This page explains what you and your child can expect at your occupational therapy appointment.
How do I get an appointment?
If your child is in hospital, speak to the team caring for your child for a referral to occupational therapy.
For outpatient appointments, you child can be referred by a doctor or therapist. Please see clinic information for details.
Changing or cancelling your appointment
If you need to change or cancel your child’s appointment for any reason, please refer to your appointment letter for contact details.
Please tell us as soon as possible so we can offer the appointment to another patient.
Before your appointment
If your child is currently having therapy locally, please bring along any recent reports and the contact details of the therapists involved.
If you and your child are coming to a clinic where their movements will be assessed, please make sure that your child is wearing appropriate clothing such as t-shirt, shorts or leggings.
If your child has been prescribed any splints or orthoses please also bring these to the appointment.
During your appointment
Depending on which clinic you and your child attend, you may see an occupational therapist alone or as part of a larger 'multidisciplinary' team (a team made up of a range of different healthcare professionals).
Appointment times may vary depending on your child’s needs and the clinic you are attending. Appointments usually last between 30 minutes and two hours.
As we are a teaching hospital, students and visitors may be observing the team. We will always ask your permission for them to observe your appointment.
After your appointment
After the appointment, we will write to the referring doctor to explain what happened at the appointment and what will happen next. We will send a copy of this letter to you, your GP and any other clinicians or healthcare professionals involved in your child’s care.
The letter will have a contact number if you have any questions.
If your child needs a follow-up appointment, we will arrange this while you are at the clinic or we will send you an appointment letter.