Occupational therapy
What we do
Occupational therapy enables people to take part in everyday activities that they need or want to do. Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants achieve this by analysing how people carry out their chosen activities. These activities are then used to retrain lost skills or adapted, together with a person’s environment, to make up for lost skills. The main aim of occupational therapy is to work with people of all ages and their carers to overcome the difficulties they have in completing everyday activities as a result of illness (physical and/or mental), disability and/or barriers in their environment.
King’s offers a range of outpatient services including:
- hand occupational therapy for patients who have problems using their hands because of an injury or a medical condition
- neuro occupational therapy for patients who have neurological conditions such as stroke, Parkinson’s disease or a head injury
- older people’s occupational therapy to support older patients in the community and prevent unnecessary admission to hospital.
Location
Fourth floor, Hambleden Wing, King’s College Hospital, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 9RS
Contact Details
- Main Reception: 020 3299 3540
Patient information leaflets
| Title | File Size | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Oedema management: self-adhesive compression wrapping | 161 KB | |
| Osteoarthritis (OA) of the hand | 349 KB | |
| Proximal phalanx fractures | 196 KB |
Conditions we treat
King’s Occupational Therapy Service mainly treats inpatients or patients who attend the Emergency Department. Patients may present with a range of diagnoses including neurological, orthopaedic, medical, trauma and surgical conditions.
Some of our occupational therapy services accept direct referrals from GPs. These include:
- hand occupational therapy – an outpatient specialist service treating patients who have problems using their hand(s) due to trauma or conditions affecting their hand(s)
- neuro occupational therapy – an outpatient specialist service treating patients who have been diagnosed with a range of neurological conditions including stroke, Parkinson’s disease and head injury
- occupational therapy via referrals to the Betty Alexander Suite – a day treatment service aimed at preventing unnecessary admission to hospital and supporting the needs of older patients within the community setting.
What is required before referring a patient
A referral must be completed stating relevant medical information, initial concerns and reason for referral.
Booking a patient at King’s
Routine Referrals
Hand occupational therapy
We aim to see urgent referrals within 4 weeks of receipt. Complete the Hand Therapy Referral Form (below). GPs should refer via NHS e-referral (e-RS) wherever possible.
Neuro occupational therapy
We aim to see patients within 4 weeks of receipt of a referral. Email referrals to [email protected].
Occupational therapy at Betty Alexander Suite (BAS)
We aim to see patients within 4 weeks of receipt of the referral from BAS. GPs cannot refer directly, but occupational therapy at BAS can be accessed via a referral to BAS. Please see our Clinical gerontology service page for referral details. Referrals are then made internally to OT as appropriate. The primary source of referrals to OT at BAS is via an internal staff source.
General guidance
Patients referred for routine intervention are often those who have experienced a change in their ability to complete their everyday activities but are able to safely manage within their home environment with the existing support in place.
Emergency Referrals
Hand occupational therapy
We aim to see patients within 2 weeks of receipt of referral.
Neuro occupational therapy
We aim to see patients within 2 weeks of receipt of referral.
Occupational therapy via referrals to the Betty Alexander Suite
We aim to see patients within 2 weeks of the referral from BAS being received. This day treatment service is aimed at preventing unnecessary admission to hospital and supporting the needs of older patients within a community setting.
General guidance
Referrals for urgent OT intervention from external referrers are rare. Patients referred for urgent intervention are those whose change in their ability to complete everyday activities results in them being unable to cope in the home environment. Due to the significant and unplanned change in their condition, these patients are unable to be seen by the local community therapy teams within a two-week timeframe.
Referral forms
| Title | File Size | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Hand Therapy Referral Form | 53 KB |
Key Clinical Staff
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Miss Martine Balmir | Multi professional Therapy Lead Major Trauma |
| Mr Niall McDermott | Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist |
| Mrs Amy Naudé | Clinical Lead Occupational Therapist |
| Mrs Catherina Nolan | Clinical Lead Occupational therapist- Older Adults Acute Care |
| Mrs Katy Scott | Specialist Occupational Therapist |
| Mr Bill Vassilios | Consultant occupational therapist |