Access to Services

The department serves patients referred with acute physical medical conditions. Patients attending hospital consultants can be referred on an inpatient or outpatient basis. Some patients may attend for ongoing treatment following their discharge from hospital. Others may be referred to the Community Occupational Therapist for ongoing treatment or for adaptation to their home environment. 

Early referral is strongly advised. There are certain conditions where Occupational Therapy management of the condition can help control the symptoms of the disease or the outcome of recovery following injury. The Occupational Therapist is dual trained and therefore is in a special position to look at both the physical and emotional need of the patient. Guidance in the initial stages of the illness may help the person and their family to cope with emotional changes that follow an unexpected change in a person’s ability.