"Fine when in hospital - Very difficult at home..."

What I liked

I have filled this in before. I am commenting on OT services and this was the only form that came up.

What could be improved

My daughter was a patient on the trauma ward in the old hospital. When it came to discharge we were discharged by physios. They were lovely and calm and friendly but they were not the people that could answer OT style questions.

We were given little or no guidance in how to manage at home (they did answer questions but sometimes you cant think of what to ask when stressed).

We needed:

help with planning bathing and washing

quite a lot of help and support with managing the brace (taking off and on etc) when at home - phone support would have been fine. Reassurance was what was needed a lot of the time.

help with how to manage toiletting at night when the brace was off. As it was we improvised a jug system - but no guidance was given at all.

help with anxieties which were bigtime. We were told we could ring the ward/consultants office but either we couldnt get through or the physios weren't there.

We didnt know about the existence of OTs until I was talking to a physio friend who ahd a friend who is one. She was extremely helpful and gave us evening support by phone and got hold of equipment for us - out of kindness.

Please can you make sure that OTs are available and make themselves known. We didnt know to ask.