COVID-19 has dramatically changed the way we work. No matter our area of practice, occupational therapists across the UK have had to adapt quickly and creatively to tackle the challenges presented by the pandemic. In a recent members' survey, 98 per cent of respondents told us that COVID-19 has impacted their role, responsibilities and duties.
In my role as an RCOT Professional Adviser, I have been co-ordinating RCOT’s input into NHS England’s Your COVID Recovery project over recent months. This is an online platform designed to help people who experienced COVID-19 to self-manage their recovery from home.
A multidisciplinary approach is the best way to address a multi-system virus
Developing Your COVID Recovery has been a collaborative effort, led by a multidisciplinary team, including various allied health professionals (AHPs). As we learned more about the nature of COVID-19, the value of a multidisciplinary approach became clear. The work on fatigue was a great example of this, being a complex symptom with multiple occupational, physical and psychological implications.
Learning from lived experience
People who experience illness and disability are usually experts on their own needs. Learning from those affected by COVID-19 is vital to understanding the physiological and psychological impacts of the virus.
Individuals recovering from COVID-19 were consulted during the development of Your COVID Recovery, as well as their carers and family members. Their experiences directly shaped the content of the resources. As our understanding of the recovery process increases, we are continuing to update the advice we offer.
Equally invaluable was feedback from members of an equality, diversity and inclusion panel. In the UK, COVID-19 has disproportionately affected those from BAME backgrounds and those with learning disabilities. Ensuring that the website would be beneficial for everyone was an essential part of the development process. The project team continues to explore ways of increasing the accessibility of Your COVID Recovery and ensuring the content is appropriate for all audiences.
One size does not fit all
Having spoken about accessibility, it is important to acknowledge that Your COVID Recovery will not be suitable for everyone recovering from the virus. As a digital tool intended to support self-management, there will inevitably be people for whom it is not an appropriate option. Patients with complex or additional heath conditions should have access to specialist rehabilitation delivered by occupational therapists, AHPs and other health professionals.
Your COVID Recovery is only one part of NHS England’s ‘five part package’ of support for people experiencing persistent COVID symptoms, alongside the establishment of Long-COVID assessment clinics. The full guidance is available from the NHS England website.
By providing access to Your COVID Recovery for people with the most straightforward needs, clinicians will have more time to support those with more complex requirements or for whom an online tool is not suitable. NHS trusts will need to make decisions locally about how Your COVID Recovery fits in with their area’s COVID recovery plans and services.
Occupational therapists are playing a crucial role in supporting the nation’s recovery from COVID-19. As experts in person-centred assessment and rehabilitation, and with a wide range of skills spanning physical and mental health, they are best placed to support all types of individuals affected by the virus at every stage of their recovery journey. In contributing to the creation of digital platforms such as Your COVID Recovery, occupational therapists are aiding the health and care sector’s rehabilitation, as well as individuals, as we recover from the pandemic.