With many members scattered across a wide and diverse geographical area being a member of the Northern Regional Group provides a valued opportunity to discuss issues that are relevant locally and nationally.

BAOT ladies and gentlemen that lunch – a regular meeting every 6 weeks

Here in the Western Isles we wanted to inject a bit of enthusiasm and some fresh ideas back into the local group. We decided to have a lunchtime meeting and it went so well we decided to keep it going. Once every six weeks we meet and take an extended lunch break to discuss professional issues. We deliberately choose a venue apart from work sites so that:

• We can’t discuss specific cases and departmental issues because we are in a public place.
• We are less available to be interrupted
• Also because it feels less like work and puts some fun and lunch back into OTs

We take a hot topic from Occupational Therapy News (OTN) or this website and use it to simulate discussion. Any member can bring topics to the table so that we can discuss issues that are relevant locally and particularly to Scotland. Important issues and ideas can then be fed back into other more formal workplace meetings hopefully for action. We were going to try a different restaurant every time but we liked it so much where we went that we all decide to go back…

We wondered if there are OTs in other areas who would be interested in setting up lunch groups. It does not have to be a large affair. There could perhaps be several lunch groups in an area. If this was successful perhaps the lunch groups could come together as local groups once every twelve weeks and link in with other local groups. What do you think?

If you are interested in joining BAOT ladies and gentlemen that lunch please email Katrina.Irwin@wihb.scot.nhs.uk

Local groups in Northern Scotland:

• Inverness Arlene Johnson
  arlene.johnstone@nhs.net
• Orkney Heather Bond
  heather.bond@orkney.gov.uk
• Western Isles Katrina Irwin
  katrina.irwin@wihb.scot.nhs.uk

Contacting the Scottish Northern Regional Committee

Web co-ordinator: Katrina Irwin
katrina.irwin@wihb.scot.nhs.uk
Scottish Policy Officer: Elizabeth MacDonald
Elizabeth.MacDonald@cot.co.uk
Telephone 01505 702 022
Membership Development Manager: Lee Roach
Lee.Roach@cot.co.uk

Contacting UNISON

BAOT/COT members can access UNISON services via local staff stewards. If you do not have a UNISON staff steward then contact your UNISON Branch Secretary by telephoning 0845 355 0845.