Representing you and our profession – September 2025

By: Your Policy & Public Affairs Leads 01 October, 2025 Blog

Our policy and public affairs work continues to champion occupational therapy across the UK. This month has seen important milestones in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland – from celebrating a century of our profession to making sure OT is firmly on the agenda in political debates and policy reforms.

Scotland

Katie MacGregor is our Policy and Public Affairs Lead – Scotland.

Follow @rcotpolicyscot.bsky.social on Bluesky to stay connected.

Katie’s reflection:

September has been a celebration of the power of Allied Health Professions (AHPs) and occupational therapy in Scotland. From shaping our future manifesto to hearing moving personal stories – and even celebrating 100 years of OT with the Princess Royal – it’s been a time to reflect on just how much difference OTs make every day.

Sharing our AHPFS manifesto at Holyrood

Ahead of next year’s Scottish Parliament election, we’ve been preparing the Allied Health Professions Federation Scotland (AHPFS) manifesto. This sets out our priorities for the next government and is the product of close collaboration with the Scottish Director of AHPs and the Academic Heads group.

We launched the manifesto at the Scottish Parliament, joined by politicians, professionals and people with lived experience. Olive, who’s been supported by more than 20 AHPs, including OTs, spoke powerfully about how collaborative, careful care has transformed her life. The Cabinet Secretary described AHPs as having a 'transformational impact' and being 'key players in NHS and social care renewal.'

The manifesto sets out three priorities:

Embed AHP leadership in decision-making – Ensure AHP voices are present on NHS boards, Integration Joint Boards and in executive roles.
Expand entry routes into the professions – Widen pathways, offer fair financial support and tailor solutions per discipline.
Guarantee timely, equitable access to services – Invest in community hubs, ensure consistent resourcing, and integrate AHPs more fully in prevention and diagnosis.

Read and share the full manifesto

We’re also working with members on our own manifesto – please contact me at Katie.Macgregor@rcot.co.uk if you’d like to be involved.

Record funding announced at OT visit

Members from across Lothian were delighted to host Neil Gray, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care. During the visit, Mr Gray met patients and staff delivering specialist support for long COVID.

He announced that the Scottish Government have committed to spending £4.5 million a year to address long-term health effects. This investment is intended to help recruit specialist staff and improve access to care. Patients with myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and similar conditions will also be eligible for referral.

A huge congratulations to everyone involved in the visit. Members described it as a genuinely positive experience that rightly put a spotlight on OT and the vital role it plays.

Pictures from the event are available on social media.

A royal celebration of 100 years

Finally, we had the honour of joining colleagues to represent RCOT during HRH The Princess Royal’s visit to Robert Gordon University. The event marked an incredible milestone: 100 years of occupational therapy in the UK.

It was a day filled with pride, as teams from across the North-East showcased their work, connected with colleagues and celebrated everything our profession has achieved.

Meeting the Princess Royal and sharing in this moment was a highlight we’ll all remember. Some lovely photos from the event have been shared on our social media.

England

Joe Brunwin is our UK Policy and Public Affairs Manager.

Follow @rcotpolicyuk.bsky.social on Bluesky to stay connected.

Joe’s reflection:

With MPs back from recess, it’s been a short but busy sitting. From ensuring our Workforce Strategy was referenced in Parliament, to speaking at the All-Party Parliamentary Group on equipment, we’ve kept occupational therapy firmly on the agenda.

We also attended the Labour Party Conference, meeting policymakers and partners – you can read my full reflections [here – link to follow].

The Department of Health and Social Care has opened a consultation on its 10 Year Workforce Plan. We’ll be seeking member views to shape our response, and encourage you to share your own perspectives directly via the consultation portal.

Palliative and end of life care

With the Terminally Ill Adults Bill progressing, the government has launched a consultation on palliative and end-of-life care. Working with our Palliative and End of Life Care Practice Network, we submitted a response highlighting occupational therapy’s role in helping people live with dignity, independence and purpose.

Read our full response

If you’d like to shape influencing work like this, join one of our Practice Networks – open to all members and a great way to connect policy with practice.

Community equipment – a pressured system

The collapse of a major supplier this summer exposed how fragile the community equipment system is. While some areas are recovering, others still face restricted catalogues, leaving people without essential items.

We’ve raised concerns directly with policymakers, calling for sustainable funding and robust systems. We were proud to see member Emma speak at the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on equipment, making sure occupational therapy’s voice was heard.

Read our update on equipment

Children and young people

Occupational therapy was directly referenced in Parliament during a debate on care in a child’s first 1,000 days, with our Workforce Strategy cited as evidence for shifting services into the community. Ministers echoed our call for holistic, community-based interventions.

We’ve also joined the newly launched Child Health Workforce Alliance, alongside more than 25 organisations, to ensure OT is recognised in children’s health and wellbeing priorities.

