Tracey Samuels, Editor of RCOT’s monthly membership magazine OTnews, tells us what is covered in the latest issue.
The lively and engaging inclusion plenary panel session, which went live at Annual Conference on 30 June, is now available on the RCOT website for anyone to watch, but we also kick off this issue of OTnews with an in-depth look at the key issues raised. Each panel member had their own personal and unique perspective, but all agreed that the issue of inclusion is a real priority for both the profession and the Royal College.
This is followed by a report from Musharratt Ahmed-Landeryou’s session, where she examined the true meaning of allyship and called for occupational therapists to ‘unite in collective collaboration to be actively anti of all oppression’.
We also hear from Georgina Azoska, who reflects on the barriers and hurdles she faced in her early career and as a Black student occupational therapist. Despite all the challenges she was determined to become an occupational therapist and here she shares her journey in the hope that it might educate others about the power of words.
Yakoba Banks also talks about the challenges and discrimination she faced as a Black woman when starting out on her occupational therapy training. She reflects on what diversity brings to the profession, and similarly urges people to be mindful of their comments, saying: ‘It is important we judge someone’s ability to be an occupational therapist based solely on the quality of their work and not the colour of their skin.’
In this issue we also have an insightful feature from Edward Duncan, Jenny Preston and Kay Cooper, who look at why Scotland needs to fund Long COVID rehabilitation immediately. They argue that it is time for Scotland to ‘embrace the precautionary principle in Long COVID rehabilitation’ and act now – even without definitive evidence of what is best. They make the clear case that investment to scale up and publicise existing specialist and integrated Long COVID rehabilitation would enable people to receive the help and support they need.
Thanks to everyone who contributed. We hope you all enjoy this issue.
OTnews is our monthly membership magazine. As well as the printed copy, you can also view the magazine online. If you would like to share your innovative service developments and reflections on new ways of working in a future issue, why not download the guidance or get in touch with the editor at editorial@rcot.co.uk or Tweet us @OTnews.