Department of Occupational Therapy

Where is the Occupational Therapy Department located?
We are situated on the ground floor of the hospital beside our colleagues in Physiotherapy. From Casualty, follow the yellow line along the corridor and you will come to the entrance of the Physiotherapy/Occupational Therapy Departments. The Occupational Therapy Department has a team of five Therapists and a secretary.

What is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational Therapy aims to maximize a child's participation in home, school, play and leisure activities i.e. activities of daily living.
Children affected by illness, disease, traumatic injury or other medical conditions can experience a variety of impairments which affect the child's ability to perform everyday activities. Occupational Therapists identify these impairments and provide rehabilitation and intervention services to develop skills in these identified areas.

Who can receive Occupational Therapy?
Our service is offered to babies, children, adolescents and their families. We provide a service to patients attending Consultants in the following clinical areas:

• Burns/Plastics


• Neurology/Neonatology


• Oncology/Haematology


• Orthopaedics/Rheumatology


• other

Burns/Plastics Service
Occupational Therapists working in this clinical area address positioning, activities of daily living and the scar management needs of children.
The range of interventions offered include:

• Splinting


• Pressure therapy


• Scar management programmes


• Sensory assessments


• Desensitisation and sensory re-education programmes


• Hand function assessments


• Assessment for adaptive equipment in the home/school setting

Neurology/Neonatology
This area involves the assessment and treatment of motor, sensory, cognitive, perceptual, developmental and psychosocial dysfunction.
Some common interventions offered include:

• developmental facilitation


• sensory, perceptual and motor retraining


• seating/positioning


• activities of daily living (ADL) skills acquisition


• Upper limb techniques including hand therapy and splinting


• Education for parents, families and teachers

Oncology/Haematology
Within this clinical area, Occupational Therapy aims to maintain or increase functional independence and quality of life.
Interventions used include:

• Splinting


• Wheelchair prescription and training


• Assessment for adaptive equipment in the home environment


• Fatigue management/energy conservation


• Upper limb assessment and rehabilitation


• Cognitive/perceptual and developmental rehabilitation programmes


• School skills programmes- in preparation for return to school

Orthopaedics/Rheumatology
Occupational Therapy aims to assist the child to perform the many daily living activities in the areas of self care, play and school with the minimum level of disability and the maximum amount of ability/independence and safety.
Typical interventions include:

• ADL assessment and rehabilitation/development


• Upper limb assessment and rehabilitation


• Fabrication of splints to protect joints and bones


• Scar management and desensitization programmes


• Cognitive/perceptual assessment and functional development programmes


• Discharge planning


• Advice re adaptive equipment and home adaptations


• Parent, family and school liaison and education

How can you access Occupational Therapy Services?
All children treated by Occupational Therapy here must be under the care of a Consultant in Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children. A written referral from the Consultant is required.

If you have any queries in relation to our service, please contact Alison Enright, Occupational Therapy Manager on 4096183 or Alison.enright@olhsc.ie between the hours of 9am-5pm.