Find out more about the Alliance

Wales

Paul Smith is our Policy and Public Affairs Lead – Wales.

Follow @rcotpolicywales.bsky.social on Bluesky to stay connected.

Paul’s reflection:

The political year in Wales has well and truly kicked off this month. Members of the Senedd have returned to Cardiff Bay from recess to another poll showing that there may be a change of government on the cards next year.

This month, I’ve met with the Welsh Government Special Advisor (SpAd) covering health and social care and with the Welsh Conservative Shadow Health Minister promoting our Workforce Strategy.

Thank you to everyone who completed our survey on ALN changes in Wales. We’re in the process of completing our response and will submit it to the Senedd.

Do sign up to the Wales Network on RCOT Communities and make sure you take part in our next survey and have your say.

Maternity and neonatal oversight panel

Following concerns around services in South Wales, the Welsh Government has set up a new Maternity and Neonatal Oversight Panel. While welcome, we’re deeply concerned that no OTs or AHPs are included in its membership. We’ve written to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care asking for this to be urgently addressed.

Policy and public affairs drop-in

From October, we’ll be running quarterly online drop-in sessions with Wales Council Member, Paul Dunning. These are informal sessions – grab a cuppa, share what’s happening in your area and raise questions about policy and politics.

These will be hosted on RCOT Communities in the Wales network.

Join the first session (1pm, 8 October)

Future dates:

6–7pm, Wednesday 14 January 2026
1–2pm, Wednesday 8 April 2026
6–7pm, Wednesday 8 July 2026.

Look forward to seeing you then and please spread the word to RCOT Members across Wales.

Elections 2026 – engaging early

Along with the elections next year, the size of the Senedd is increasing from 60 members to 96. Over the next six months, political parties will be selecting candidates, hoping that they will get elected in May 2026 and form a government.

Plaid Cymru are the first party to have completed its candidate selections. I attended an event where public affairs professionals were able to meet with Plaid Cymru candidates and sitting MSs. We introduced our organisations and explained to the potential MSs why RCOT matters to them and their constituents.

I was able to meet a couple of candidates in positions one and two on lists in Wales, making connections with people who will potentially be elected next year. This pre-election work helps to build relationships with politicians so that we can promote occupational therapy quickly after the elections.

illustration of family feeding the ducks

Northern Ireland

Cliona McSherry is our Policy and Public Affairs Lead – Northern Ireland.

Follow @rcotpolicyni.bsky.social on Bluesky to stay connected.

Cliona’s reflection:

September has been a busy month for us in Northern Ireland. With the Northern Ireland Assembly at Stormont returning from summer recess, we’ve been out and about, engaging with members, attending conferences and making sure occupational therapy is on the agenda for stakeholders and political representatives.

Get in touch with me at cliona.mcsherry@rcot.co.uk if you’d like to discuss any of the points raised in my update.

Maximising your membership in NI

I joined members at the Western Trust Occupational Therapy Conference at Glenpark Estate in Omagh, where I spoke with occupational therapists working across acute, community, and specialist services.

The conference was a brilliant showcase of the innovation, compassion and creativity that defines the occupational therapy profession. It was also a great example of the diversity of occupational therapy, with speakers covering everything from perinatal mental health to paediatrics.

During the conference, I presented on our Workforce Strategy action plan for Northern Ireland and shared updates on how we're working to strengthen the profession’s voice around themes like work and health, prevention and early intervention.

I also highlighted new resources available to support members, including:

RCOT Communities – join one of our practice networks or the Communities Platform to connect with colleagues across clinical areas.
CPD portfolio – use your CPD portfolio to track your learning and support your professional growth.
Connect locally – invite us along to your events to discuss the issues that matter most to you and your team.

Conference season

Each autumn, some of the main political parties across Northern Ireland hold their annual conferences. These are important moments in the political calendar, where leaders set out priorities, members debate policy and stakeholders make the case for the issues that matter most.

For RCOT in Northern Ireland, party conferences are a crucial opportunity to:

raise the profile of occupational therapy with MLAs, MPs and party members
influence party thinking on health, care and workforce priorities
work with partners in the Community Rehabilitation Alliance to strengthen the call for better rehabilitation services.

Our Northern Ireland Policy Lead shares our Workforce Strategy with Northern Ireland political candidates

This month, we attended the DUP Conference, engaging with the Party Leader, Deputy Leader and Health Spokesperson. We pressed the case for investment in occupational therapy as essential to tackling system challenges, and again highlighted the need for a dedicated Rehabilitation Lead to take forward the Rehabilitation Framework.

We want to make sure members’ voices shape the messages we take to political parties. Please get in touch to tell us:

What messages do you want political parties to hear about occupational therapy?
What issues are affecting you and your team that need political attention?
Would you be interested in contributing to our influencing work?

Thank you to all members who continue to share your insights and experiences – your voices are what make our influencing possible.

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