Sign our open letter to Scottish election candidates
Dear Political Party Leader,
Right Support, Right Time: Unlocking the Power of Occupational Therapy
Scotland’s health and social care system is under significant and sustained pressure. More people are living longer with long term conditions, and almost four in ten adults report a condition that limits daily life. Life expectancy remains lower here than in other parts of the UK and Western Europe. Occupational therapists are essential to shifting care closer to home and preventing crises before they escalate.
Occupational therapists support people at every stage of life. We help premature babies and their families in neonatal care. We enable children to participate fully in school. We support people to stay in work or return to it. We help older adults remain active, independent and safe at home. Occupations, the activities that give daily life purpose and structure, underpin health and wellbeing for us all.
The impact of occupational therapy reaches far beyond individuals, for example:
- Early intervention prevents problems becoming more complex and reduces hospital admissions.
- Timely intervention for children and young people improves participation and reduces pressure on services, such as CAMHS.
- Helping people manage long term conditions and remain in work strengthens Scotland’s workforce and economy.
- Fully resourced community services prevent avoidable admissions and make better use of Scotland’s limited health and social care resources.
To maximise this impact, we ask that you include the following six steps for a healthier Scotland in your programme for government.
- Refocus resources to strengthen community-based teams by fully resourcing occupational therapy led prevention and early intervention.
- Expand entry routes to build a sustainable workforce through apprenticeships, equitable learner support and fair access to development.
- Improve workforce planning and data so Scotland has the right number of occupational therapists now and in the future.
- Invest in tools and technology that support faster, more effective and joined up care.
- Support research and innovation so occupational therapists can generate evidence and improve outcomes.
- Equip the profession to meet climate and sustainability challenges and ensure services are resilient and future ready.
These steps reflect the Royal College of Occupational Therapists’ manifesto for Scotland, which you can find at www.rcot.co.uk/Scotland26. For further discussion, please contact our Policy and Public Affairs Lead for Scotland, Katie McGregor at [email protected].
By unlocking the power of occupational therapy and providing the right support at the right time, we can help people build the skills they need to live full and active lives.