About the first Allied Health Professionals Day #AHPsDay
A day in the life / Twitter / Chairman’s visit
15th of October was the first AHPsDay – Allied Health Professionals Day. The idea for the day developed from conversations on Twitter #AHPsIntoAction.
AHPs into Action is an NHS England initiative. A programme of work focusing on the role of Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) in transforming health, care and wellbeing.
About AHPs Day
The Chief Allied Health Professions Officer for NHS England Suzanne Rastrick explains the origins of this annual day for AHPs: It started with a twitter conversation in April 2018, and on Monday 15 October we celebrated the first AHPs’ Day– a grassroots initiative led by Carrie Biddle, Speech and Language Therapist, and Rachael Brandreth, Dietitian. It is a day to understand, recognise and celebrate the fundamental role allied health professionals (AHPs) have in transforming health, care and wellbeing for patients and citizens. Read a Blog by Suzanne Rastrick
Thank you to WNE Cumbria #AHPs for your energy & commitment throughout the day today developing plans to implement your new strategy @WeAHPs pic.twitter.com/ryzCgq2Vfl — Suzanne Rastrick (@SuzanneRastrick) March 29, 2017
How we celebrated the day in North Cumbria
In North Cumbria we marked the day by celebrating the diversity of our community of Allied Health Professionals (AHPs). It was also an opportunity to say “Thank you” for the great work that AHPs do.
Today Professor Robin Talbot has visited Copeland ICC at Cleator Moor Health Centre to coincide with #AHPsDay pic.twitter.com/nr3zqlUR62 — North Cumbria AHPs (@AHPsNCumb) October 15, 2018
‘A day in the life’ of different AHPs in North Cumbria
Five of our Allied Health Professionals’ shared a short story about a ‘Day in the life’ of their profession. These provide a snapshot of the diversity of the roles of an Allied Health Professional and value they bring to health, care and wellbeing. This included a: Pediatric Dietitian, Physiotherapist, Therapy Assistant, Dietitian and an Occupational Therapist.
If you are an AHP and would like to share your story of a Day in the life of your profession you can email your story and a photo of yourself in your workplace to communications.helpdesk@cumbria.nhs.uk
We would love stories from a: Paramedic, Art Therapist, Drama therapist, Music therapist, Chiropodist/podiatrist, Operating Department Practitioner, Orthoptist, Osteopaths, Prosthetist and Orthotist, Speech and language therapist and Radiographers. Get in touch: communications.helpdesk@cumbria.nhs.uk
Occupational Therapist
Hollie O’Connor - Occupational Therapist
Hello my name is Holly and I am an Occupational Therapist. Firstly I need to explain that I have to consider our community role as a 3 in 1 role! Read Hollie’s Story
Paediatric Dietitian
Sophie Logan - Paediatric Dietitian
Hello my name is Sophie – Each day starts at 8:30, however, what I do day to day changes so I thought I would give you an idea of my role. Read Sophie’s Story
Physiotherapist
Jamie Bell - Physiotherapist
Hello my name is Jamie and I am an Physiotherapist. As a physiotherapist within the community team I work with patients to help them return home following a hospital admission or work to keep people at home preventing such events. Read Jamie’s Story
Dietitian
Orla Martin - Dietitian
Hello my name is Orla and I am based at West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven and I work across both the acute and community setting. For me there is no such thing as a ‘typical day’ and my role varies greatly from one day to the next Read Orla’s Story
Therapy Assistant
Joanne Burns - Therapy Assistant
Hello my name is Joanne – I work with Patients and their families in the community as a Therapy Assistant to support patients to be as independent as possible. Read Joanne’s Story
About the Allied Health Professions
A new Twitter account for AHPs
As the idea was to have a virtual celebration linking to events happening in the local area. We launched a new Twitter account We shared 100 tweets to celebrate the diversity of the AHP role Supported by the North Cumbria AHP forum the new account will share best practice information and shine a light on the great work happening around our area.
North Cumbria AHP forum includes all AHPs working in North Cumbria across a range of organisations.
What happened on Twitter on the Day
Here are tweets from some of our Allied Health Professionals PLUS … the most popular tweets that @AHPsNCumb shared on the day.
Now that #StormCallum has subsided – the #AHPs today will be taking #Twitter by STORM. Expect #AHPs to be trending all day – with #Thunderclaps and peak #AHP between 10am & 12noon for #AHPsDay pic.twitter.com/dMUoQ4AHap — North Cumbria AHPs (@AHPsNCumb) October 15, 2018
Team AHP on Beech A this morning! About to have handover with our lovely nursing staff. This gives us the opportunity to work closely as an MDT to facilitate the patients journey 😁 @NorthCumbriaNHS @AHPsNCumb #AHPDay #facesofphysio pic.twitter.com/u9oqLd46dh — Elizabeth Harkness (@LizHarkness89) October 15, 2018
Beautiful #AHPsDay in Cumbria. Speech and Language Therapists will be travelling across our marvellous county today providing support for dysphagia patients and working to prevent admissions to hospital @AHPsNCumb pic.twitter.com/H4SN1CEK1b — Paul Attwood (@Speechandale) October 15, 2018
Happy Allied Health Professionals Day from @NIHR_RDSNENC! To #AHPs in the North East and North Cumbria region, please don’t hesitate to contact us via https://t.co/DojKT8iOpy https://t.co/jKg6xpO44I — NIHR_RDS NorthEast NorthCumbria (@NIHR_RDSNENC) October 15, 2018
Here is a picture of our #amazingpeople #AHPsDay #AHPsIntoAction from The Big Sleep in #Cumbria > The Honister Big Sleep event is open to AHPs across Cumbria inc participants frm @CPFTNHS @NorthCumbriaNHS @uhmbt Adult Social Care, Blackpool Hospitals, private practices & students pic.twitter.com/qmLNhEqFTy — North Cumbria AHPs (@AHPsNCumb) October 15, 2018
#AHPsDay our pic of the day goes to the CIC Hospital Occupational Therapy Team #OTs hoping you have all learned a little more about #AHPs in #North #Cumbria and beyond pic.twitter.com/Oqr6Bcy3JL — North Cumbria AHPs (@AHPsNCumb) October 15, 2018
#AHPsDay #North #Cumbria #4 #PulmonaryRehab in Virtual Reality (Pauline Pearson tests the new VR exercise app for patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) #AHPsIntoAction pic.twitter.com/22SqRfdnq7 — North Cumbria AHPs (@AHPsNCumb) October 15, 2018
It has been a success for both patient outcome & the service itself. So we are now expanding the pilot! Gaining more headsets + incorporating PR in VR as part of the services provided by both the West Community Respiratory Team & COPD Team in Carlisle #AHPsDay @Mark_A_Jones_ pic.twitter.com/W1TS5oOfWP — North Cumbria AHPs (@AHPsNCumb) October 15, 2018
#AHPsDay #Podiatry Ben Lumley, a podiatrist @CPFTNHS joined four other #podiatrists in 2016 from across the UK to provide voluntary care for refugees as part of the Foot Project. Do you know a Podiatrist who is an example of care & compassion? pic.twitter.com/E5y7ljjT9a
— North Cumbria AHPs (@AHPsNCumb) October 15, 2018
Watch our 1 minute video about Amputee Rehabilitation with Niki Tebbutt #AHPsDay pic.twitter.com/IrdqKhQ90j — North Cumbria AHPs (@AHPsNCumb) October 15, 2018
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