October 14 is national AHPs’ Day. A day to celebrate the incredible work and contribution of our Allied Health Professional (AHP) colleagues.
At UHSussex, we have over 1,000 AHPs who who help assess, diagnose and treat our patients and bring real diversity in terms of their skills and experience, working across eight specialisms – dietitians, occupational therapists, operating department practitioners, orthoptists, physiotherapists, diagnostic radiographers, therapeutic radiographers and speech and language therapists.
AHPs is a 24/7 profession that provides system-wide care. They focus on the prevention of ill-health alongside improving health and wellbeing to maximise the potential for people to live full and active lives within their family circles, social networks, and the workplace.
They form some truly incredible teams that have a huge impact on the delivery of care for patients. We want to celebrate and appreciate our brilliant AHPs, not just this one day a year, but every single day.
Thank you to all of our AHP colleagues for everything you do for our Trust and the excellent care you provide to our patients.
AHPs in the right place, at the right time, with the right skills is the theme of this years national AHPs’ Day. As a senior leadership team, we want to celebrate all the diverse Allied Health Professionals we have within UHSussex. Our brilliant AHP staff deliver patient care across multiple services and divisions. We are the third largest staff group and are integral to delivering on the Trust’s mission of providing excellent care every time. As an AHP family, we must also celebrate and recognise the hard work and contributions of our support staff, assistants, technicians, administrators, volunteers and students. We cannot do it without them. Thank you and Happy AHPs’ Day!”
Murray Seivwright, Deputy Director of Allied Health Professionals
From our AHPs
Kachi, Rotational Occupational Therapist
“I enjoy working as a Rotational Occupational Therapist in an acute hospital that requires working with a multidisciplinary team in a fast-paced environment, which provides a wealth of broad learning experiences. My role enables me to make a positive impact on the lives of patients and their families, which is an immensely rewarding experience.
“The transition from being student or from a different practice setting can be challenging. However, good team support and mentoring allows for a seamless transition.”
Bianca, Physiotherapist
“Some of my main tasks are to carry out broad and appropriate assessments of patients with a variety of conditions, create effective treatment plans, and continuously improve my practice through professional development activities and evidence-based projects. I experience deep gratitude and fulfilment when assisting individuals in taking their first steps after an extended period of bed rest due to illness.
“Working with people and bringing a sense of happiness or comfort to them brings a smile to my face. Hearing patients say, ‘you made my day,’ is truly rewarding.”
Esther, Radiographer
“I enjoy working in a team and trying to improve people’s experience during their time at the hospital. People would be surprised to learn about my job just how many things we do and the amount of procedures that we are involved in.”
Mandy, Head of Speech and Language Therapy
“I identify patients with speech or swallowing needs throughout their pathway through surgery and oncological treatments. The awake craniotomy pathway is an element of this for patients with specific tumours in eloquent brain areas (this is where speech is organised).
“I conduct an assessment which is then repeated in the functional MRI scanner. This gives us a map of speech organisation around the tumour. I then see the patient on the day of surgery and when the patient is woken up during the brain op. I conduct assessments whilst the neurosurgeon carries out electrical stimulation to the brain and tumour. My feedback of patient performance on the tasks helps to guide the surgery and preserve speech function.”
Sean, Gastroenterology Dietitian
“The best part about being an Allied Health Professional is the diversity of roles and environments to work in and the wonderful support and many opportunities to progress in your chosen profession.”
If you’re interested in a career as an Allied Health Professional, take a look at our careers page on our website for more details.