A pleasure to be on the Magee campus yesterday celebrating 50 years of occupational therapy at Ulster University It was a privilege to join staff, students, alumni and partners in marking this significant milestone yesterday. Here's to the next 50!

AHPs are ready and willing to play our part in delivering the transformation we need in Northern Ireland. Look forward to working with new Minister for Health, Robbie Butler MLA

Love Ballymena@loveballymena.online · 2mo ago

“The allied health professions can provide many of the solutions that our health system needs.” As Robbie Butler takes up the Health portfolio, the body representing Northern Ireland’s allied health professions says he arrives at a “critical time”.

🚨 RCOT Member Reminder Join Aisling Durkin, RCOT Council Representative for Northern Ireland, and me tomorrow at 1pm on MS Teams to discuss all things elections and manifesto. Bring your questions, ideas, and insights. 📩 DM for the link.

Great to have such a strong occupational therapy contingent at the Chief AHP Officer collaboration day today! 💚 #TeamOT

Great to be here at the Alliance Party conference this morning in Belfast with AHP colleagues. Helpful conversation with Health Spokesperson @dannydonnelly1.bsky.social

Great to see occupational therapy students making a real impact at St Colm’s High School and supporting pupils’ confidence, wellbeing and daily participation. A brilliant example of the power and value of OT in education settings! @ulsteruni.bsky.social #TeamOT www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Draperstown: Occupational therapists making a difference in school

A school in Draperstown is part of a groundbreaking project working with occupational therapists.

bbc.co.uk

Welcome NI Assembly debate today on a 24/7 thrombectomy service and strong recognition from speakers of the vital role rehabilitation plays in stroke recovery. OT teams are central to this by providing the support that helps people regain independence after life‑changing events #TeamOT 💚

Concerning to hear of the SEN “cliff‑edge” in Northern Ireland, where support drops off completely once young people leave school. Occupational therapy has a vital role in smoother, supported transitions, but system reform is urgently needed @sallypayneot.bsky.social www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

SEN parents 'devastated' as time runs out for school leavers' law

A young person's statement of special educational needs ends with school and campaigners had been hoping that would change.

bbc.co.uk

OT is complex, simplifying it is our strength 💚 In the RCOT Elizabeth Casson Memorial Lecture 2026, Sue Parkinson will explore how OTs break down tasks, routines and activities to help manage complexity and sustain what matters. Anyone with an interest in OT can save a spot https://bit.ly/49Yr1OC

Great to mark #StrokePreventionDay at the All Party Group on Stroke at Stormont with two of our amazing stroke occupational therapists, Caroline and Emma ⭐️🤩

A really productive Community Rehabilitation Alliance meeting this morning, hosted by Versus Arthritis. Big plans for the year ahead (including party conferences!) and continuing to advocate for a Rehabilitation Framework and Lead for Northern Ireland

Our November policy work included launching our Right Support, Right Time campaign, meeting policymakers across the UK to share OT insight and much more. Learn more 👉 https://bit.ly/48sQFug

Health & social care in Northern Ireland are at a tipping point. Yesterday’s NICON briefing on the budget was stark, it's clear that urgent action is needed. Occupational therapists are key to keeping people well in their communities. Our Workforce Strategy shows how 👉 www.rcot.co.uk/support-the-...

It was great to have Professor Michelle Tennyson, Chief AHP Officer and Dr Gill Ward, Head of Research and Innovation at @thercot.bsky.social in Belfast recently for OT Week celebrations. Pictured here with Maria Hilditch, Head of Service at Belfast Trust #TeamOT #RightTimeOT

Fantastic couple of days celebrating #OTWeek with members in Belfast and South Eastern Trusts. Inspiring showcase of the life changing power of occupational therapy #RightTimeOT #OTWeek25 💚

Grateful to Linda Dillon MLA, member of the Health Committee, for her powerful statement at Stormont today marking #OTWeek 💚 Occupational therapists drive recovery, independence & system change. Let’s invest in the future of health & social care #RightTimeOT @thercot.bsky.social

#RightTimeOT NI's Reset Plan aims to bring care closer to home. OTs are already doing it, supporting people to live well, avoid hospital and recover safely at home. To build a prevention-first system that meets real needs, occupational therapy must be central to future planning. #OTweek25

Thank you to our Health Minister Mike Nesbitt MLA for this fantastic video in support of #OTWeek #RightTimeOT @thercot.bsky.social

Department of Health@health-ni.gov.uk · 12mo ago

The Health Minister has thanked occupational therapists on Occupational Therapy Week for their "incredible" work. Minister Nesbitt said OTs helped patients live "life to the fullest" through their compassion and commitment. @thercot.bsky.social

What if we stopped waiting for crisis? 💭 OT at the right time helps people stay well for longer, preventing problems before they escalate. Right Support, Right Time: Unlocking the Power of OT shows why OT support at the right time changes everything:https://loom.ly/993ED8g #OTWeek25 #RightTimeOT

Happy OT Week to all of my amazing colleagues in Northern Ireland. Today, we launched our new annual campaign Right Support, Right Time: Unlocking the Power of OT 💚

Royal College of Occupational Therapists@thercot.bsky.social · 12mo ago

What if we stopped waiting for crisis? 💭 OT at the right time helps people stay well for longer, preventing problems before they escalate. Right Support, Right Time: Unlocking the Power of OT shows why OT support at the right time changes everything:https://loom.ly/993ED8g #OTWeek25 #RightTimeOT

Great to spend yesterday at Ulster University in Magee with Dolores, one of the amazing lecturers and 50 fantastic future occupational therapists. Too busy chatting to get many pics but amazing conversations about the future of the profession 💚 lots of excitement ahead of OT Week on Monday!

What a fabulous, uplifting night at the AHP Awards- celebrating our amazing occupational therapists and all the AHP community

What a fabulous, uplifting night at the AHP Awards- celebrating our amazing occupational therapists and all the AHP community

Our indefatigable Chief AHP Officer Prof Michelle Tennyson talking about the many ways that allied health professionals can support people to attain or stay in employment. Great shout out for the fantastic Condition Management Programme

Great panel today at #NICON25 with the Chief AHP Officer Michelle Tennyson and senior civil servants Mike Farrar and Paddy Rooney, discussing economic inactivity and how health professionals can better help people back to work. Occupational therapists well positioned to support

Fantastic to hear Prof Sir Michael Marmot this morning at #nicon2025

Minister for Health making clear that budget position of a 600million deficit is not sustainable and stating he has asked the Northern Ireland Executive for additional funding

Minister for Health taking the stage at #nicon2025

Great to be at #nicon2025 and looking forward to speaking to many of the 600 delegates about the life-changing power of occupational therapy 💚

Happy #AHPsDay2025 to all Allied Health Professionals across Northern Ireland! Alongside fellow professional bodies and trade union partners, we're calling for continued investment, recognition and development of AHP support workers — a vital part of our workforce: loom.ly/ikuHCWI