OT conversations

Let me ask you this—have you heard the rumour that some hospitals in the UK are stopping occupational therapists from taking vital signs? I hope it’s fake news, because if it’s true, that’s the slow death of our profession.Vital signs are not optional. They’re the foundation for safe, functional retraining. If we’re not monitoring them, then what are we really doing—just activity provision? That’s not OT.So today I’m introducing a new term: the Anti-OT. That’s anyone in our profession who—through incompetence or poor leadership—ends up dismantling what OT really is.Think about it. Are you protecting the profession, or are you unknowingly becoming an Anti-OT?

Ever felt dizzy or lightheaded when standing up? That could be orthostatic hypotension—a sudden drop in blood pressure that affects safety, independence, and daily life.In this episode of OT Conversations, Hao, your occupational therapist, unpacks what orthostatic hypotension is, why it happens, and the symptoms to watch out for. We explore causes ranging from dehydration and medications to neurological conditions, and share practical management tips—from lifestyle adjustments to simple counter-manoeuvre exercises like ankle pumps, leg crossing, and buttock clenching.Most importantly, we look at the role of occupational therapy in keeping people safe, independent, and confident in their daily activities.👉 Listen now and learn how small strategies can make a big difference.

“Today on OT Conversations, we’re diving into Discharge to Assess. Why did the NHS bring it in? How did therapy response times — especially ours as OTs — play a role? We’ll talk honestly about our own shortcomings, why hospital-based assessments weren’t always serving patients well, and how shifting assessments into the community changed the game.It’s not just policy — it’s about risk, independence, and making sure people get home safely and quickly. Join me as we unpack what D2A really means, and why it challenges us as OTs to step up in a new way.”

In this episode, we dive into the world of critical care occupational therapy and ask:👉 What’s the most frequent sensory stimulation we provide in ICU?👉 How do we really promote early engagement with patients who are barely responsive?From tactile input and proprioception to cognitive-perceptual retraining, I’ll walk you through how OTs use stimulation and engagement as the first steps toward recovery.It’s reflective, it’s practical, and it’s about making our hidden work visible.✨ Tune in, share with a colleague, and remember: anything you do matters, and has an outcome.

How do you explain what you do when you can’t say your job title? In this episode, I share my experience in a high-pressure hospital board meeting, where I had to define occupational therapy without the words “occupational therapist.” I talk about the struggle, the stumble, and the reflection that followed — and what it taught me about adapting our language to different audiences.This isn’t just about boardrooms. It’s about how we, as OTs, communicate our value so that it truly lands.