NHS Lanarkshire is set to become one of the first health boards in Scotland to provide a primary care occupational therapy (OT) service to all local GP practices.
The health board's Oversight Executive Group approved the proposal to make the current temporary service, permanent.
The primary care OT service has been tested in GP practices across the Hamilton and Bellshill localities and will be spread to all areas across Lanarkshire.
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Once recruitment has finished, occupational therapists will start to arrive in practices in spring, with the ambition that all local GP practices will have access to an OT by summer.
Dr Mark Russell, medical director for South Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnership, said: “This is a great investment in primary care and a real benefit for the people of Lanarkshire.
"This work is part of the implementation of the national GP contract, which aims to refocus the role of the GP and allow them to focus on more complex care.
“Some tasks previously carried out by a GP, will now be carried out by other members of the wider primary care multidisciplinary team (including occupational therapists) – where it is safe, appropriate and improves patient care.”
Janice McClymont, head of NHS Lanarkshire Occupational Therapy Profession, said: “Early access to primary care occupational therapy services can support people to enhance their personal level of independence, and enable them to live their best lives before their condition becomes chronic or long term in nature.
“Occupational therapists can assess the impact of both mental and physical health conditions on a person.
"They see beyond diagnoses and limitations to hopes and aspirations, and they look at the relationships between daily activities or ‘occupations’, alongside the challenges individuals are experiencing, and the environment in which people live and work.
"By recommending practical and realistic adjustments tailored to each person’s needs, occupational therapists can help people to make positive changes to maximise their potential in everyday life.”
Dr Tyra Smyth, secretary of the Lanarkshire GP sub-committee, added: “I’ve seen first-hand the benefit of occupational therapy support in practices. This is a really positive step for practices in Lanarkshire.
"GP workload is reduced by providing the holistic care, support and empowerment that helps people transition back from being patients, into people.”
Implementing this service across Lanarkshire will take time and the first step is to recruit staff.
There are a number of posts available across bands 5, 6 and 7, for occupational therapists at different stages of their careers.
To find out more about the roles and to apply, visit the website and search ‘Lanarkshire’ and ‘Allied Health Professions’ - closing date for applications is Monday, January 9.
For more information on the roles, there are three online recruitment sessions – taking place on Thursday, December 15, Monday, December 19 and Thursday, January 5 at 6.30pm. To book a place on one of the sessions email LanGMS2018@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk
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