Occupational therapists call on next Welsh Government to expand community care ahead of Senedd election
The Royal College of Occupational Therapists has published a manifesto calling on the next Welsh Government to expand community-based care, warning that nearly 7,000 people in Wales are currently waiting two years for NHS treatment.
The body, which represents more than 2,000 occupational therapists working across Wales, launched Wales 2026: Five steps to a healthier nation on 2 March.
The document sets out five actions it wants the government formed after May’s Senedd election to implement, including placing occupational therapists in every primary care cluster and creating routes into senior leadership roles for the profession.
A scheme in North East Wales is cited as evidence of the approach working.
According to the RCOT, bringing care closer to care homes in the area saved the health board £115,000 over a six-month period through reduced hospital admissions and transfers.
The college also claims the Welsh NHS can see a return of £34 for every £1 invested in falls prevention and rehabilitation, though the underlying source for that figure is not stated in the manifesto document.
Karin Orman, Director of Practice and Innovation at RCOT, said: “The solutions already exist, we just need government to act.
“Wales’ system is under immense strain, but occupational therapists are already delivering the solutions: rehabilitation, early intervention and practical support that keeps people out of hospital and doing what they want and need to do.”
Paul Smith, RCOT Policy and Public Affairs Lead for Wales, said the profession’s reach extended beyond individual patients.
“Supporting older people to remain at home reduces pressure and cost across the Welsh NHS and social care,” he said.
“Early support for children who have experienced trauma improves outcomes in the classroom, enabling teachers to teach and students to thrive.
“By taking a holistic view of people’s health, work and environments, occupational therapy supports people to return to employment, strengthening the wider Welsh economy.”
The RCOT says nearly 50% of people in Wales live with at least one chronic condition, though that figure is attributed to the college rather than an independent published dataset.
The full manifesto is available at rcot.co.uk/Wales26.
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