Our Services: Occupational Therapy and Community Equipment

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OT in the Western Isles

Welcome to the Western Isles Occupational Therapy Service.

The OT service in the Western Isles is an integrated (joint) service across both Health and the Local Authority. The main base in Stornoway (covering Lewis and Harris) is in the Western Isles Council offices in Stornoway.

The base in Benbecula (covering Uist, Benbecula and Barra) is in the Western Isles Council offices in Balivanich.

Click to view our

• Occupational Therapy leaflet
• Primary Care Occupational Therapy leaflet
• START (Short Term Assessment and Reablement Team)

What is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational Therapy (known as OT) provides practical support to enable people to overcome any barriers that prevent them from doing daily activities that matter to them. This helps to increase people's independence and satisfaction in all aspects of life.

‘Occupation' refers to practice and purposeful activities that allow people to live independently and have a sense of identity. This could be essential day-to-day tasks in relation to self care, work or leisure.

Occupational Therapists work in a range of settings including: hospitals, community and schools.

Occupational Therapy takes what is known as a ‘person-centred' approach to both mental and physical health and wellbeing in order to enable individuals to achieve their full potential. This means that we put patients and families at the heart of all decisions.

We offer a wide range of services:

• Adaptations and Rehabilitation 
• Children's Occupational Therapy
• Community Equipment Service
• Mental Health
• Primary Care Occupational Therapy
• Rheumatology and Hand Therapy
• Short Term Assessment and Reablement Team (START)
• Stroke and Neurology

What is an AHP?

Allied Health Professionals work across the hospital and community settings. Allied Health Professionals are Dietitians, Occupational Therapists, Podiatrists, Speech and Language Therapists, Radiographers and Physiotherapists.

For information on working as an AHP student at NHS Western Isles view our AHP Student Info & Orientation Pack