Access to vital therapies for children and young people impacted by cost of living crisis

THE cost of living crisis is making it more difficult for children and young people to access the therapies and interventions they need, say 65% of paediatric occupational therapists. That's according to a new report by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT), which also found the cost of living crisis is contributing to delays which are affecting the health, development and wellbeing of children, young people, and their families.

The report, which surveyed 698 occupational therapists working with children and young people across the UK, reveals the devastating impact of the cost of living crisis. Since the start of 2023 occupational therapists have noticed an increase in the number of families struggling with their finances, such as:-

• Financial distress... just 47% said families are so worried about money that they can't prioritise occupational therapy or follow occupational therapy recommendations.
   

• Work related constraints... 49% said families are either unable or unwilling to take time off work to attend occupational therapy appointments.
   

• Reducing activities... 56% said families have had to cut back on recommended activities that would support their child's development and wellbeing, such as swimming lessons.
   

• Unsuitable accommodation... 66% of those surveyed said families are now living in unsuitable housing conditions.

As a result, children and young people are not receiving timely access to the necessary interventions, which has far reaching consequences. It not only impacts children's mental health, education, and development, but also affects the mental wellbeing of their parents and family life as a whole. A staggering 78% children's occupational therapists who responded to the survey reported that limited access to occupational therapy services is adversely affecting the mental health of children. Additionally, 71% cited a negative impact on children's education, while 63% noted that children's and young people's needs are becoming more acute.

Natasha Campbell, 42, from Dagenham, whose daughter, Amber, 11, was born with limb loss and has a myoelectric arm, says:- "Amber has had occupational therapy since she was 6 months old, when she got her 1st prosthesis. We'd built up a rhythm for going to appointments and managing her schedule around my other children's schedules. Over the past few months, getting to appointments has got a lot more expensive, especially since the centre moved to a location that was further away. It means we have to prioritise her appointments, and sometimes aren't able to do other things we would have liked to have done as a family, especially over the summer holidays."

85% of those surveyed reported an increase in demand for occupational therapy since July 2022, with over one-third (36%) indicating that children and young people were waiting on average for more than 18 weeks for targeted or individual occupational therapy services. These delays mean that children may not receive essential equipment at home, miss out on additional support for improving their writing skills, or even miss School due to heightened mental health needs. These delays also mean that children and young people require a higher level of support when they are eventually seen, increasing the burden on services and contributing to further delays.

Pressure on occupational therapists is not only external. 60% of occupational therapists said their teams aren't fully staffed, and even if they were, 66% indicated that their teams would still not be able to meet growing demand. In addition to this, 30% said they can't provide the equipment and adaptations children and young people need, when they need it; for most, this is due to budget and funding issues (65%).

Director of Practice and Innovation at the Royal College of Occupational Therapists, Karin Orman, commented:- "The cost of living crisis is exacerbating already challenging circumstances, limiting access to essential occupational therapy services and significantly impacting the mental health and wellbeing of children. Our report paints a bleak picture of how individual financial challenges are wreaking havoc on children and young people's access to the occupational therapy they need. Families are forced to make heartbreaking choices, and children are bearing the brunt of it. We know that health inequalities start at an early age, and can impact a child's health later and their economic future, so not being able to access the therapies they need now can have an impact on a child for the rest of their life. What's more, the report is a stark reminder of the challenges faced by occupational therapists in providing essential care to children and young people. The increasing demand, coupled with staffing shortages and financial pressures, has created a critical situation that must be addressed urgently. The report underscores the urgent need for comprehensive reforms in children's occupational therapy services to ensure that children and young people receive the care and support they need, when they need it. Urgent action is required to ensure that every child has equitable access to the interventions they need to flourish."

RCOT's recommendations for political and health and care leaders include:-

• Understanding demand; Understand the rising demand for children's occupational therapy services and address capacity gaps to ensure timely access for children and young people.
   

• Positioning occupational therapy for impact; Place occupational therapists where they can have the most impact, including:- Schools; Hospitals; early intervention services; and specialist services, such as CAMHS and Youth Justice services.
   

• Integrated services; Promote integration within health, education, and care systems to ensure resources are utilised efficiently and referral pathways are clear and coordinated in order to meet individual needs.
   

• Workforce expansion; Expand the occupational therapy workforce to ensure adequate staff with the necessary skills to support children, young people, and families.
   

• Investment in equipment; Streamlining and investing in housing, equipment and adaptation services to provide prompt assistance to children and young people so they can take part in everyday life.

The full report is available at:- RCOT.Co.UK/cyp23.

Occupational therapists work with people of all ages who have a wide range of conditions, helping them overcome challenges completing everyday tasks or activities. They look at relationships between everyday activities; occupations; alongside the challenges and the environment. Then, they create a plan of goals and adjustments targeted at achieving a specific set of activities. The plan is practical, realistic and personal. That could mean helping someone overcome challenges learning at School, going to work, playing sport, or simply doing the dishes.

Fund launches for local groups to help those at risk from electrical products in their homes

AS the cost of living crisis deepens in the UK, applications are now open for a major annual grant scheme which helps those most vulnerable to electrical injuries in their homes.

The 2023 Electrical Safety Fund will provide £250,000 to support dozens of local community projects across the whole of the country that aim to reduce domestic electrical risks.

Around half of all domestic fires in the UK are caused by electricity, with most of those arising from electrical products.

Run by leading UK campaigning charity Electrical Safety First, the grants scheme is open to applications from fire and rescue services, trading standards authorities, community safety organisations, Schools or other educational institutions, and not-for-profit organisations.

Samuel Terry, Policy and Research Manager at Electrical Safety First, says:- "Electrical safety risks have been exacerbated in recent years by several wider factors, including:- the cost of living crisis, rocketing inflation, and rising energy prices. We will fund projects that seek to keep people safe in their homes, with a focus on tackling risks associated with electrical products, increasing the public's awareness of electrical safety, and promoting changes in behaviour."

To be eligible for consideration, an application must have a focus on helping to keep people electrically safe and be related to ensuring the safety of electrical products in the home.

Grants of up to £5,000 per organization are available, but larger funding amounts may also be considered up to £10,000 for joint and/or larger projects, which focus on or incorporate a data capture element and require cross-agency working.

The deadline for applications to be completed is:- 22 October 2023.