Alison House

Qualifications

DipOT

Specialisms

• Elderly Care
• Palliative Care
• Dementia
• Respiratory & Orthopaedic Conditions

Introduction

I qualified as an Occupational Therapist in 1992 and have worked clinically in the NHS for the whole of my career. I specialise in the assessment and treatment of older people with a range of complex conditions, and often multiple comorbidities, which impact their functional ability. My areas of expertise include falls prevention, frailty, palliative and end of life care, dementia care, cardiac, respiratory, and orthopaedic conditions. I have worked in a wide variety of NHS settings including acute, community, short term rehabilitation, and in integrated roles alongside social care but I most enjoy working with people in their own homes. I currently work within a community based multi-disciplinary rapid response team.

I have a particular interest in palliative and end of life care and in 2022, completed the European Certificate in Essential Palliative Care.

My broad clinical background combined with extensive experience of working within a multidisciplinary team, means I have the ability to ensure co-ordinated and holistic care, undertaking comprehensive assessment of a person’s needs. This may include but is not limited to, identifying equipment needs, functional assessments, environmental assessment, manual handling and care requirements. In my day to day work I also consider pressure care, nutritional needs, undertake clinical observations and liaise with multiple different agencies to keep someone safe and coping at home. I always try to adopt a preventative approach to my work, considering a person’s future, alongside their current needs.

I enjoy learning and I am committed to keeping my practice and knowledge current.  I am a member of the RCOT specialist section major health conditions and I am enrolled with the e-learning for health platform to ensure continued professional development. Currently I am working through the end of life care modules. I enjoy supporting others to learn and develop, and I am a clinical educator for occupational therapy students on placement with our team and supervise more junior staff members.

I accept instructions from both claimant and defendant solicitors and insurers. I have undergone formal training in the medico-legal process and am fully aware of my responsibilities under Civil Procedure Rules (CPR) pertaining to expert witnesses.