Specialisms
- Orthopaedic injuries including upper and lower limb amputations and limb weakness.
- Joint replacements (hip and knee) and conditions affecting the joints (arthritis).
- Spinal fractures.
- Cauda Equina
- Neurological conditions (including stroke, MS, MND and Parkinson’s disease).
- Chronic pain.
- Cancer
- Terminal illnesses and palliative care.
- Internal injuries, including bladder, bowel and stoma care.
- Moving and handling assessments.
- Associated mild brain injury.
- Associated psychological, mental health and cognitive difficulties.
- Associated visual and hearing impairment or loss.
Clinical Currency Statement
As at April 2024, I am engaged in the role of Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist for East Cheshire NHS Trust Therapies Team for an average of 75 hours per month.
Signed
Specific Injuries Experience
Suzanne commonly deals with the ongoing support, equipment, and minor adaptation needs of adults with physical disabilities including orthopaedic injuries and limb amputations. Many of her clients have complex issues and co-morbidities either following orthopaedic surgery, such as joint replacement, spinal surgery or due to arthritis. This will often result in pain and weakness in limbs/joints. Suzanne is responsible for managing their ongoing equipment and care needs. She also works with spinal injury clients and has experience of associated altered sensation in limbs.
A high proportion of Suzanne’s caseload present with complex co-morbidities and various mental health issues such as depression, anxiety or PTSD. Her caseload also contains a high prevalence of injuries relating to neurological impairments, such as Stroke and MND as well physical injuries. This commonly results in associated cognitive deficits and mental health complications.
Some of Suzanne’s clients have secondary issues including visual/hearing impairments or loss, and many also have medical needs following internal injuries and therefore require health related equipment, such as catheters, stoma and PEG feed systems. These clients with complex co morbidities require ongoing management in the community which Suzanne is well versed with and co-ordinates their care requirements and manual handling training needs.
Employment Profile
Suzanne works within the East Cheshire Community Therapies Team as a Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist, providing a combination of functional treatment plans including care provision, equipment provision, as well as assessments, reports, and regular ongoing reviews of an individuals’ continuing needs. As part of a multi-disciplinary team, she works with adults who have long term substantial physical difficulties assessing to varying degrees levels of functional independence in personal care, mobility, transfers, medication, domestic tasks, community and leisure-based activities, and money management.
Suzanne completes full functional assessments of clients within their home and reviews the appropriateness of care packages for clients needing continuing care at home. This involves care reviews post discharge from hospital settings, setting up new care packages, adjusting existing care packages and reviewing all care plans to prevent admission back to hospital.
She also assesses for and provides standard and specialist equipment to maintain and/or compensate for loss of independence and to ensure her client’s safety. Suzanne also considers the provision of moving and handling equipment and training for family, agency staff and informal carers.
Prior to her current role, Suzanne worked in a District General Hospital providing hand therapy and post operative support for orthopaedic injuries including scar management and as such she has knowledge of the full rehabilitation pathway from injury (acute) through to post rehabilitation (community). Additionally, Suzanne’s experience in this setting for 5 years has given her a practical experience of understanding the need for revision surgeries as well as the expected rehabilitation outcomes. During this time Suzanne also held a post in the BMI Alexandra Hospital where she was responsible for the medical, orthopaedic, oncological, surgical and rheumatology patients.
Suzanne has attended numerous Case Conferences and attended the Bond Solon Courtroom Skills Familiarisation in 2023.
Qualifications and Membership
- Diploma from The College of Occupational Therapists, 1991.
- Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
- Certificate in Orthopaedic upper limb and lower limb functional fracture bracing.
- Certificate in British Association of Hand Therapists Level 1.
- Certificate in Bobath Normal Movement.
- Certificate in Supervisory Management.
- Certificate in Upper limb function and recovery in patients with neurological dysfunction.
Career History
Present
Care Expert Witness
Jacqueline Webb & Co Limited
2017-Present
Specialist Occupational Therapist
East Cheshire NHS Trust Community Therapies Team
2016-2019
Occupational Therapist
East Cheshire NHS Trust, Macclesfield District General Hospital
2016-2019
Occupational Therapist
BMI The Alexandra Hospital
2003-2015
Career break
2000-2003
Head Occupational Therapist
BMI The Alexandra Hospital
1997-1999
Senior I Occupational Therapist
BMI The Alexandra Hospital
1993-1997
Senior II Occupational Therapist
South Manchester University Hospital NHS Trust Withington Hospital
1991-1993
Occupational Therapist
Rotations within Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Hospital Trust