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Allied Health Professionals profile
Nutrition & Dietetics
Aims
The overall aims of Dieticians are to educate patients to make food choices necessary in the management of their condition, to provide support for family and carers, and to actively promote a healthy attitude toward nutrition within all client groups.
The Service
Dieticians specialise in nutritional assessment, which together with clinical information is used to prescribe appropriate dietary treatment.
Dieticians provide nutritional information to health promotion initiatives and disease prevention programmes.
Diet is the cornerstone of treatment in many conditions such as diabetes, coeliac disease, malnutrition, renal and hepatic disease, and some paediatric disorders. Dieticians have a key role in the management of artificial feeding to ensure patient's nutritional requirements are met.
Service Delivery
The service is delivered at various health centres and hospital sites throughout the Trust. Domicillary visits are carried out where necessary
Occupational Therapy
Aims
The aim of the Occupational Therapy Service is to enable clients to reach their desired level of function and independence in all aspects of daily life: These include personal care, employment, leisure pursuits and interpersonal relationships.
The Service
Occupational Therapy is a treatment in which specifically selected and purposeful activities are used to maintain a client's physical or psychological strength. Therapists also play a major role in determining what aids and adaptations are required to support someone living in their own home. They have strong links with Housing Executive.
The service is available to children and adults who have a physical disability or illness, learning disability, mental health illness, or developmental delay. Whilst the service is primarily aimed at the client, the service also recognises the rights and needs of the carer and aims to reduce levels of stress through education, advice and provision aids and adaptations required.
Service Delivery
The service is delivered at hospital sites and community services departments throughout the Trust. Domicillary visits also constitute a large part of service delivery
For More Information on our Occupational Therapy Services see our Community section here.
Physiotherapy
Aims
The overall aim of physiotherapists is, through assessment, diagnosis and treatment, to maximise the individuals level of independence and mobility and to relieve pain.
The Service
Physiotherapy is a health care profession with an emphasis on the analysis of movement, based on the structure and function of the body, and the use of physical approaches to promote health and the prevention and management of disease and disability. Physiotherapists treat patients with physical problems caused by neuro-muscular, musculo-skeletal and cardio vascular respiratory conditions. As with other professions the Physiotherapist's work involves liaison with other professionals and they have a vital part to play in the primary health care team.
Service Delivery
The service is delivered at various health centres and hospital sites throughout the Trust
Podiatry (Chiropody)
Aims
To assess, diagnose, and treat diseases and conditions affecting the feet and lower limbs.
The Service
Podiatrists are responsible for the assessment, diagnoses and treatment of conditions affecting the foot and lower limb. They treat abnormal toe-nail conditions, painful corns and callous. They carry out surgical removal of ingrown toe nails, assessment and evaluation of the mechanics involved in walking, advice on footwear and treat infections of the foot.
Service Delivery
Clinics are held in Castlederg, Plumbridge, Newtownstewart and Community Services department in Omagh. In Fermanagh clinics are held in Erne Health Centre, Rathmore Clinic, Belleek, Belcoo, Derrygonnelly, Teemore, and Rosslea. The possibility of extending the service is under review.
Speech & Language Therapy
Aims
To provide an effective service to a range of clients presenting with communication difficulties through formal and informal assessment, diagnosis and treatment for the full range of communication disorders, within a multi-disciplinary approach.
The Service
Speech & Language Therapists are specialists in the assessment, diagnoses and treatment of all disorders of communication. This includes reading and writing as well as speech, language and voice difficulties. They are also involved in teaching alternative and augmentative means of communication. Assessment and treatment is provided for a variety of difficulties in all age groups, including hearing problems, stammering, strokes, progressive illness, voice disorders, head injury and speech and language disorders.
Service Delivery
Speech & Language therapists work mainly with children either in schools, the child's own home or in the community clinics. The therapists also work with adults who have suffered stroke or head injury and those who have throat surgery.
For More Information on our Speech & Language Therapy Services see our Community section here.
Orthoptics
Aims
The aim of the Orthoptics Service is, through diagnosis and treatment, to achieve the maximum visual potential and relieve symptoms, underpinned by education and counselling to both patient and carer.
The Service
Orthoptists measure the level of vision in the eye and where appropriate treat the reduced vision. They diagnose and treat squints. They also diagnose visual problems, for example, double vision and advise on appropriate treatment. The Orthoptists work along side the Opthamologists and are mainly based in the Hospitals. However community clinics are regularly held at various health centres throughout the Unit.
Service Delivery
The service is delivered at various health centres and hospital sites throughout the Trust
The Orthoptics service is now an Area-wide service, coming under the Opthalmic service at Altnagelvin, although the configuration remains the same within the Trust.
Contact Names
AHP Services Manager |
Mrs Sue Prenter Professional Service Contacts |
Nutrition & Dietetics |
Mrs Anne Gormley |
Occupational Therapy |
Mrs Irene Boyd |
Orthoptics |
Mrs Claire McGartland |
Physiotherapy |
Mrs J McAleer |
Podiatry |
Mrs Margaret Moore |
Speech & Language Therapy |
Mrs Carmel Cassidy |
