A Day with Wales’ OTs
In North Wales
We spent a day in North Wales meeting occupational therapists working in education, primary care, secondary care and community services. I was joined by Paul Smith our Policy and Public Affairs Lead for Wales whose insight and local knowledge helped shape the visit and deepen our understanding of members’ experiences. Even within a single day we gained a clear sense of the pressures OTs are facing across the Betsi Cadwaladr University (BCU) Health Board, local authorities and the commitment that continues to drive practice across the region. Despite the challenges, the team showcased some incredible work that is happening to strengthen local services.
Starting in Llangollen
Practical innovation shaped by OT
Our visit began at Llangollen Health Centre, where Neil Tilston-Roberts and Steve Catherall described the growing recognition of occupational therapy within primary care. There is increasing awareness of the role OTs play in improving patient outcomes, supporting independence and helping to manage demand across the system.
We discussed the importance of strengthening the occupational therapy evidence base to support wider promotion of the profession, alongside working in partnership with multidisciplinary colleagues to articulate and evidence the unique contribution and impact of OT at both patient and system level.
Advanced Clinical Practitioner at Llangollen Health Centre
Wrexham Maelor
Teams reshaping how services connect
We then travelled to Wrexham Maelor Hospital to meet Heather McNaught and the OT physical health team for BCU East. They have been working to bring secondary and primary care closer together for people who often experience delays or gaps in their care.
The team shared short presentations on key areas of progress. This included falls and frailty work, bringing rehabilitation support closer to care homes, the development of rehabilitation champions and a joint approach with the Welsh Ambulance Service for people experiencing falls.
Over lunch we met around 25 OTs from across health, social care and local authorities.
Wales local authorities
Wrexham University
Meeting the next generation
Our final visit was to Wrexham University where we met Dr Simon Stewart, Dr Liz Cade, Rhiannon McPherson and the OT faculty team. After a tour of the Bevan Building and the healthcare simulation room, we sat down to talk about student experiences and the future of the profession in Wales.
The team spoke with honesty about placement capacity, the Welsh NHS bursary, early career support and the importance of Welsh language provision. We also shared ideas about how RCOT can develop its value to students. Their reflections will guide our work with the new Welsh Government after May’s Senedd elections. The team’s commitment to high quality education and flexible routes into the profession was evident throughout the visit.
Wrexham University’s simulation centre
What we heard across North Wales
Across the day several themes came through clearly:
- The size and complexity of Betsi creates barriers to consistency and access
- Demand continues to rise especially in community and primary care
- OTs want clearer routes to influence decision makers ahead of the new Welsh Government
- Innovation is happening but services need stability to embed it
Looking ahead
Although the system is under pressure, we met OTs who show resilience and professionalism every day. Their honesty and generosity shaped the visit and will shape our work.
We will take what we heard into our engagement with the next Welsh Government and continue to ensure members’ experiences guide our work.
If you would like to share reflections from your own service or talk about the issues facing OTs in Wales we would be pleased to hear from you, contact Paul Smith, our Policy and Public Affairs Lead for Wales, [email protected] who would welcome hearing directly from members about their experiences and priorities.
I will be back in Wales in May and look forward to continuing these conversations.