BATHING ASSESSMENTS

[Chris Perry]

I am a community OT working in Gibraltar at the local health centre.  My post encompasses social services type work, housing, and typical health centre type OT referrals   A major problem exists at present over bathing assessments, basically, people living in government owned accommodation (the equivalent to council property in UK)  can on medical grounds be entitled to conversation of a bath to a shower.  They are referred by their GPs to OTs to be assessed but many of these patients see that the only solution is a shower and they are not open to alternative solutions eg bath boards, bathmasters etc. We therefore feel unable to carry out a full professional assessment and very often it is the patients who are independent using bath boards who end up being the most time consuming clients due to their demands and complaints.   With a waiting list of 60+ we are currently trying to standardise our service and establish our criteria for eligibility. The community service within Gibraltar is a relatively young one and the need to establish procedures is paramount. The stress levels created by complaints is becoming overwhelming and sometimes threatening.  I would be very keen to hear from OT's who have encountered similar situations and would welcome advice particularly on the following     1. any information on criteria for acceptance of referrals     2. details of any telephone/screening assessments that services carry out to further investigate clients problems     3. criteria for provision of bathing equipment     4. criteria for bathing adaptation work e.g. level access showers/floor draining showers     Please help if you can , all information would be gratefully received.     many thanks       Jill Sealey OT