Clinical areas

Our team consists of 6 qualified occupational therapists, an occupational therapy assistant and an oxygen technician.

We work across the two hospital sites and cover the following areas:

https://www.rbht.nhs.uk/our-services/heart
Cardiothoracic Surgery
Intensive Care
Domiciliary oxygen Service
Paediatrics
Respiratory Medicine
Transplants

OT services to cardiac surgery patients

For patients on the cardiac surgery wards, the majority will have had either coronary artery bypass grafts (CABG) or valve surgery of the mitral or aortic valve, or tricuspid valve.

Occupational therapy offers education and advice at pre-surgery days and as a part of a weekly programme on Princess Alexandra Ward at Royal Brompton Hospital on resuming everyday activities following cardiac surgery.

This includes advice on:

returning to driving
returning to work
holidays
resuming sexual activity
stress management
managing emotions

Referrals may also be received for individual patients to be seen by occupational therapy for specific assessment in regard to:

discharge from hospital
management of everyday activities after surgery
stress management advice.

Breathing and relaxation group

Stress is considered to be a contributory factor in heart disease. All patients are invited to attend a relaxation session that is run on Elizabeth Ward at Royal Brompton Hospital every Wednesday.

This group aims to increase patients’ knowledge on the symptoms and causes of stress, looks at ways to deal with stress and teaches relaxation techniques.

Occupational therapy also offers individual rehabilitation programmes for any patients who will require a longer recovery period and will refer onto community services if needed.

All patients who have had cardiac surgery will be referred to a cardiac rehabilitation programme in their local area. No phase III rehabilitation takes place at Royal Brompton Hospital.

OT Services to cardiology patients

Patients admitted onto the Cardiology wards include those coming in for:

Tests and investigations
Vascularisation interventions via angioplasty with or without stenting
Pacemakers
Transplant assessment
Medical management of their conditions i.e. heart failure, congenital conditions

Occupational Therapy may be involved with any of these patients in a variety of ways:

Management of symptoms. i.e. breathing exercises, stress management and relaxation techniques (individual and groups sessions), energy conservation advice, lifestyle management
Functional Assessment. Including assessment of daily living skills, assessment and provision of disability equipment, wheelchair assessment and provision, referral onto community services.
Rehabilitation for patients with heart failure. An outpatient programme including exercise, education and relaxation is offered for local patients to Royal Brompton Hospital. Referral is made via a Royal Brompton Hospital or Chelsea and Westminster Hospital cardiologist. Please contact the Occupational Therapy Department for further information on 020 7351 8961.

Respiratory medicine

Here are some of the ways patients can benefit from being referred to Occupational Therapy:

Outpatients
- Pulmonary rehabilitation
- Stress management and relaxation session programme
- Education about management of shortness of breath with everyday activities
- Consultation and advice about coping at home, as well as equipment to increase independence
Inpatients
- Managing shortness of breath and anxiety:
  - Energy conservation education
  - Equipment advise/provision to use for discharge
  - Relaxation and stress management (education and relaxation sessions)
- Increase ability to manage with day to day activities:
  - Home assessment
  - Assessment and advice about equipment to facilitate tasks
  - Liaising with social services and occupational therapists in the community and when transferred to another hospital
  - Pain management (relaxation and cognitive therapy)
- Increase hand function
  - Hand function assessment and provision of equipment and advice
  - Splinting
- Positioning patient while in hospital
  - Pressure cushion provision
  - Advice on positioning and transfers
  - Splinting

What are the benefits of having occupational therapy?

To gain increased knowledge about strategies to cope better with the effect your condition has on your daily life
Increase control on your shortness of breath through energy conservation techniques and stress management and relaxation sessions
Increase ability to cope with day to day activities
Increase independence and ensure safety
Encourage physical integrity to prevent dysfunction

Domiciliary oxygen

Since February 2006, a new national domiciliary oxygen service has come into effect for UK residents (except in Scotland and Northern Ireland).

All domiciliary oxygen equipment, such as static, transportable or portable oxygen concentrators, ready-filled portable oxygen gas cylinders and liquid oxygen, is supplied by one of four supply companies (depending on where you live in England or Wales).

The supply company that covers your area can be downloaded here.

Holidays in the UK

If you are planning a holiday in England or Wales and your holiday oxygen request is the same as your home oxygen prescription, simply contact your home oxygen supply company to organise your holiday oxygen supply.

If your holiday oxygen request is different than your home oxygen prescription, or if your planned holiday is in Scotland or Northern Ireland, please contact the doctor or healthcare professional who originally prescribed your oxygen.

Holiday oxygen orders are free of charge for holidays in the UK. You should organise this at least two weeks before your holiday to allow enough time for delivery.

Holidays outside the UK

Will you need oxygen for a holiday outside the United Kingdom? There will likely be a charge. The following pages may help:

For information about how the EHIC (formerly the E111) can help, click here.