Commenting on the Chancellor’s announcement to provide more funding for NHS appointments, Policy and Public Affairs Lead at the Royal College of Occupational Therapists, Joseph Brunwin, said:
‘It’s good news that there will be more funding for NHS appointments and elective services to help reduce waiting lists and improve patient outcomes. This is a positive and much-needed investment, but it’s essential that it's used in the right way. Budgets and staff need to be reallocated to where they can make the most difference.
‘For the government to achieve its goals for the NHS, there needs to be much greater investment in community-based care, particularly in occupational therapy, which plays a pivotal role in reducing demand on hospital and elective services.
‘Occupational therapists provide vital services in the community, including in GP surgeries, schools, housing teams, social services, care homes and places of work. They help patients manage daily activities, recover from illness or injury, and prevent hospital readmissions. This reduces pressure on wider services and enables people to continue with the occupations they want and have to do.
‘There are currently over 9,229 adults and 17,536 children and young people awaiting occupational therapy services. Without additional funding to address this backlog, our community services remain under severe strain, directly impacting individuals’ quality of life and increasing the burden on other NHS services.’