This year marks a big year for Pride – 50 years since the first Pride in the UK in 1972. Much progress has been made and much more still needs to come. We have changed the ‘O’ in our RCOT and OTnews logos for this month to show solidarity with our LGBTQIA+ members, staff and people everywhere. The flag we’ve used is the most recent inclusive Pride flag, showcasing the diversity and expanse of the LGBTQIA+ community, and in this issue, Thomas Williams talks about being passionate about improving the lives of people affected by dementia who identify as LGBTQ+ and his work volunteering with the LGBTQ+ Dementia Advisory Group.
Elsewhere this month, editor Tracey Samuels talks to Teresa Blunt and Gemma Dorer, professional lead occupational therapists with Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, about the innovative use of winter pressures funding to establish occupational therapy-led Home First teams on the acute mental health wards. See how they got the project off the ground and what they have learned along the way.
We also hear from Hattie Stevens and Helen Rostron, both primary care network occupational therapists working in Somerset. The county has taken the opportunity to secure funding for occupational therapists in primary care. The scheme’s ambition is to increase the diversity of workforce in primary care. They talk about their exciting and ‘unique’ role.
In other features, Marty Climenhaga and Louise Weissel discuss the global health emergency and, alongside fellow occupational therapists, share “their side of the story” and why they feel now is the time for action not words. While Douglas Hawes, an occupational therapist living with Long Covid, shares his experience of taking part in the English National Opera’s Breathe initiative to combat breathlessness.
We hope you enjoy this month’s issue, and don’t forget, if you want to contribute to a future issue, please get in touch at editorial@rcot.co.uk. As well as the printed copy, you can also view the magazine online.