Listening to Northern Ireland's occupational therapists
Two days in Northern Ireland
Last week, Odeth and I spent two days in Northern Ireland meeting occupational therapists working across a wide range of services, joined by our Policy and Public Affairs Lead, Cliona McSherry. Spending real time in services and hearing directly from members helps us understand the pressures you face, the positive impact you make and how we ensure our influencing work reflects the realities of practice locally.
Northern Ireland’s health and social care system continues to contend with sustained pressure. Workforce shortages, rising demand and longstanding financial challenges affect each of the five Health and Social Care Trusts and political uncertainty has slowed progress on much needed reform. Yet across every visit we saw the same qualities: deep commitment, creativity and a clear focus on supporting people to live well.
Day one: Condition Management Programme
Supporting people to stay in work and return to work
We started our day meeting with Aisling Durkin, our Northern Ireland representative on RCOT Council, before heading to the Occupational Therapy led Condition Management Programme in Lisburn. The team shared powerful examples of how their work helps people stay in or return to employment. Hearing directly from a service user underscored the reach and impact of the programme and the strength of OT led models. The positive impact on the lives of people plus the economic impact was clear to see and articulated for me the work we need to do better describe the holistic value of OT.
As Odeth said: ‘This programme shows what happens when OTs are trusted to lead. People move forward, their confidence grows and outcomes improve.’
Gary and Aisling Durkin, our Northern Ireland representative on RCOT Council
Gary, Odeth and Cliona with Tina Watson, Lynsey Grierson, Vic Croft and Victoria Colby from the Conditions Management Programme team
Support at the earliest possible stage
Later in the day we travelled to Clough GP Practice to meet two OTs working in primary care mental health. These multidisciplinary roles have real momentum and it was great to hear how they’re evolving within GP surgeries. Their early intervention approach is helping people manage mental health concerns within their own communities, reducing pressure on secondary services and showing just how much potential there is to grow OT roles in general practice.
Gary and Odeth with Emma Chestnutt and Shelley Keenan, occupational therapists working in Clough GP Surgery
We ended day one at Stormont with a constructive conversation with Chief AHP Officer Professor Michelle Tennyson and Health and Housing Lead Shane Elliot about the Reset Plan, the Neighbourhood Agenda and where occupational therapy can play an even bigger role in system transformation.
Gary, Odeth and Cliona meeting with Professor Michelle Tennyson, Chief AHP Officer and Shane Elliot, Health and Housing Lead at Stormont
Day two: Meeting Heads of Service and members across the region
A system under strain, and a profession providing stability
Day two began at Lisburn Primary and Community Care Centre with professional leads from the five Trusts, joined by Dr Nikki Daniels, Head of Professional Development. The discussion was open and honest, with clear themes: a persistent demand capacity mismatch, workforce shortages and the need for continued support to amplify the voice of our Northern Ireland members. Despite mounting pressure, the leadership and determination displayed were striking.
Cliona, Gary, Odeth and Nikki meeting with Julie Smyth, Maria Hilditch, Caroline Baisley, Karen Walls and Patrick Conwell from each of the five HSC Trusts in Northern Ireland
Listening to members
We hosted a drop in networking lunch and were delighted to be joined by more than 50 OTs and Trust leaders. These conversations offered vital insight into everyday pressures, from rising caseloads to the complexity of need, the challenges facing early career staff and the limited time available for preventative work. Your feedback will directly shape our priorities. As Odeth reflected, ‘These member conversations are invaluable, they ground our priorities in real experience and remind us why listening must stay at the heart of our work.’
Odeth talking with Emma Dunn and Dermot Quinn from Belfast Trust
What we heard across Northern Ireland
Across every setting, several consistent themes emerged:
- Workforce shortages remain the biggest challenge
- Demand and complexity continue to grow
- Preventative OT is powerful but under resourced
- Variation across Trusts affects equity and outcomes
- OT led models, such as the Condition Management Programme and primary care mental health roles, are delivering impressive results and should be expanded
- Members want visible leadership, consistent follow through and opportunities to be heard
These insights will guide our influencing work as we head toward the Northern Ireland Assembly Election.
Looking ahead
We met occupational therapists, educators and leaders who spoke with honesty, generosity and pride. As Odeth reflected: ‘Northern Ireland’s OTs are dedicated, skilled and resilient. You hold communities together, whatever the pressures.’
As we take this work forward, we want to stay closely connected with the realities you’re facing across services and regions. If you’d like to share further reflections, raise an issue, or discuss how we can continue to amplify the voice of OTs in Northern Ireland, Cliona McSherry, our Policy and Public Affairs Lead, would welcome hearing from you. Her role is to ensure your experiences directly shape our influencing work and engagement with political and system leaders. You can reach Cliona at: [email protected]
Thank you to everyone who welcomed us so warmly, we look forward to returning to Northern Ireland.