RCOT launches new health equity campaign #OTsForEquity

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For Occupational Therapy Week 2021 (1-7 November), the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) has launched the #OTsForEquity campaign to shine a light on the role occupational therapists currently play in addressing health equity in the UK.

For RCOT, health inequalities are unacceptable. There is no more time to wait. As the UK begins its recovery from COVID-19, there is a unique opportunity to assess how health and social care are experienced across its communities.

Occupational therapists have a unique set of skills and are already ingrained in the work in three key routes out of poverty: education, housing and jobs. Through working in these areas occupational therapists can tackle the cause rather than the symptoms of health inequality. For example:

• Occupational therapists working in mainstream schools supporting vulnerable children to get the education they need.

• Occupational therapists working closely with housing planners to shape the design of homes for those with disabilities.

• Occupational therapists embedded in GP practices, running drop-in centres aiming to help people stay in employment.

We are asking members – who encounter health inequalities daily – what support and tools they need. Together, we will create a plan for future action. You can add your suggestions to our Ideas Platform.

Occupational therapists can’t do this alone. We need government, healthcare leaders and commissioners to take action, dedicating more resources and funding for more people to receive occupational therapy. A new RCOT report, Roots of recovery: Occupational therapy at the heart of health equity offers practical ways in which decision makers and health leaders can use the skills offered by occupational therapy to make better use of resources.

We need people to choose occupational therapy as a solution. Together we can break down the barriers to health equity.

RCOT Chief Executive, Steve Ford said:

“While in theory, in the UK everyone has the same access to health care, in reality the causes of ill health are very different depending on where you live, your socio-economic class and even your ethnicity. The pandemic has highlighted how poverty, deprivation, employment, and housing are closely related to health and mortality.

“As a profession, occupational therapists are on the frontline of health equity and are uniquely placed to understand and tackle the challenges people face. Occupational therapists see health inequalities every day, supporting and helping those most in need.”

Occupational Therapy Week 2021 takes place on 1-7 November. Find out more on the campaign webpage and by following the hashtag #OTsForEquity.

How you can get involved:

1. Take part in our series of free online events #OTsForEquity: Launch event with Professor Sir Michael G. Marmot and live Q&A panel – Monday 1 November, 6-7.30pm, online #OTsForEquity: #OTalk Special for Occupational Therapy Week – Wednesday 3 November, 8-9pm on Twitter #OTsForEquity: Twitter Spaces Conversation with Chief Executive Steve Ford – Friday 5 November, 12noon-1pm on Twitter Spaces

2. Contribute your ideas for improving health equity to our Ideas Platform

3. Share how you’re already addressing health equity

4. Call on your organisation to do more by showing them the #OTsForEquity animation

5. Read the Roots of recovery: Occupational therapy at the heart of health equity report

Discover the #OTsForEquity campaign and more about getting involved.