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Who is responsible for referrals to Occupational therapy?

dawnpardoe

Hi there my name is dawn and I'm trying to find out who is responsible for a referral to occupational therapy?? I have tried school , school nurse , gp, consultant from hospital, and they all passengers the buck saying they cannot help x

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dawnpardoe

Sorry that was pass the buck

steve51

Hi @dawnpardoe

A very big welcome to you to our online community and site.

I'm very sorry that they are all passing the buck.

I had worked within the NHS "10yrs"

Your GP is the 1st place too go to for your referral.

l have got some info for you from the "NHS Choices Website"

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/AboutNHSservices/doctors/Pages/gp-referrals.aspx

dawnpardoe

Hi Steve thankyou I have been to my gp and he is telling me it's community?? Asked the school nurse and she said she will look into it.... this has been going on over 12 months now.

steve51

Hi @dawnpardoe

No problem, do you want me to look into it for you ????

I'm so sorry to hear that you have had this problem for so long !!!!

CockneyRebel

Have you tried asking OT who has to make the referal ?

CR

Sam_Alumni

@Jean_Scope do you know about this?

Stayce

Hi @dawnpardoe
Not sure this is helpful or not. I know exactly what you are describing- GP told me I could not access occupational therapy in the 'community' because this service is for housebound only. A consultant referral is the only way to get OT from my experience

Best

Nystagmite

Can you self refer?

Stayce

Only if you go private.

The problem is that OT is considered an 'expensive' service, therefore it becomes difficult to get someone to refer when you need it, due to costs involved to NHS (hence the passing the buck between different clinicians)

Jean_OT

Hi @dawnpardoe

OT departments will normally accept referrals from a range of health and social care professionals: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/occupational-therapy/Pages/accessing-occupational-therapy.aspx

Often the GP will be centrally positioned in supporting a person's health care needs, co-ordinating referrals, but other professionals can make referrals if they can see there is a clinical need.

As @stayce has already pointed out OT can be perceived as an expensive service (despite the fact that research shows that OT interventions actually save the NHS money overall). Also there is a national shortage of OT's. It appears that because of the perceived cost implications and sometimes limited availability there can be gatekeeping that goes on, in effect, to ration the service.

If you are still struggling to get a referral, despite asking the school nurse etc to support you, I would suggest that you make a double appointment to see the GP so that you have time to talk. Explain the situation to the GP, explain how you feel your child is being denied a service that you feel is essential, due to a reluctance of professionals to take responsibility for a referral. Ask the GP to make a referral, if they refuse, ask them to explain precisely why. Is it because they don't feel your child meets their referral threshold? or is it because they think another individual/department should be making the referral? If it is the latter, ask the GP to write to that person/department saying that in his/her opinion your child would benefit from them making a referral to OT.

Unfortunately, chances are that even when you child eventually gets a referral there may be a wait of several months before an appointment is received.

Are there any pressing issues that you are hoping the OT might be able to address that in the meantime you could get support for from another source?

It would be interesting to hear if you manage to get this problem resolved

Best Wishes

Jean

Sam_Alumni

Thanks a lot @Jean_Scope