October 14 marks the national celebration of Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) across England. As the third-largest clinical workforce within the health and care, AHPs are unsung heroes of our healthcare system, playing important roles that often go unnoticed. At Bromley Healthcare, we’re using this opportunity to celebrate our AHPs.
What is an ‘Allied Health Professional’?
AHPs are a diverse group of trained health professionals working collaboratively with doctors, nurses, and other team members to ensure the holistic well-being of patients. Their role is to ensure that patients receive the tailored, expert care that they need, right from diagnosis to treatment and rehabilitation. This includes:
4. Podiatrists
5. Dietitians
7. Operating department practitioners
8. Orthoptists
9. Osteopaths
10. Paramedics
11. Physiotherapists
12. Prosthetists and orthotists
13. Radiographers
14. Speech and language therapists
At Bromley Healthcare, our AHPs bring expertise, compassion, and a multidisciplinary approach that ensures our patients always receive the best possible care tailored to their needs. Their contributions are crucial in offering holistic community services that Bromley Healthcare is so proud of.
A Testament to Bromley Healthcare’s AHPs
We receive incredible feedback about the invaluable support our AHPs provide from the people we care for and their families. One family member shared this with us about the brilliant Carla, one of our Occupational Therapists:
“I wanted to take a moment to express my thanks to Carla, who looked after my mother’s Occupational Therapy needs this year. Sadly, I lost Mum on 30th August 2023, but Carla was so helpful organising the equipment she needed and reviewing her needs in detail in her last year. I will always be grateful for the support. Carla was very knowledgeable, professional, efficient, and caring…
I felt that we were being listened to and given all the options. She explained things really well. She also followed things through. Her pleasant and polite demeanour always made you feel that things were in hand. She would often call out of hours to get things done! Carla handled a particular situation really well in my mum’s last days… I really appreciated her support. Please pass on my thanks…She is a credit to the team.”
Celebrating our AHPs – video
In honour of AHPs Day, we’re delighted to share a special video. Featuring some of our dedicated AHPs, the video delves into their motivations, their love for their roles, and the difference they make every day.
As you watch, join us in celebrating the immense value AHPs bring, not just to Bromley Healthcare, but to the NHS as a whole.
Plus, don’t miss the heartfelt message from our head of AHP, expressing gratitude for their commitment.
Find out more about who works in our teams and some great stories about how they support the people in our communities:
Falls and Fracture Prevention Service
Within the Falls and Fracture Prevention Service, Physiotherapist Carol Beare visited a local Extra Care Housing facility to complete a review of their Falls Checklist implementation (as per the Falls in Care Homes, FinCH research study). On arrival, an ambulance was present in the car park which had been called for a patient who had fallen. Carol and the manager of the facility took the opportunity to complete the Falls Checklist for the patient who had fallen ensuring that falls risks were managed and actions taken in order to minimise future falls. The manager thanked Carol for the timely review of the new Falls Checklist feeding back that it had been very helpful in ensuring actions were taken as their old checklist did not incorporate this and checklists would now be completed with all residents.
Adult Occupational Therapy Service
The Adult Occupational Therapy Service received a referral for a gentleman who had historically declined intervention and advice from a number of different health professionals and services. Therapy Assistant Frances Tate visited the patient on a number of occasions to built rapport and trust. This relationship facilitated the patient accepting equipment and rails that enable him to be more independent within his house and garden, and accepted assistance from carers that has increased his safety.
Post-Covid Community Pathway Service
The patient was admitted to hospital with COVID in 2021 and had a prolonged stay on ITU. She was transferred to Foxbury Rehab ward and was then discharged home with follow-up from community physio. In December 2021 she was referred to the Post COVID Service by the respiratory nurses. She attended groups in 2022, completed her reviews, and was discharged in February 2023. In June 2023 our team physio, who was the patient's community physio previously, was shadowing the acute clinic that the patient attended. It was at this clinic and subsequent MDM that an ongoing plan regarding continuing her pulmonary rehab with our service was agreed upon, her current pulmonary rehab provision was ending and she continued to have ongoing needs significantly impacting her daily life that required intervention. She is currently being seen twice weekly for rehabilitation with the physiotherapist/ therapy assistant.
Hospital at Home, Rapid Response, SPA, RATT, Neuro Rehab Clinicians and Admin that support our services
The photo is our attempt at a bit of humour to share awareness around how various AHPs all contribute towards a patient's rehab journey and to demonstrate what we can achieve when we work together. There are Advanced clinical therapists, physios, OTs, Speech and Language therapists and admin all in this photo.
Foxbury Rehab Service
Foxbury are an in-patient bedded rehabilitation unit where patients are rehabbed over approx a 6 week period. The team consists of physios, OTs, physio apprentices and interdisciplinary rehab assistants. It is a nice example of potential career pathways to become an AHP through an apprenticeship program and also how valued our apprentices are to us.