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Helping patients who may be experiencing difficulties with everyday activities following an illness or injury.
- Address: Maidstone Hospital, Tunbridge Wells Hospital and Tonbridge Cottage Hospital,
What we do
Occupational therapy aims to identify difficulties patients have with everyday activities following an illness or injury.
These may include areas of personal care such as washing and dressing, household tasks such as cooking or leisure activities.
These activities are used to retrain lost skills or can be adapted, together with a person’s environment, to compensate for the impairment.
We will help to find solutions to address these difficulties to maintain patients’ safety and maximise their independence ready for discharge from hospital.
You may be referred to us by ward staff or your medical team if you are an inpatient, or by your GP or consultant for treatment as an outpatient.
Get in touch
We have three occupational therapy at Maidstone Hospital, Tunbridge Wells Hospital and Tonbridge Cottage Hospital.
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm.
- Maidstone Hospital: 01622 224301
- Tunbridge Wells Hospital: 01892 635648
You can also contact us at mtw-tr.occupationaltherapy@nhs.net
Inpatients
We provide assessments and interventions to promote independence and support a safe discharge home from hospital.
We assess patients with a range of conditions under the following specialties:
- Medical
- Surgical
- Elderly rehabilitation
- Orthopaedic (elective and trauma)
- Neurology, including stroke and neurorehabilitation
- A&E
- Oncology
The occupational therapy process
Following a referral, the occupational therapy process begins with an assessment. This involves a discussion with you and your family or carers to find out more about your home environment and how you were managing before you came into hospital.
From this information, the occupational therapist will form a treatment plan, working closely with other members of the team. Interventions may include:
- Assessment of motor and sensory skills
- Assessment of cognitive and perceptual skills
- Assessment of mood and motivation
- Transfer assessment (getting in/out of bed, chair and toilet)
- Kitchen assessment
- Personal care assessment
- Rehabilitation
- Access visit (home assessment without patient)
- Home visit (home assessment with the patient)
- Equipment provision, such as commodes, toileting equipment and wheelchairs
- Liaison with carers, care agencies and community services
We have facilities for inpatient assessment including:
- Fully equipped therapy gyms
- Assessment kitchens
- Assessment bathrooms
Referrals for inpatient services are made by the nursing staff or medical team on the ward. If you feel you would benefit from a referral, please discuss with your nursing team.
Outpatients
The pre-operative joint replacement school is for patients due to be admitted for elective (planned) hip or knee replacements.
During the joint school there are presentations from physiotherapy and occupational therapy.
The classes will explain how surgery may affect your daily life and mobilisation.
The presentations include a demonstration of recommended exercises to aid your recovery and suggestions to help support your independence when you go home.
Furniture heights
You will be asked to complete a furniture heights form. It is very important you complete this form and bring it with you to the hip replacement class. The importance of suitable height furniture for patients undergoing hip surgery will be explained during the class.
How to refer
Referrals can be made via your orthopaedic consultant. You will be booked into the joint school and will need to attend before your surgery can go ahead.