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Resources > Allied Health Professions
Introducing the allied health professions
The allied health professions are a collection of professions that work closely with both medical and social care teams in a variety of settings including hospitals, GP practices, schools, the community and private settings.
Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) are critical to people’s ongoing assessment, treatment and rehabilitation throughout their illness episodes. They support people of all ages in their recovery, helping them to return to work and to participate in sport or education. They enable children and adults to make the most of their skills and abilities and to develop and maintain healthy lifestyles. They also provide specialist diagnostic assessment and treatment services.
Below are some general prayer requests for all allied health professionals and then a description of each of the professions with some prayer points particular to that profession.
Prayer
- As with all health professionals, those working in government funded areas of work are often surrounded by constant cynicism and apathy, pray for Christian allied health professionals to be a light amongst this.
- Many allied health professionals are in isolated positions, often not meeting up with other therapists. Pray that they will find the necessary professional support.
- Pray that individually and as disciplines allied health professionals continue to strive to provide the best service to our patients and have God’s patience to take time to regard them and their needs more wholistically.
- “Agenda for Change” is the government’s initiative to introduce a new pay system which will affect most health professionals. Pray that there would be harmony and unity throughout the professions as they enter the early stages of implementing this system.
- Pray that Christian allied health professionals would be effective in witnessing to colleagues at work, that they too may see the grace and love of God in the ways they conduct themselves in both our personal and professional lives.
Occupational Therapists (OTs)
The main role of the OT is to work with someone who has had/has an illness, disease or disability which prevents them from carrying out their day to day living as independently as they would normally. This may include tasks such as getting out of bed in the morning, to personal/domestic tasks, to returning to work or leisure pursuits. Through the assessment, treatment and provision of equipment, advice and support a person can be assisted to improve or maintain their independence and/or quality of life.
Prayer
- Due to funding issues many OTs are faced with the issues of prioritisation of resources. Pray for OTs having to make decisions about who is most eligible for a piece of equipment.
- With the introduction of many alternative therapies to the workplace and practice, pray for wisdom to know how/ if to use them within treatment.
Physiotherapists
Physiotherapists work in a wide variety of healthcare fields and are involved in the treatment of a range of neurological, respiratory, musculoskeletal and psychological conditions. The skills employed by a physiotherapist include manual techniques and exercise therapy to aid recovery from acute injury, as well as providing longer term rehabilitation and maintenance for those with chronic needs. Physiotherapy is also an important preventative treatment with a key role to play in health promotion.
Prayer
- Alternative therapies are also increasingly being used by physiotherapists. In particular acupuncture, aromatherapy and Tai Chi. Please pray for wisdom for physiotherapists deciding if it is right to use these treatment techniques.
Radiographers
The majority of work by Radiographers is carried out in the hospital setting.
There are two types of radiographer: diagnostic and therapeutic. Both use high technology computerised equipment and need considerable knowledge of technology, anatomy, physiology and pathology to carry out their work.
Diagnostic radiographers produce and interpret high-quality images used in the diagnosis of injury and disease. Therapeutic radiographers plan and deliver prescribed treatments using X-radiation and other radioactive sources.
Prayer
- Radiographers are daily faced with the idea of the risk-benefit approach to care i.e. is it really worth the pain/heartache of going through with further tests/assessments and is it really of benefit?
- Ultrasound and issues arising from discovering abnormalities with a child, can bring about the topic of abortion and issues surrounding the idea of pre-natal testing in general. Radiographers in the end do not have to make that decision, however may be involved in discussing these issues with colleagues and patients.
- Again there is the whole issue of waiting lists and finances. With radiography equipment being some of the most expensive pieces of equipment in a hospital, why should the hospital provide a piece over something else, and should it be doing this.
Dietitians
Dietitians translate the science of nutrition into practical information about food. They work with people to promote nutritional wellbeing, prevent food-related problems and treat disease. They may also be involved with setting up and supervising food service systems for institutions such as hospitals and schools
Prayer
- Dietitians are often involved in decisions regarding the tube feeding of patients. This can have large implications due to the issue of whether or not it is right to prolong life.
Speech and Language Therapists
Speech and Language Therapists work with adults and children who have difficulties with communication. Clients may have a communication difficulty for a number of reasons including autism, stroke, cerebral palsy or learning difficulties. Speech and Language Therapists are therefore vitally important in developing a treatment programme to work on a person’s ability to express their individual needs. This may include advising family and other professionals in the most effective way to communicate with the person. They may also work to support people who have eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties.
Prayer
- Speech and Language Therapists may also be involved in tube feeding discussions (see Dietitians).
- Some Speech and Language Therapists are in areas of work where it may be expected of them to train the voices of transsexuals.
The Arts Therapists - Art, Drama and Music
The Arts Therapies are a group of three separate disciplines, Art, Music and Drama Therapy, connected by the use of creative expression and psychodynamic theory within their clinical practice. Many therapists work within the fields of mental health or learning disabilities as part of multidisciplinary teams with other health care professionals, whilst some therapists are working with wider client groups including the prison population, children in care, the hospice movement, refugees and victims of torture or abuse.
Therapists from the individual professions seek to promote the physical, mental, social and emotional well being of those in therapy by encouraging, facilitating and supporting their use of the creative arts to explore self expression and gain insight into their particular situations or difficulties.
Prayer
- The Arts Therapies world is beginning to address their responsibilities for the spiritual well being of those in therapy. Pray that Christian therapists would be able to engage effectively in this debate, and have opportunities to talk to colleagues about Jesus as these professions discuss spirituality.
Prosthetists / Orthotists
Prosthetists and orthotists work mainly in specialist rehabilitation centres of hospitals, initially assessing a patient’s needs through their understanding of anatomy and physiology. This assessment, when combined with their knowledge of the materials and technologies available allows them to construct individually tailored prosthetic and orthotic devices.
Prosthetists design and fit artificial limbs (prostheses) to replace those which were missing at birth, or lost due to amputation.
Orthotists are responsible for the designing and fitting of surgical appliances (orthoses) such as neck collars, splints, callipers or braces which are used to relieve pain, aid movement, give support or prevent further deterioration of physical deformities in a patient’s limbs or spine.
Prayer
- For sensitivity in dealing with patients who are struggling to acknowledge their loss of a limb, or disability.
- For wisdom regarding resource allocation.
Podiatrists
Podiatrists (or chiropodists) work mainly within health centres, clinics, GP surgeries and hospitals. They diagnose and treat diseases and abnormalities of the lower leg and foot in patients of all ages, providing a comprehensive health care service for this specific region of the body. The podiatrist aims to either cure, prevent a recurrence or further deterioration of, or additional difficulties developing with the patient’s lower limb, whilst also keeping the patient as mobile and pain free as possible.
Orthoptists
Orthoptists are usually based in hospitals or in community based vision screening in schools, mobile health units and health clinics. They investigate, diagnose and treat disorders within the eye, often related to eye mobility or co-ordination of the eyes. A considerable number of patients are children with conditions such as squints or lazy eye. Orthoptists are involved in the pre-operative assessment and post-operative management of patients for whom surgery is required. Work with older patients often results from other health problems such as thyroid disorders, strokes or multiple sclerosis, where orthoptists monitor and aim to relieve symptoms of the effects of these conditions upon the eyes.
References
Careers in the NHS www.nhscareers.nhs.uk
Christian Therapists Network www.ctn.org.uk
