Commenting on research by the University of Bath which found almost half of NHS workers have looked for jobs outside of the health service, Director of Practice and Innovation at the Royal College of Occupational Therapists, Karin Orman, said:
'The NHS desperately needs major reform, and health and care systems need to work better together. Our own research with our members last year found that occupational therapists working in the NHS are under immense pressure, with some even saying they feared the services they were providing were unsafe.
'Recruitment and retention of staff is just one of the reasons we brought out our first ever workforce strategy last month. According to our strategy, which echoes the plans of all four UK nations, one of the key things that will help save the NHS is moving the majority of occupational therapists from hospitals into community settings, such as GP surgeries, schools, housing teams, social services, care homes and places of work.
'But we need the resourcing and funding to make this happen. Getting the occupational therapy workforce right will actually help reduce the pressures of GPs, nurses, and all other areas of the NHS, as well as helping people live well for longer.'