Irene

Proud occupational therapist (retired). Orcid 0000-0003-0315-6572. Keen on democratic member-led professional bodies. Birdwatcher, star gazer, lover of life.

[Irene @UKFCOT]

Unbelievable for all the reasons in your letter, not least the equalities legislation.
Hope this incredible decision is reversed and trust in the trustees is rebuilt, soon.

[George Rook @george_rook]

Trust the trustees of Alzheimer’s Society?

If you live with dementia they won’t have you as a trustee!

Hard to believe?

@RoyLilley

https://t.co/V0k6yG09BZ

[Irene @UKFCOT]

@medicalmodelbri Another shocking example of vulnerable harmed by
system failure, courtesy @DHSCgovuk policy of doctor substitution/equivalence of Physician Assistants & Advanced Clinical Practitioners, & ...
Urgent action: cease deployment, reveal what's under tip of iceberg and employ doctors

[Irene @UKFCOT]

@DrLKVaughan @TheBMA Agree. Appropriate response to the reactions from
NHS Employers and the Association of Advanced Practice
Educators UK to @TheBMA member survey.
https://t.co/0U75SsRh0K
https://t.co/0hNd5iWkNT

[Irene @UKFCOT]

Host of opportunities to specialise and advance practice in
** clinical practice, nationally and internationally eg.
https://t.co/ABaCqHIHSt
** leadership, Master of Business Administration MBA
** education, Master of Education MEd
** research, Master of Research MRes

[Irene @UKFCOT]

Great graphic showing pay disparity between the real deal and
Advanced Practitioners - unregulated, generic workforce, deployed as doctor substitutes with only 25% clinical training.

Matches mounting evidence of harm, variability of education/ practise standards and governance.

[The NHS Whistleblower @ItsnotrightUK]

@Anisocyte @Dr_XYZ @VincentVanGrump @Justobserv76205 @medicalmodelbri @BMA_James_Steen @TheBMA

[Irene @UKFCOT]

Postgraduate Advanced Practice courses based on four pillars: 25% spent on clinical practice, leadership, education, and research.
Does this produce a 'jack of all trades, master on none' in comparison with profession specific master programmes, that also prepare for PhD?

[Irene @UKFCOT]

@BeAwesomeBeAdam @cannula_service Here's the entry requirements for Advanced Practitioners/
#AlliedHealthProfessions, Paramedics and Aesthetic Practitioners

[Irene @UKFCOT]

@BeAwesomeBeAdam @cannula_service No, what's really wild ...
is that it's only 6 month distance learning for Independent and Supplementary Prescribing for the #AlliedHealthProfessions.

Example from a Russell University, charging £3,133 for the privilege of doing level 4 post graduate course as a home student.

[Irene @UKFCOT]

@DrLKVaughan @ChiefEngineerCE Fascinating. Examples of under and over supply of doctors in USA and India. Numbers for numbers sake. Dubious motives and outcomes don't seem to benefit the health of either nation.

What's the answers to workforce planning/pipeline problems? Must watch your presentation.

[Irene @UKFCOT]

Wrong publication date, sorry
Correction: neonatal practice guideline 2nd edition published 2022

[Irene @UKFCOT]

Delighted to see @theRCOT consultation on draft 'Occupational therapy practice guideline for dementia: Supporting prevention, participation and living well'.

Well done to the team of guideline developers.

Offer feedback by 29 July 2026
https://t.co/dtFKkDXvRk

[Irene @UKFCOT]

Important addition to current practice guidelines about neonatal services (2025) and play (2023).
Hope the five 'retired' guidelines are in an archive somewhere.

[Irene @UKFCOT]

@HillsBekki15323 Thanks, the consultation and draft Act, certainly made my head spin!

[Irene @UKFCOT]

Spinning to celebrate signing the petition and completing the GMC consultation.

[Bekki Hills @HillsBekki15323]

Anyone who wants to protect patient safety & the right to access qualified Drs, GPs & Medical Consultants please sign this important petition to stop the GMC rewriting the medical act to grab superpowers to instal noctor substitutes like PAs, SCPs & PAAs of it's own volition! 🚩

[Irene @UKFCOT]

@gmhales Thanks for highlighting this important review.
Inevitably reminds of Georgina Robinson, an occupational therapist, one of the few public service victims.
She is not forgotten. Thanks to https://t.co/Kq1twzywgL and
https://t.co/CMf0KalErR

[OT History Matters @HistoryOt]

2/7 A bare thread to remind #OccupationalTherapy personnel about Georgina Robinson and that safety is paramount. Just the facts, some links and references to explore.

[Irene @UKFCOT]

@RosalieBoyce @Melissa_S_Ryan and who appreciate balanced, evidence-informed debate; and are waiting for Royal Colleges to stop denying the problem, act alongside regulators, politicans and policy makers to put patient safety and professional integrity first. See @mancunianmedic
https://t.co/wzvId6RDVG

[Irene @UKFCOT]

Great to get a reply from @theRCOT yesterday on BlueSky.

As always, appreciate answers in the public domain so can share with many members who are concerned about affordability and fairness for students and support staff.

[Irene @UKFCOT]

Thanks @theRCOT for posting more information about the 4% proposed increase for membership fees.
Still like to know why student & associates/assistant members will continue to pay more than those in other professional bodies?
Also, why an above inflation rate (2.8) was agreed?

[Irene @UKFCOT]

@theRCOT thanks for Jan. RCOT/BAOT minutes.
When did elected members discuss & approve fee increase? Not found in 2025/6 minutes.
What's changed? Oct 2025 intention was to deliver balanced budget by realigning costs within income.
Was it at a Special meeting eg Sept 2024?

[Irene @UKFCOT]

@mgtmccartney No. It's about devaluing extensive evidence and decades of experience about the value of 'cradle to the grave' care and a trusted relationship.

[Irene @UKFCOT]

Thanks @thewfot for advocating for the inclusion of rehabilitation in Universal Health Coverage at the 79th World Health Assembly
https://t.co/vPJUYWrKbt

[Irene @UKFCOT]

Yep: 'The human body is a *supercomplex system of systems*
Thanks @1goodtern for explaining the super complexity of Long Covid.

[tern @1goodtern]

One other thing:
This is a list of many of the known and proposed mechanisms of *Long* Covid.

The ways by which Covid infection does *long term* harm.
Ongoing aftereffects.
Lasting repercussions.

They can last months, years, or the rest of your life.