On Thursday 11 December 2008 the Princess Royal visited in her capacity as Patron of the College of Occupational Therapists and has a special interest in the work of the ward, which offers a unique training opportunity in an elderly care and rehabilitation setting for health professionals training at Queen Mary’s.

By providing a ‘real-life’ clinical-based learning experience for medical, nursing, physiotherapy and occupational therapy students, the programme allows them to develop their own unique professional skills, whilst working and learning together as an integrated professional team. During the course, students are jointly responsible for patient care and decision-making.

During the visit, The Princess Royal met second and final year placement students together with the facilitators and staff who support them throughout the course.

Individual and group therapy activities formed part of the Royal tour, giving medical and nursing students the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of the therapy role in patient rehabilitation.

Sally Hale, Head of Older People and Neuro Rehabilitation Therapies/Occupational Therapy Professional Leader, Queen Mary’s Hospital said, “The Princess Royal’s visit gave us a wonderful opportunity to showcase the work of students and our staff and demonstrate exactly what has been achieved and learnt over the last five years as a result of partnership working between healthcare professionals in practice and education. The Princess Royal spoke to every student, patient and member of staff presented. There was a real sense of occasion for everyone and judging by all the smiling faces, I’m sure that there will be many happy memories too.”

Queen Mary’s Hospital’s Inter Professional Training Ward is the only model of inter professional education practice in the UK with more than two professions within a ward setting. It has gained international interest and recognition with members of the IPTW steering group, who have presented papers on this model at conferences in New York, Vancouver and Hong Kong.

 

December 19, 2008