daily living and make bespoke/custom-made splints.

When our hand therapist’s use splinting as a treatment method, they have knowledge of pathology, physiology, anatomy, kinesiology and biomechanics to underpin every splint design.  Splints are used for the purposes of immobilisation to protect the hand following surgery, support and rest, correct positioning, mobilising joints, control and correction of deforming forces and compensation for absent or weak muscle power e.g. as a result of nerve damage.

The team also make functional fracture braces. These thermoplastic braces are moulded to support the bone fracture (e.g. fractured humerus - arm) whilst allowing movement at the adjacent joints. 

Web links:

British Association of Hand Therapists:

www.hand-therapy.co.uk

www.eatonhand.com

Team Leader: Susan Ellis (01254) 732149

An Occupational Therapist (OT) is a member of the healthcare team involved in the care of patients with rheumatology conditions. They help people who have difficulties with their everyday home, work and leisure activities, which occur as a result of joint problems/arthritis. 

The OT will work with you to find solutions to these difficulties, helping you to carry on with your daily activities as independently as possible. 

Occupational Therapy may be able to help you in the following ways:

Hand splints - If you have painful or weak joints in your hand or wrist, you may benefit from wearing a splint. A splint can make it easier for you to carry out everyday activities by:

• Reducing pain, for example by supporting the wrist, thumb or fingers
• Improving your grip, strength and dexterity in your hands
• Protecting inflamed or swollen joints

A specialist OT can assess, design and make a splint to fit your hand and wrist. 

Energy conservation - Talking about your condition and how it affects your energy levels. This may involve advice on conserving energy and pacing activities to manage any tiredness you may have. 

Joint protection - Giving advice about how to protect, use and reduce strain on your joints. The aim of this is to help you avoid future problems by looking at alternative methods to make daily tasks from lifting pans to using the computer easier.

Everyday tasks - Giving practical advice to help overcome problems at home and in the workplace and looking at different ways to complete activities e.g. sitting to do tasks instead of standing. 

Assessing for and advising on equipment to make tasks easier and less painful. 

The OT works closely with other agencies including social services, voluntary community services as well as other members of the rheumatology team to enable people to live as independently as posisble. 

You will normaly see the OT at a hospital outpatient appointment. However, in some circumstances you may be assessed at home if special equipment or minor adaptations are required.  

Web Links

Arthritis Research UK:                            www.arthritisresearchuk.org

National Rheumatology Arthritis Society:  www.nras.org.uk

Versus Arthritis :                                       www.versusarthritis.org